Meet Tony Becerril, a banker who guides homebuilders from the ground up

After more than 20 years in banking, Tony Becerril still gets excited about seeing ideas on paper become homes and thriving communities.

As a Commercial Real Estate Relationship Manager in Idaho's Treasure Valley, he works primarily with homebuilders in and around Boise, providing financing that helps turn land into neighborhoods in one of the West’s fastest-growing regions.

For Tony, helping a builder’s vision come to life is one of the most rewarding parts of the job.

"I have a rare perspective of seeing a builder’s idea move to bare dirt and then to an entire development with hundreds of homes," he says. "At the end of the day, my clients are literally building communities and that’s important to people.” 

Tony didn't set out to specialize in homebuilder finance. After getting his start in commercial banking after college, he eventually found a niche in commercial real estate lending. “I gradually worked my way into an exclusive focus on working with builders and I’ve found that it really suits me,” he says.

He joined Banner about 10 years ago and works with area builders on projects ranging from smaller developments to large-scale neighborhoods.

Boise’s ongoing, rapid net migration and population growth over the past 15 years has transformed the area into one of the country's fastest-growing destinations for new residents and businesses. With a professional path interwoven with this growth, Tony’s career success is built on understanding the market, knowing the builders and having a genuine interest in the industry.

He pays close attention to what local builders are doing, from development trends to the craft behind building homes. "Every builder has a different style," he says. "One may focus on a Craftsman look and feel, while another is more modern. I often know who built something just by driving by.”

That local knowledge and appreciation for the craft help him sustain credibility with his clients. Homebuilding is a specialized business, and builders can tell whether someone understands the realities they face. By paying attention to what's happening on the ground, Tony can provide guidance that adds value to the process.

Another strength he has cultivated is identifying and addressing potential obstacles his clients may face before they become roadblocks. He works with builders to align ambitious goals with strategic planning to ensure they qualify for financing.

Ultimately, Tony sees his role as an advocate for clients, helping them evaluate opportunities, work through challenges and position their projects for long-term success.

That philosophy is one reason he’s thriving at Banner. He is quick to note that the Bank’s expertise in this type of lending goes beyond a single team member. Leadership understands the niche, the credit team understands the builder’s unique borrowing and underwriting needs and support teams understand the speed at which clients need to move. Together, that collaborative approach helps support growth and that’s a strong differentiator in the industry. 

Outside of work, Tony’s time is largely devoted to his wife and their four children. "Their extracurricular activities are my extracurricular activities," he says.

Whether he's helping bring new communities to life or spending time with family, he takes the same approach to work and life: stay grounded, pay attention to the details and focus on helping others succeed.