Banking advisor celebrates 45 years at RBC

Written By JOSHUA SANTOS

A special celebration was held at RBC Bolton as Katharine Barson marked 45 years with the company on Tuesday, April 16.

“It's a little hard to believe, for sure,” said Barson. “Time flies. It doesn't seem like 45 years, at all. I started when I was 17, right from school and I have been with RBC ever since.”

A giant commemorative 45 balloon filled an area of the branch with smaller blue and gold RBC balloons surrounding it. A complementary coffee and cake was offered to customers and a lunch was provided to staff workers. There was also a guest book to sign and share congratulatory words to Barson.

Barson works as a banking advisor at the Bolton branch. She helps people achieve their financial goals in life from mortgages, investments and anything they require.

“It's the satisfaction of seeing clients achieve what they came in to do,” said Barson. “Right now, I have clients that I opened their bank accounts when they were children and now they're bringing back their family to me also. That's a great milestone.”

She has lived in town for 33 years and has fond memories of the now-defunct Bolton north branch. 

“Everybody has been great,” said Barson. “I was down at the Bolton north branch for almost, 30 years, and now that's closed and it was like a family there.”

Barson said she never thought about leaving RBC. She says the company has treated her like family. 

“RBC has always been there, through the worst times, deaths in the family, good times, the birth of my children, they've always been corporative in giving me the time that I need to do things,” said Barson.

The company has given her the opportunity to advance her career and even decline offers and do what she was trained to do.

“I worked with many great people, throughout my career, some of them are not with us anymore, however It's always been like a family to me,” Barson said.

She has a lot of clients that she has known for the past 30 years in Bolton. They have kept a relationship with her throughout the years. Some of those people would end up working for RBC.

“My children have their own careers,” said Barson. “However, I had a lot of people that've met that joined RBC, that I met as clients and now they're employees. RBC has always been open. RBC continues to be active in the community with recruiting.”

Barson has also been active in the community representing RBC through various community initiatives.

“The whole branch, usually does it, not me in particular but I have done Meals on Wheels for 25 years and represented RBC through that,” said Barson.

With 45 years now in the books, Barson is not sure what the next couple of years have in store for her. She just plans to continue working.

“As long as they'll have me,” said Barson We'll see. I may leave in a couple of years or I may not. I don't know. There's no plan right now.”