Nate Lee, a Diné (Navajo) tribal member, is vice-president and senior relationship manager with Bank of America Corp., one of the world’s leading financial institutions. With more than 18 years of banking experience, Nate has served most of his career as a commercial banking professional with financial institutions that include Bank of America, BOK Financial, Rabobank, and Wells Fargo.
Nate’s professional life has been shaped by his exposure to small businesses and his Native American upbringing. Raised in an entrepreneurial environment, he grew up watching his father run an autobody and repair shop. He was born and raised on the Navajo Reservation, his ancestral homeland and worked with his father in the shop, gaining valuable experience as a laborer and an office worker.
In high school, he was part of Business Professionals of America (BPA). He applied his two years of accounting knowledge to the Financial Analyst category. This was bolstered by his experience in bookkeeping and payroll for his father’s business. Nate competed in the BPA national competitions, and for the first time in his life, he flew in an airplane, learned dining etiquette, and purchased dress clothes. While this may seem insignificant to some, it was a life-changing experience for a young person from the reservation. Nate’s experience at BPA Nationals convinced him that college was the right path.
Nate earned a BA in Business Administration from Fort Lewis College and an MS in Economics from New Mexico State University. He credits his mentor, the late Claudine Riddle, for helping him secure his first job in commercial banking in Kansas City. He eventually found his way home, and now works in commercial banking in Albuquerque NM near his Navajo homeland.
Nate remains active in the Albuquerque community as a volunteer for Junior Achievement of New Mexico and also serves as a mentor for teammates across Bank of America as a leader in the Native American Professional Network. In addition, he also serves on the board of directors for Explora Science Center & Children's Museum, the American Indian Chamber of Commerce of New Mexico, and Fort Lewis College Foundation. He has conducted numerous financial literacy engagements throughout his career.
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