American National Bank of Texas

Elisa S. Luque, EVP and Director of Trust & Wealth Management

Financial Literacy Advocate

Elisa S. Luque

Fiduciary Trust Champion

Numbers Led Me toward Banking

I've always liked working with numbers and knew I wanted to do something in the financial industry. After graduating from the University of Miami in the late 1980s, I sought a banking position and started handing out resumes at banks along Brickell Avenue in Miami. When Bank of New York called me to interview for a receptionist job, the head of the wealth management group thought I was overqualified for the role. I tried to insist that he hire me because I just wanted to work in the bank, but he kept telling me, “No, you're not going to be happy.” Needless to say, he didn't hire me.

Well, six months later, he called me back for a trust administrator position. By then, I had taken a job in marketing, which I had minored in alongside majoring in finance, but I chose to leave for the banking job with the Bank of New York, where I stayed for 25 years.

Values Guided My Success

I love what I do and because of that I am very passionate about my craft. I would always say that if I made it to management, I would make sure to provide a voice and the flexibility for parents to be able to have a work life balance. Also, as a woman it has been my experience that we women can be the biggest roadblocks for other women and I have made it a point to not do that. I have been able to excel in my field, maintaining my principles and still assisting other women that work alongside of me.

Knowledge Builds Opportunity

Education and financial literacy are causes I care deeply about. We need to provide better education in high school. Some parents don't even know how to maintain proper credit scores. I think we need to start teaching our children budgets, and how to be more responsible with their finances.

“Believe in yourself, because no one can fight for you better than you can.”

I'm part of the advisory board of Collin College and the Leadership Program with Texas Bankers Association trying to put programs together for the financial industry. I can tell you that one of our biggest struggles is that we don't have enough individuals who can fill positions in the banking industry and in the wealth management group because they don't even know what we do. So, it's a lack of knowledge. Not only do we need to focus on financial literacy for the sake of it, but also for the future of building a pipeline of talent for our industry.

Believe, Focus and Execute

The best advice I’ve ever received—the one that changed how I operate—is this: “Don’t confuse being busy with being effective.”

At the same time, my advice to young Latinas just beginning their professional journey is to go after what they want and not let the noise around them stop them from pursuing their dreams.

Believe in yourself, because no one can fight for you better than you can.