Robert B. Palmer, 77, former Philadelphia National Bank president
Mr. Palmer had a knack for remembering names and family details about his customers and bank underlings. That made them feel special, his son said.
Robert B. Palmer, 77, formerly of Landenberg, Chester County, a Philadelphia National Bank chief executive officer and area civic leader, died Sunday, May 7, of esophageal cancer at Beaumont at Bryn Mawr.
In 1964, Mr. Palmer joined PNB and rose quickly through the ranks. After spending time in the management training program, he became director of the bank's international division in the 1970s, arranging trade financing with foreign banks, including some in the former Soviet Bloc and in Southeast Asia.
He was one of the first to go behind the Iron Curtain in search of banking opportunities, his family said.
He went on to lead the bank's consumer services, operations and data processing divisions with the rank of executive vice president.
When CoreStates Financial Corp. was formed in 1983, Mr. Palmer took control of corporate planning, communications and public responsibility as a vice president.
Five years later, Frederick Heldring, PNB's chief executive officer, announced his retirement, naming Mr. Palmer as his replacement.
"Bob Palmer's experience at PNB is very deep, touching almost all areas in which PNB excels," Heldring said then. "In addition, he is respected in the Philadelphia area for his involvement and commitment to community affairs."
In May 1990, responding to consolidation in the increasingly competitive banking industry, CoreStates announced it would close 29 bank branches as part of a merger with First Pennsylvania Corp.
The closings affected 10 First Pennsylvania and 19 PNB branches, but Mr. Palmer pledged all 200 affected workers would be offered new jobs. "No one is being laid off to achieve the consolidations," he said at the time.
(Since 1990, in a lengthy series of mergers and acquisitions, PNB and First Pennsylvania have been absorbed; the resulting banking entity is Wells Fargo.)
In 1985, when CoreStates was offered the chance to sponsor a professional bicycling championship in Philadelphia, Mr. Palmer embraced it with enthusiasm, calling it an "up-and-coming, healthy, family sport."
He told American Banker that the race would attract local and national attention. Throngs turned out to watch the riders tackle the Manayunk "Wall" and to ride the course along the river drives.
Mr. Palmer retired as vice chairman of CoreStates in 1995. In retirement, he stayed active on the boards of the credit-card company Visa as well as the drilling equipment maker Schramm Inc. of West Chester.
In the volunteer arena, he was well-known as chairman of the World Affairs Council and the International Visitors Council, and as vice chairman of the Police Athletic League of Philadelphia.
In later years, he was a board member of Entrepreneur Works, a nonprofit organization offering loans and guidance to small businesses in the city, especially those owned by women and minorities. He freely gave advice on business matters.
Born in Pittsburgh, he graduated from Phillips Academy in Andover, Mass., and Yale University in 1962. Mr. Palmer was a reservist in the Army's 304th Civil Affairs Group, and was honorably discharged with the rank of Specialist 4.
When called to interview for his first bank job in Philadelphia, he hitchhiked across the state from Pittsburgh. He landed the job, but had to borrow against his first paycheck to pay for lodging.
"He made it up as he went along and had that human touch, so things just happened for him," said his son David W.
Mr. Palmer was personable and considerate, with a knack for remembering customers' names and family details. He cared about the careers and well-being of his colleagues and subordinates, many of whom praised his mentor-ship and leadership skills.
"He connected with people on their level," his son said. "He remembered and knew something about even the smallest bogs in the machine. That made people feel like they were important."
He also cared deeply about issues such as income inequality, and worked to improve the prospects of many in the city's underserved and marginalized neighborhoods, his family said.
He lived in Landenberg for many years, and spent a short time in Sanibel, Fla., until moving to Bryn Mawr three months ago for health reasons.
Mr. Palmer was married to Carol Cain in 1966. The couple had their son David W. before divorcing. He married Nancy Latimer in 1984, and the couple had three children.
In addition to his son, wife and former wife, he is survived by children, Jeffrey H., Laura B., and Christopher M.; two grandchildren, and a brother.
Plans for a memorial service were pending. Burial will be private.
Donations may be made to Entrepreneur Works via www.myentrepreneurworks.org/donate.