A Trusted Advisor Who Lives Up to the Name

For someone who admits she loves numbers, it’s dedication to people that earned Angela Petrosian recognition as a Trusted Advisor for 2020 from Business Life Magazine.

For Angela, a 2010 Woodbury MBA grad, trust — one of those things that comes neither quickly nor without substantial effort — attests to two decades in both banking and, even more, in customer service.

Now Assistant VP and branch manager at USBank in Encino, Angela has served clients for more than 17 years – clients she now describes as “my best advocates.” She also served one-year stints with Citibank and City National Bank.

“When you do something passionately, it becomes natural,” she says. “Every day, I come to work I do my best to help clients get to the next level of their financial lives.  I want to be the one helping them make the right decisions that will affect them not only now, but for the future as well. Whether it’s a ‘big deal’ or a smaller question, I don’t separate the two. I treat every concern, inquiry, and need as equally important, because to the client it is a priority.”

As Angela sees it, every client is unique, with aspirations and challenges that need to be addressed en route to financial success. “What this means for me is that my work speaks for itself, and that my efforts to serve clients is of value to them,” she says. “I hope to create a positive ripple effect, empowering my clients and then seeing all the ways they will use their success in support of their families and communities.”

The financial instruments at a bank’s disposal often seem abstract and arcane, but Angela doesn’t see it that way. “Building relationships and keeping clients’ needs top of mind is at the forefront of my business model,” she says. “My style is a personalized one, and I prefer face-to-face visits whenever possible, so I’m able to learn all about a client’s business needs and determine how I can add value to what they already have established.”

Which isn’t to say that hands-on is the only way financial services are delivered, Angela suggests: “We also have digital options that offer an even quicker user experience for business owners operating in a fast-paced environment. Whether in-person or via electronics, it always gives me a great sense of achievement when I see my clients realize their goals and reach their ultimate idea of success.”

As an undergraduate, Angela studied biology and credits her interest in sports with a lifelong affinity for goal-setting and goal-achieving, traits that have served her well in her professional career.  While an MBA student, she was a full-time employee at USBank and attended classes at nights and on weekends. With that in mind, she advises students and graduates to follow their dreams — and let their passions be their guide.

At USBank, she began as a teller, was promoted to banker, and six months later, was named branch manager for the Simi Valley location. “This trajectory, in which I’ve experienced almost every role in the banking world, has helped me hire the right people, train them well, and help them succeed within their careers,” she says. “Being a Trusted Advisor is important for clients, but also for building a strong team.”

In the end, the Trusted Advisor designation is about the human touch, Angela suggests. “Being sincere, honest and knowledgeable are traits that help to effectively be of service.  I try to treat clients and my team in the way I would want to be treated.  For me, I love powering potential in my clients, team, and community. From simple trust accounts for newborns, to helping families to save for the future, to assisting business expansions. Helping people each step of the way motivates me every day to become a better version of myself.”