It’s so much harder than it sounds. Alexander Anaya treats his clients as long-term partners. That’s much more than one transaction or one moment in time. The healthcare-focused AVP of enterprise business development at Bank of America is focused on helping physicians, dentists, and veterinarians in Houston grow their fledgling businesses into the practices of their dreams.
“I have built my entire career on relationships; that is what has helped me accomplish all of my goals,” Anaya explains.
Anaya’s relationships extend into cultural and linguistic spaces that are increasingly central to Bank of America’s growth strategy. After relocating from Arizona to Houston, he found himself relying on his bilingual background more than ever.
“Since relocating to Houston, I’ve had the opportunity to work with many more Spanish-speaking physicians, dentists, and veterinarians,” Anaya says. “Being able to communicate in their preferred language helps foster deeper relationships and allows me to better support their goals.” As a bilingual banker, Anaya is able to support Spanish-speaking physicians, dentists, and veterinarians throughout Houston and across his market.
Anaya says education is an important component of building lasting relationships. You will not find him lobbing a ton of technical jargon into conversations to make himself seem smarter than he is.
“I prefer to act more as a consultant for my clients,” he says. “I don’t speak the bank lingo because I think it just confuses people. I use a lot of analogies that are relatable to everyday life. I like to break it down and explain what I can do in an understanding way.”
Anaya is the son of entrepreneurs and grew up working in his grandparents’ jewelry store. He’s ran his own businesses and that background provides him with an instinctive empathy for the stresses and ambitions of practice owners.
“The knowledge of the growing pains involved in keeping a business running goes hand in hand with what I do today,” Anaya says. “I’m not only able to describe what the bank can offer, but I’m also able to relate to the client’s needs as a borrower or as a client.”
Anaya credits his father with shaping that problem-solving style. He says his father always took the time to explain how things work and emphasized the importance of taking the time to observe and break things down for oneself. That insight from his father plays out today when the banker sits down to listen to the hopes and dreams of his partners.
“When I listen to my clients, my goal is always to offer a solution that does more than provide what they’re looking for in that moment,” Anaya says. “I want to offer a solution that will position them positively for the future. I think that kind of thinking comes directly from my dad.”
It may seem like another easy concept, but Anaya says that listening, true listening, often seems like a lost art. “Every healthcare professional’s journey is different,” he says. “My first responsibility is to listen and understand where they are trying to go before discussing how we can help. I really try to understand where a doctor is today and where they want to be in five or ten years. That’s how I build return clients; that’s how I build long-term relationships. You just have to take the time to invest in people to help them be successful.”
He’s brand new in town, but Anaya is clearly excited to become part of the fabric of the city of Houston. Anaya’s focus is on becoming a trusted resource throughout Houston’s healthcare community by helping physicians, dentists, and veterinarians navigate the challenges of practice ownership and long-term growth.
“My move to Houston was an opportunity to serve one of the nation’s most dynamic healthcare communities and continue building relationships with physicians, dentists, and vets at every stage of their practice ownership,” Anaya says. “I want to become a trusted resource here. My goal isn’t simply to finance practices, it’s to become a trusted partner that physicians, dentists, and veterinarians can rely on throughout their careers as they build businesses that strengthen the communities they serve.”
