So far our captains for the upcoming July 22 Startup Drinks event include a ceramics artist, a mechanical engineer, and a university representative. Add this to the pallet: the vice president of North Dakota business banking!

Travis Koch is the Vice President, North Dakota business and private banking manager at US Bank, and he’ll be joining us on Wednesday as a Startup Drinks Captain. He’s worked at US Bank since 1996, starting off as a teller and gradually working up to District Manager, Team Manager, and now Vice President of business banking in this region.

Before his banking career, Koch went to school in Munich, Germany before earning his Bachelor’s from University of North Dakota. He’s been in his current role for 2 years, leading  business and private Bankers in Fargo, Bismarck and Minot, North Dakota. Oh, and you can call him TK. Here we asked Travis about awkward tattoos, inspiring books, and more.

Travis “TK” Koch: A Banker Boss

1. Do you have a nickname? If so, what is it?

Don’t really have a nickname, but, sometimes people call me TK.

2. Any awkward tattoos? Please describe in detail.

No tattoos, sorry.

3. If you could describe your startup as an animal what animal would it be?

I do not work for a start up, but our banking team was started as a new team 2 years ago. Maybe an Eagle.

4. What is one of the most influential books you’ve ever read?

The first one is pretty old, but really influenced me early on in my career, Awaken the Giant Within by Anthony Robbins. More recently The 15 Invaluable Laws of Growth by John Maxwell.

5. If you could travel anywhere in the world right now, where would you go?

Grand Cayman, it would be a great place to take my family.

6. What is one the coolest places you’ve traveled?

The French Riviera

Thanks Travis! Come see him at Startup Drinks THIS Wednesday night, July 22, from 5:30 to 7:30 at the Prairie Den. Sign up here!

Confused as to what Startup Drinks even is? Here’s what you need to know.