AT THE HELM

It's no exaggeration to say that Danny O'Brien loves being a banker. Really loves it.

"My wife says I never decompress, never take my suit off," said O'Brien, a Rye resident who has been president and CEO of Ocean National Bank since 2003.

" I like to ride my bike, but I don't do it enough. I like to read history, but don't do it enough." Not that he's complaining. The Montpelier, Vt., native has been involved in the banking business since he graduated from the University of Vermont in 1972 and is passionate about the role of banks in fostering community development -- both economically and socially.

He's worked at banks in Massachusetts, Vermont, Maine and New Hampshire and has helped lead Ocean National's expansion throughout Southern New Hampshire and Maine as it has become a major mid-sized, $1.6 billion player in the Northern New England banking scene.

"You can find us from Keene to Kennebunk," O'Brien said about the 36-branch commercial bank that was founded in 1854 and was acquired by the Chittenden Corporation of Burlington, Vt., in 2002.

O'Brien recently talked to Ventures about the commercial banking life.

ON MENTORS: I know how important it is to have someone help you learn where the textbook ends and the world begins. I hope I always have the courage to give people the opportunity, to put them in the position to succeed and do things they might not have done.

ON THE REGION'S ENTREPRENEURS: I've become a student of this area and it never ceases to amaze me the amount of creativity and the diversity of entrepreneurs we have in this region. We have a diverse and vibrant economy with so many small businesses with national and international clients. Sometimes we don't appreciate what we have in our own back yard but I am always impressed by what I find.

ON PERSISTENCE: In the beginning (of my career), I jumped right in and began to learn from others. I think the hardest lesson you have to learn is to pick yourself up (from setbacks) and come back at it and persevere.

ON THE ROLE OF COMMUNITY BANKS: Here's my answer -- we're involved on a number of levels and we have a number of leadership roles. We're involved with the economic well-being of businesses and individuals. One of our jobs is to put people together for business, for nonprofit and philanthropic opportunities. We have different channels for our employees and the bank to become involved to serve on community boards and for us to sponsor a wide range of community events.

ON ALTERNATIVE CAREER PATH: If I wasn't a banker, I would definitely be doing something people based, an interactive consulting business. My bent would be business related, an economic development role to help business people figure out their expansion or financing plans.

ON CHANGES: It's a very different world than when I started. The competition has never been greater. We have mega banks, credit unions that have tax advantages and the Wal-Marts who want to become banks. There's a lot of encroachment going on everywhere as more and more services are being offered. We got out of student loans and consumer credit cards because of the competition and it took away from our core business.

ON HISTORY: Have you seen the old bank balance sheets (from 1858) we have in the lobby? I think you need to understand a community's history ... to understand why things are the way they are today, to best serve it. This bank was started by ship builders in Kennebunk who needed money but couldn't get any help because the banks were located so far away in Boston. It helps you understand that a lot of people have built this and you are building on their success.