Loyalty, duty, respect, selfless service, honor, integrity, and personal courage are the seven core values of the U.S. Army. These values are ingrained into U.S. Army soldiers during their Basic Combat Training (BCT) and carried with them every day after.
Justin Miller, Staff Sergeant with the U.S. Army Infantry and United Bank Consumer/Commercial Lender, embodies these values. It’s evident whether he’s working on a loan for a new customer or attending a community event. The Our Story editors recently had the privilege to explore his journey from Eagle Scout to bank lender.
From an early age, Justin recalls his father emphasizing the importance of loyalty and devotion in every endeavor. Becoming an Eagle Scout was more than hanging out with his friends or going camping. He learned to serve others while building character, developed leadership skills and grew into a man who would have a positive impact on his community. In 2006, Justin earned his Eagle Scout badge; today he serves as the Nominating Chair for the Boy Scouts of America Yellow River District.
Justin admits he did not initially plan to join the military. After graduation from high school, he earned a football scholarship to play for Belhaven University in Jackson, Miss. He had a successful college career as a punter/kicker for the Blazers and graduated with a bachelor’s degree in business administration. During college, Justin's dream was to work for the FBI. However, feeling a sense of duty and understanding the climate at the time, he made an honorable decision to enlist in the U.S. Army at the age of 23.
Facing the fear and challenges that come along with military service, Justin served in the U.S. Army Infantry on active duty from 2012–2020. In Afghanistan his unit was responsible for many tasks which included providing security for U.S. and foreign upper-echelon leaders during key engagements, locating and securing key personnel, patrolling and securing towns to create safe havens for U.S. personnel and locals. The unit earned the Meritorious Unit Citation for their hard work, sacrifices, and dedication. After eight years of service, he decided to return to civilian life with an honorable discharge.
Unlike Afghanistan, the banking industry was not foreign territory to Justin. His grandfather and father were both banking executives, and he made the decision to follow in their footsteps. In 2020, Justin accepted the position of Consumer/Commercial lender in United Bank’s Covington Division. Having no prior banking experience, Justin leaned on many of the skills he obtained during his military service to find his footing. Those included working with the team to understand the ever-changing guidelines, using critical and analytical skills to make sound lending decisions and most of all, maintaining flexibility. The banking industry faced many unknowns during the pandemic, but his experience with massive amounts of paperwork and the overall military mindset of “hurry up and wait” allowed him to excel in a time when many failed.
“Justin’s transition from a leadership role in the military environment to a civilian setting could have been difficult,” explained Thomas Kephart, Covington President. “He was literally starting at the bottom of the organizational hierarchy and reinventing himself. He embraced the duties assigned in each step, regardless of how remedial they may have seemed, and developed the skills to become a successful banker.”
In addition to his new career as a community banker, Justin made the decision to serve in the U.S. Army National Guard from 2020 until 2023, when he received an honorable discharge.
Jennifer Turner, another United Bank employee, spoke recently with Justin about the topic of military service. As the mother of an active-duty U.S. Marine, she knew immediately that Justin would be a resource she could trust. Her son, Lance Corporal Dyer, has many military and civilian opportunities, and he needed direction.
“The level of respect Justin shows for others and his personal integrity would not allow him to be anything but honest and forthcoming with information,” Jennifer shared. Without hesitation, Justin offered his phone number with an invitation for Dyer to call him. Two days later, a mentoring relationship began.
“Mentors are a must-have, and I’ve had many. With their guidance, I accomplished more than I could have ever imagined,” Justin explained.
When you step into his United Bank office you know right away that Justin served his country. It only takes a moment to feel his sense of honor, service, and duty.
“Serving my nation is the greatest honor of my life. I am blessed to live in a country that has allowed me to follow my dreams, achieve my goals and provide opportunities others in this world can only imagine,” Justin said with a sense of well-deserved pride.
United Bank is honored to have an American hero serving our customers and proudly salutes active-duty, reservists and veterans of all branches of the United States Armed Forces.