Who Is Border Bank’s New Market President Jordan Cook?

In the midst of a pandemic and crazy news cycle that took hold over the last year plus, it has been easy to lose track of or forget many of the promotions happening in businesses across town. One of the not so little promotions that you may have missed was Jordan Cook’s promotion to President of Border Bank. But just who is Jordan Cook? And why is he worth getting to know?

Cook doesn’t come from a long line of bankers. In fact, nobody in the new Market President’s  immediate family is a banker. Cook has simply always had a fascination with banking.

“Growing up, I always kind of loved banking,” said Cook. “I don’t know why, but for whatever reason, I always thought that it was something that I wanted to do. When I was a kid I was kind of fascinated by the big vaults and what not.”

A native of Wahpeton, Cook, took that fascination with him to North Dakota State. Though he didn’t quite know it right away.

“I had originally decided that I was going to be a pharmacist,” said Cook. “I did two full years of courses as a pre-pharmacy student at NDSU. However, I found myself in that second year not enjoying school. I had always used to enjoy school. I switched my third year to get on track for a business degree and found myself in my calling.”

During the last few years in school, Cook worked as a teller and intern at a local bank. During that shadowing period of his internship, a mentor  of his recommended that he apply at the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, Office of the Comptroller of the Currency or the Federal Reserve.

Cook took that advice and ended up getting a job with the FDIC at the age of 24. With that job, he received what was essentially a master’s in banking like education while getting paid. After that experience with the FDIC, he spent a large chunk of time working at two banks in the community before moving on to Union State Bank (which is now Border Bank).

“I loved what I was doing, but there was just a great opportunity here,” said Cook. “With the purchase of Union State Bank and being merged into Border, there was just this huge influx of capital into an already successful, but small bank. I really have the opportunity here to be aggressive. Where I was before Border, I just didn’t have the opportunity to give my input like I do here. Things just get done so much quicker here.”

Away from the office, Cook is just a normal guy who loves golf and college football. He has a wife, Hannah, and two children, Julius (3) and Haven who is almost one. Perhaps that normalcy is why when working with Cook, you can expect to be more than just a customer. 

“I like playing golf with clients, grabbing lunch with clients, grabbing drinks with clients. I even have season tickets to NDSU football games so I’ve been able to do that every once in a while with customers. I’ve really become friends with many customers,” said Cook. 

If you’re a member of the business community and want to get to know Cook better, reach out to him at 701-526-1130 or at [email protected].