Burke Bowers

Commercial Portfolio Manager

Howard Bank

Burke Bowers first stepped into the banking world while attending Edgewood High School in Harford County. Participating in the Academy of Finance, Bowers earned an internship at a local bank and was hired to stay on as a teller afterward. “I have an affinity for (banking) and never left,” he said.

Today, the Towson University graduate and father of two is a commercial portfolio manager for Howard Bank. “I like being part of the community, meeting with small business owners, helping them grow,” he said. Not content to sit behind a desk, he enjoys meeting customers at their businesses. “You really get to spend an hour in their shoes,” Bowers said. “I am a banker by trade, but if I go and meet with a plumber this afternoon, I’m a plumber for an hour. Or if I go meet with an attorney, I’m an attorney for an hour, so you can really be a chameleon and learn about how people operate and why they do the things they do and really be involved with your clients.”

He is driven professionally by meeting goals, so if he is asked to get a certain amount of dollars in deposits or loans, “I strive to hit that number and exceed that number,” Bowers said. “I am really driven by metrics.”

Bowers is one of the founding members of the Business Networking International’s 4 Shore Chapter and has served as the secretary/treasurer since March 2015. “It’s something I have my fingerprint on and I am proud of it,” he said.

Diagnosed with ulcerative colitis, Bowers wanted to help others with the condition they share. He is a board member for the non-profit Crohn’s and Colitis Foundation of America and has participated as a runner and coach in fundraising races.

This year, Bowers has gotten involved with Athletes Serving Athletes which pairs disabled persons with a “wingman” to push them through a race. “It’s very powerful when you are helping these individuals who otherwise would never get to experience a 5K or a race, they get to go out there and do it,” he said.