Sandi Woods is a firm believer in letting the Lord lead you on the path you need to be on in life. After a lengthy career in the local court system, her faith and prayers led her to the next chapter of her life. And it’s a decision she knows was intended specifically for her through Him.
“I spent 30 years in the court system, but I knew I needed a change long before I made it,” said Woods, a Columbia native. “It goes with my favorite Bible verse, ‘trust in the Lord, lean not on your own understanding; acknowledge Him, and He will direct your path.’ I also read a quote recently that ties into that. ‘Don’t ask the Lord to direct your path unless you are willing to move your feet.’”
Woods followed what she felt was God’s push into a new chapter of her life when she accepted a position at Bankplus in September of 2021 as a new bank teller.
“The quote about being willing to move your feet with the Lord was accurate because I had been praying for a year for the Lord to left me know when it was time to leave my former job,” Woods said. “I had been reluctant to move my feet. Until I came here to Bankplus, I was not one to embrace change. But we lost our son Blake in April of 2021, and that was the shove that I needed to make the change.”
Woods first joined the Bankplus family at the smaller branch on Fifteenth Street. Woods admits she went into her new career with no experience.
“I had no banking experience whatsoever,” she said, with a laugh. “I had no cash handling business since high school when I was working in retail. But I think that you can look back to the big picture, and you can see how God is moving things around. I think, at that time, the opening at the smaller branch on Fifteenth Street was a Godsend.”
Woods credits Brenda Gainwell, the branch manager, with an easy transition into her new career path.
“She is good at letting you know what her expectations are, and she is one of those people who look for those teachable moments,” Woods said. “She is very patient, and I was thankful for her being such a patient and steady leader. And I like consistency, and she is good at setting boundaries and expectations. I think it was a good thing that I started there as a teller.”
Three months into her new position, Woods was introduced to her first cross training experience.
“Cross training and learning new roles are big here,” Woods said. “When Mrs. Brenda told me it was time to learn about the vault, I heard my mouth say ‘yes,’ but my inner voice was terrified. She handed me off to Deloris Ellis, who is a good teacher and taught me about handling the vault. It ended up being one of the things I enjoyed the most about being on the teller side.”
In April of 2022, Woods decided to take another path within the Bankplus family, accepting a position at the larger Jerry Clower Boulevard branch. Although she was still a teller, she was introduced to more customers and co-workers.
“Then in January of this year, I moved over into the loan department,” Woods said. “I had got to the point where I was confident in the teller line when this opening happened. Debra Smith, one of the loan officers and assistant bank center manager, has provided me with such an opportunity to learn from her and be mentored by her. She started in 1990, and she knows so much, especially about real estate lending.”
Now serving as a lending assistant, Woods is involved with a multitude of roles within the loan process from tracking to closing to more. And she is excited about learning more through a variety of options Bankplus provides, such as webinars and direct teaching.
“There is always the opportunity to learn more, and they provide so much education here,” Woods said. “I think back to Judge Ed Cortright during my time with the court system. He was my first work mentor in life, and he said, ‘if you continue to learn, you continue to grow.’ That has stayed with me in my work life.”
And although there are challenges with new technology and updated regulations, Woods said she is excited to be a part of the Bankplus family. It was a new path set in motion by God, and she is grateful.
“This is the most welcoming and encouraging environment,” she said, with a smile. “This is something new and something positive with every encouragement and goal put into place. I just love that and the new family I can work with here.”
When she is not working, Woods loves to spend time with her family and attend First Baptist Church, where she teaches Sunday School to third and fourth graders.
