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Bob Falese, the senior loan officer of Commerce Bank, first got to know his boss Vernon Hill on the golf course. At the time, Falese was Hill's banker for another venture. But as they talked their way around golf courses, Falese liked what he heard from Hill. The Commerce founder explained that he was putting together a team for a fast growing bank. Recalls Falese, "I saw the opportunity, and I saw he made more out of his people than they were before. Vernon's like basketball's Larry Bird. He makes people around him better players."
Falese got into banking while he was still attending St. Joseph's University in Philadelphia, working nights as a bill collector. Evenings were a good time to find people at home, so collections were good. Straight out of college he went with First Pennsylvania...