Ryan Kato
Chief Operating Officer
Integrity Bank & Trust
How did you get started in the banking industry?
My path into banking was not traditional. Before banking, I worked in retail sales, served as an assistant funeral director, bartended and tried my hand at entrepreneurship. Eventually, one of my mentors, who owned a one-branch bank in Grandview, Ohio, introduced me to the industry. Something clicked.
Banking’s combination of people, numbers, business, problem-solving and community impact pulled me in. I also saw an industry with room to evolve. Honoring what community banking does well while helping it become faster, smarter and more relevant still energizes me today.
What makes your bank unique?
Integrity Bank & Trust feels different because its values are not performative. Service, excellence and teamwork, or S.E.T., are visible every day in how employees treat customers and one another. I noticed that quickly.
The bank’s commitment to Colorado Springs also stands out. Through our charitable trust, a portion of profits supports nonprofits doing meaningful work here. Community banks should be force multipliers for the community around them.
What is the most important thing you’ve learned from a career in banking?
People don’t really want banking products; they want what those products make possible. Nobody wakes up excited about treasury management, but they do want their business to run better. Nobody dreams about a mortgage, but they do dream about owning a home.
That mindset forces you to listen more than you speak. Banking can get bogged down by acronyms, policies and the way things have always been done. The future belongs to people who can make it less intimidating and more connected to real life.
What do you geek out about?
I geek out about data, but not because I love spreadsheets for their own sake. I love what data can reveal: patterns, friction, opportunities and the gap between what we think is happening and what actually is. Rather than letting data replace human judgment, it should sharpen our judgment and help us ask better questions.
Trent Witt
VP, Colorado Market Retail Leader
KeyBank
What is the most rewarding aspect of your job?
I’ve been in banking at KeyBank for over 16 years, and the most rewarding part of my job has always been the people. Not just helping clients, but watching teammates grow, build confidence and accomplish things they didn’t think were possible. There’s nothing better than seeing someone you’ve coached step into a bigger role.
What are you most proud of in your professional life so far?
What I’m most proud of isn’t a single metric or award, but the culture we’ve built across our teams. We’ve created an environment where people genuinely care about each other, push each other to be better and still have fun doing it. When you get that right, the results tend to follow.
What is the most important thing you’ve learned from a career in banking?
If there’s one thing banking has taught me, it’s that this business is really about trust and relationships. Products and rates change, but if you show up consistently, do the right thing and put people first, you’ll build something that lasts. That applies to leadership as well.
When you were a child, what did you want to be when you grew up?
When I was younger, I wanted to be an elementary school teacher. I’ve always enjoyed helping people learn and grow. I actually started at KeyBank while finishing my degree and quickly saw that banking provided a similar opportunity. I was able to teach clients about money and finances, which are critical parts of everyday life yet are often not taught.
What do you geek out about?
Outside of work, I probably geek out the most about personal finance and investing. I genuinely enjoy talking about ways people can grow their money and set themselves up for the future. I also spend a lot of time staying active, skiing when I can and hanging out with my son, which is always the best part of my week.
