Nina Anderson is River City Bank’s Vice President, Credit Manager and oversees a team of commercial credit analysts. Her team is charged with analyzing an individual or a businesses’ financial information, along with other factors like the industry outlook and current economic environment, to determine the risk involved in lending money or extending credit.
Here, the UC Davis alumnae talks with us about giving it your all, finding a creative outlet, and how running keeps her centered while holding distractions at bay.
Hometown: Salinas, CA
First Job: A produce market off the side of the highway. If that doesn’t tell you I grew up in Salinas, I don’t know what does!
Favorite Quote: “To give anything less than your best is to sacrifice the gift.” – Steve Prefontaine. Steve Prefontaine was an American long-distance runner, so this is a quote that initially spoke to me while I was running competitively in high school/college, but that I still try to live my life by to this day.
Favorite Movie: A Star is Born (the new version). I love the mix of romance and tragedy, and the energy between Lady Gaga and Bradley Cooper is amazing to watch. Oh, and the soundtrack is 10/10.
Favorite city to visit: San Jose del Cabo – the beaches, food/drinks, weather, and proximity to California make it my favorite place to vacation. I’ve been going there almost every year since I was 11 years old, so I have a lot of fond memories there with family and friends.
First sites or apps you check in the morning: Email, Instagram, and the Skimm.
What are you reading right now? How Not to Die by Michael Greger, M.D. with Gene Stone. The book examines the top 15 causes of death in America and discusses the scientific studies that have shown how diet – specifically a plant-based diet – can help prevent or fight these diseases and allow you to live longer. This topic is truly fascinating to me, and I have to say, I’ve become a little health-obsessed during the pandemic.
Morning ritual: I typically try to squeeze in my run or a Pilates class. Then, coffee!
If you have an extra hour in the day, how would you spend it? Probably reading. Admittedly, I don’t make enough time for it as I’d like.
What is something people would be surprised to know about you? I love to run! I ran competitively in high school and for a short stint at UC Davis, and it has become a hobby ever since. I ran my first full marathon in 2019 (shout out to Ken and Riley at RCB for encouraging me to sign up!), and I’m currently training for my second one. People may be even more surprised to know that I don’t listen to music while I run. Without that distraction, running gives me a much-needed opportunity to think and reflect.
What did you want to be when you were a child? An interior designer. When I was about ten years old, I put together a vision board with magazine cutouts and paint swatches in an effort to convince my mom to let me redecorate my room. Lucky for me, my mom loves interior design just as much as I do, so it didn’t take much convincing. I still enjoy the creative outlet, and I was thrilled when I had the opportunity to help select the finishes and furniture for RCB’s San Francisco office we opened in 2018.
Which living person do you most admire? My mother. She is the epitome of strength, selflessness, and love. She raised my brothers and me as a single parent most of our childhood and was always incredibly supportive of us and those around her. I hope to be the kind of mother she is one day.
What is your current state of mind? Heading into the holiday season, I am feeling extra thankful.
What do you consider the most overrated virtue? Patience. While I do think it’s necessary in some cases, I also think it leads to a lot of wasted time and opportunities.
What do you like best about working at River City Bank? I love working for a company that holds true to its values. We employ the very best, which allows us to deliver exceptional customer service and work toward ambitious goals. I can’t wait to see where we are in the next five years.
