On September 23, I attended First Bank Chicago’s Evening of Appreciation, a client event at Bar Siena in Skokie. I spoke with the bank’s leadership and my banker about the lending outlook, treasury management tools, and current cybersecurity threats. Running Omni Dental of Arlington Heights, I see the same priorities in healthcare: earning trust and keeping information secure.
Key Takeaways
- Business relationships built outside the office are valuable, conversations and connections matter as much as transactions.
- Running a healthcare practice shares common ground with banking: trust, long-term relationships, and protecting client information are essential.
- Cybersecurity is now a business conversation for all industries, not just banks and tech companies.
- Strong communities are built through relationships between professionals, businesses, institutions, and families working together.
Read time: 7 min
As a client of First Bank Chicago and a local business owner, I appreciated the invitation to spend a relaxed evening with the people behind the bank. It was a chance to connect with people I know both professionally and personally, along with fellow professionals and community members from throughout the Chicago area.
Connecting With the People Behind First Bank Chicago
One thing I have always valued in business is relationships. Technology makes it possible to do almost everything remotely today, but I still believe there is tremendous value in knowing the people you work with.
During the evening, I had the opportunity to speak with several members of the First Bank Chicago leadership team, including Jill Takiff Hirsh, Chair of the Board, and Eric Ephraim, CEO and President. I also spent time with David Putrus, Vice President at First Bank Chicago and my banker.
First Bank Chicago has more than 70 years of banking history and describes relationship banking and long-term connections with its clients as an important part of its approach.
As someone who runs a healthcare practice, I can relate to that philosophy. At Omni Dental of Arlington Heights, we may provide dental care rather than financial services, but trust and long-term relationships are just as important to us.
A Conversation About Business and the Economy
One of the conversations I especially enjoyed was with David Putrus.
We talked about the current economic landscape, the outlook for business lending, and some of the challenges and opportunities businesses are navigating today.
Running a dental practice involves much more than dentistry. Like any business owner, I have to think about employees, technology, operations, cash flow, investments, security, and long-term planning. Having the opportunity to exchange ideas about these subjects with someone who works closely with businesses throughout the Chicago area was valuable.
We also discussed some of First Bank Chicago’s latest Treasury Management Solutions. The bank currently offers businesses tools for cash-flow management, payments, reporting, online and mobile banking, and fraud prevention.
Cybersecurity Is Now a Business Conversation
Another conversation that stood out to me was with JP Just, Chief Information Officer for IT Operations at First Bank Chicago.
We spoke about current cybersecurity threats facing businesses and the importance of protecting business and financial information.
That conversation caught my attention because cybersecurity is no longer something that concerns only banks or technology companies. Healthcare practices depend heavily on technology as well. Protecting information and maintaining secure systems are important responsibilities for any modern organization.
We also discussed First Bank Chicago’s online banking technology. The bank recently upgraded its commercial online and mobile banking platform, and its commercial banking services include features such as transaction reporting, electronic transfers, account alerts, ACH and wire approvals, and mobile account management.
It was interesting to hear about these developments directly from someone involved with the technology side of the organization.
An Evening With Chicago-Area Professionals and Community Members
The evening wasn’t all business.
My wife, Doli, and I also enjoyed spending time with familiar faces and meeting other members of the community.
Among those I had the pleasure of seeing were Dr. John Michael of Retina Institute of Illinois and his wife, Christine Michael, as well as Ninos Younan, Samuel Younan, Sargon Isaac, Hilda Isaac, and others.
I also enjoyed seeing Michael Atto from First Bank Chicago’s Skokie team. Events like this remind me that our professional and personal communities often overlap in ways we don’t always notice during a busy workweek.
There is something different about sitting down, sharing a conversation, and getting to know the person behind the professional title.
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Why Community Connections Matter to Me
As a dentist, my primary responsibility will always be taking care of my patients. But owning and operating Omni Dental of Arlington Heights has also taught me how important it is for local businesses and professionals to remain connected to the communities around them.
First Bank Chicago itself has made community involvement part of its mission, supporting nonprofit organizations across Lake and Cook Counties through charitable contributions, sponsorships, volunteering, and financial education.
I believe strong communities are built through these kinds of relationships, between healthcare professionals, businesses, financial institutions, nonprofit organizations, families, and the people who call the Chicago area home.
Thank You to First Bank Chicago
I would like to thank First Bank Chicago for inviting Doli and me to the Client Evening of Appreciation and for putting together such an enjoyable gathering at Bar Siena.
It was wonderful spending time with David Putrus, Jill Takiff Hirsh, Eric Ephraim, JP Just, Michael Atto, and so many friends and fellow members of our community.
I left the evening with some new ideas, some valuable conversations to think about, and an even greater appreciation for the relationships we build outside our everyday work.
Sometimes an evening of appreciation gives us a chance to appreciate those relationships as well.
Dr. Bilus Poles is a practicing periodontist and founder of Omni Dental of Arlington Heights, Illinois. Beyond his clinical practice, he is passionate about building business relationships, community involvement, and fostering connections that strengthen local communities. Learn more about Dr. Bilus.
About the author
Dr. Bilus D PolesDDS,MAGD,DICOI, DIDIA
Founder and lead dentist of Omni Dental of Arlington Heights. Master of the Academy of General Dentistry and Board Certified Diplomate of the ICOI and IDIA. Illinois license #019.027365.
