Mutual decision

Henry Gonzalez's trim and fit physique belies the fact that he's spent the past seven months hitting dozen of luncheons and dinners in and around Tampa and the rest of Florida.

A longtime Tampa area banker, Gonzalez has been heavy on the networking and rubber chicken circuit for one reason: to hammer home the message that Mutual of Omaha — the bank, not the well-known insurance firm — is a viable option in the battle of banks to win loan business.

It's a substantial mission. Even Gonzalez, when approached by Mutual of Omaha executives in May about taking on a leadership role with the lender, admits he wasn't that familiar with the bank. “I initially didn't realize it is as big as it is,” says Gonzalez.