Senior Vice President, United Bank, Inc.
LinkedIn: DF Mock
Written by Jennifer Jett Prezkop
In 1994, D.F. Mock was 12, and his little league team was on fire. Coached by his father, Freddie Mock, the Moose-sponsored team for which Mock played first base brought home the county championship three years in a row. “My most memorable childhood moments were playing little league baseball and grade school basketball with my father as the head coach,” says Mock. “There was nothing more important in the world than sports.” While Mock’s priorities have shifted over the years, he’s still got his eye on the ball, and he’s still determined to win.
Today, Mock is the senior vice president of United Bank, Inc. (UBI) in Charleston. In this role, he oversees the auto dealer services line of business, the commercial wholesale financing floorplan portfolio, the consumer indirect lending division, market leadership for the Capital Market and the operations of 10 branch offices across four counties.
Mock grew up in Hinton, a small town in Summers County, playing sports and working on the family farm. He attended West Virginia University (WVU), where he majored in finance and business management and developed an interest in pursuing a financial services career.
After graduating from WVU in 2004, Mock was hired as a credit analyst for UBI’s executive headquarters in Parkersburg. It was during the hiring process that he crossed paths with Jim Hayhurst, UBI’s executive vice president, who quickly became Mock’s mentor.
“Jim hired me and took me in under his wing,” says Mock. “He helped shape my career in terms of guiding me through the banking network and providing feedback on all commercial lending decisions. He also taught me to always be focused on embracing opportunities when they present themselves. The wisdom and knowledge he shares with me from his more than 40 years of banking experience is priceless.”
In 2010, Mock was named market president of UBI’s South Market in Beckley, making him one of the youngest market presidents in the company’s history. The promotion was a turning point that he says was both a great honor and a great challenge.
“I transitioned from a role in which I managed a loan portfolio to overseeing the commercial and consumer lending departments as well as the 10-office branch network across the entire market,” he says. “My challenge was how to get the entire market to buy into my management style and goals.” One goal was to be the number one market in the state for UBI. Three years to the date of his promotion, that goal was met.
Mock’s genuine interest in banking coupled with his hunger to win and natural leadership skills have given him the leverage to climb to the top. Despite his high-ranking position, he still makes time for the things that matter: his wife, Juli; their daughter, Haydon, and giving back to his community. His service includes board positions for the Beckley Area Foundation (BAF), United Way of Southern West Virginia (UWSWV), the Beckley-Raleigh County Chamber of Commerce and the Appalachian Regional Healthcare Foundation for Healthier Communities. He has chaired the BAF’s Campaign for the 21st Century Committee and the UWSWV’s Inside the Huddle fundraising committee and sits on the New River Gorge Regional Development Authority’s loan review committee.
He has also been heavily involved with Rotary International since 2007 and the Beckley Rotary Club (BRC) since 2009. He has served in many roles within the BRC, including a year as president. In 2015, the BRC named him a Paul Harris Fellow, the organization’s highest honor.
Mock’s love for West Virginia inspires him to give back. “I love the people and sense of community pride that exists in every corner of the Mountain State,” he says. “No matter where you are from, West Virginians always band together to help, support and encourage each other. It’s a great place to live, and I wouldn’t trade it for anything.”
What is your favorite … ?
Color – WVU Gold and Blue
Food – Steak
Cartoon Character – Popeye
Ice Cream – Vanilla
Animal – Horse
Book – “Waiting for the Fall: A Decade of Dreams, Drama, and West Virginia University Football” by Mike Casazza
App – WV Metro News
Midnight Snack – Ice Cream
TV Show – ESPN’s “30 for 30” sports documentary series
Movie – “Lonesome Dove”
Smell – Fresh-cut hay in a field
Sport Team – West Virginia University Mountaineers, New York Yankees, Los Angeles Lakers, Indianapolis Colts
Car – Jeep Wrangler
Pet – Boston terrier
Place – Myrtle Beach, SC
Season – Spring
Local Restaurant – The Char in Beckley, WV
Era – The Old West
3 Comments
Love when a “hometown “kid is successful in life God bless (we were at many many of your games)
Congratulations on all your successes, D.F.
Congratulations DF. While I never knew you personally, I knew your parents. As a child, I attended the Methodist Church in Hinton with your mom Donna and then we went through high school together. I met your dad Freddie in high school and we also graduated together. I am sure that they are very proud of you and your accomplishments. Hinton is such a small town and West Virginia often gets such a “bad rap” as being redneck/hillbilly/whatever, I just love to see our young folks or anyone from the Mountain State achieve great success! Keep up the good work and I am quite sure that you will go even further in your life journey!