News & Media

CHRISTOPHER FRYER

Jun 22, 2022

Brian Karst

Executive vice president, CFO and chief deposit officer, Eclipse Bank

Years in industry: 34

Years in current job: 3

Hobbies: Golf and travel

What is your most significant career achievement?

I would say that working with H. David Hale to start a de novo bank, First Capital Bank of Kentucky, in 1996 is my most significant career achievement. 

We, along with an incredible team, built a very solid bank over the years, generating over 110 jobs along the way. That bank was sold in 2017, also a great achievement for our shareholders. 

I am part of a team at Eclipse Bank, led by CEO Andrew Pyles, that is achieving some exciting things. Eclipse Bank has more than doubled in size in the past three years and continues to grow at an astounding pace. I hope as I look back after retirement that this becomes another significant achievement.

What was your first paying job and what did you learn from it?

I worked at an electrical transformer manufacturing company for my first job. I was on the assembly line building transformers for eight hours a day. I learned how difficult that type of occupation is, and I learned that I was going to work very hard in college so that I could work in the accounting field.

How do you unwind and/or disconnect?

I have found over the years that there is only one place that I can truly disconnect. On the golf course, I can really get away from everything. For four hours, I am focused on golf and the friends I am trying to beat.

What’s the best advice you’ve ever received?

Work your hardest, do your best, always have integrity and you will achieve your dreams.

What is the biggest technologically driven solution you’re seeing in the finance industry?

An increasing demand from consumers for digital banking has led to constant upgrades in online and mobile banking. Artificial intelligence (AI) may be the next solution in trying to meet the consumer’s desire for easy, safe and quick solutions to their banking needs.

If you could manage the finances of one person, company or organization, who would it be and why?

I think to combine my profession and my hobby, I would like to manage the finances of Tiger Woods and his foundation. 

Where’s your favorite spot for a coffee, lunch or happy hour meeting?

When you are a banker, it seems there is only one place for lunch — J. Alexander’s. If you are there for lunch, you will run into several bankers any time you are there. For a happy hour meeting, I like Mesh. I don’t drink coffee, so all coffee spots are the same to me. 

What’s the craziest or most spontaneous thing you’ve ever done?

I’m an accountant. Spontaneous and crazy are not part of the psychological profile. Having said that, for me I think that selling our house by accident is right up there on the spontaneous spectrum.

My wife Kim is a Realtor and she was showing a client houses in our neighborhood. It seems the couple were describing our house when they told Kim what they were looking for in a home. After unsuccessful showings, she asked if she should show them our house. I agreed. She showed them and 60 days later we were moving out of our home