Seven years after he began working for Eastern National Bank as a Customer Service Representative in a trailer which served as the bank's branch office, Julian Herradon, Jr. has returned to the Doral area.

Eastern National Bank's office at 2495 NW 82 Avenue

Now he is Vice President and Branch Manager of one the most active commercial banks in this part of Miami-Dade County.

Julian Herradon, Jr., VP and Branch Manager of Eastern

"Doral, Eastern National and I have all come a long way since those days," he said. "We were in the right place at the right time then, and we still are."

He continued, "When we opened the trailer, which sat where the bank's parking lot is now, there was very little traffic and just a few scattered businesses in this area. Now Doral is the hub for warehousing and distribution companies in Greater Miami and is the home of a growing number of commercial and industrial firms of all kinds."

The branch office, which Eastern National calls its Miami International Commerce Center, occupies an attractive building and strategically located at 2495 NW 82 Avenue. It is easily accessible from Miami International Airport, the Palmetto Expressway and the burgeoning Doral industrial/commercial area.

Here, both consumer and commercial customers receive a complete range of banking services including checking and savings accounts, plus certificates of deposit, consumer, commercial, and real estate loans, and equipment leases, safety deposit boxes, and ATM services as well.
Although the bank maintains its International Division at its corporate headquarters on Brickell Plaza, many of its customers prefer to conduct international transactions at the MICC branch because of its proximity to the airport.

"The steady growth of this branch can be attributed to many factors," says Herradon, "Of course the phenomenal growth of this area has been a major stimulant, however, we consider personalized, individual service to be the cornerstone of our bank."

He said, "Even though most banks, from those of our size to the large, national chains and out-of-state conglomerates, offer basically the same products and services, there will always be a need for smaller, community-owned banks. We operate the way banks used to do business, on a person-to-person basis. We know our customers by name and do everything we possibly can to meet their needs."

Herradon is now working on a program that will provide the employees of the bank's commercial customers with special services. The details will be announced at a later date.

Eastern National's MICC branch is more than just a bank, it is an important part of the community. It has ten employees, many whom have been with the bank over a number of years, so customers see familiar faces each time they enter.

The bank is an active member of the Airport West Chamber of Commerce and Casual Fridays are "Customer Appreciation Days", when coffee and doughnuts are served.
The last Friday of the month is dedicated to a charitable organization, such as the March of Dimes, Junior

Achievement, the American Red Cross, the Diabetes Foundation, or Downs Syndrome, and bank employees wear special Eastern National Bank polo shirts instead of their usual business attire. The charitable organization's literature is also displayed at the branch and donations are collected.

Eastern National has over $344 million in assets and serves Greater Miami through five offices located in Brickell, Coral Gables, Kendall, and Hialeah/ Miami Lakes in addition to the MICC office. It grew from the acquisition of Peoples National Bank in Hialeah 30 years ago. Corporate offices as well as its Private Banking, International Division, and Trade Finance Division are located at its Brickell address.

Herradon, who received an Associate of Science Degree in Financial Services from Miami Dade Community College and is currently working on an advanced degree, began his banking career as a teller in 1981.

He has served Eastern National since 1993 as a customer service representative, assistant branch manager of the MICC, Kendall and Coral Gables branches, and Vice President of Branch Administration.

He lives with his wife Caroline, their 1 1/2 year old daughter, Kelly Merrie, and his father, Julian Herradon (senior).

The lobby of the Eastern National MICC branch is open from 9 AM to 4 PM, Monday through Thursday, and from 9 AM to 5 PM on Friday.

Drive-in teller windows are open from 8 AM to 4 PM, Monday through Thursday and from 8 AM to 5 PM on Friday.

For additional information, please call 305 470 2650 or fax them at 305 470 2651.