A common thread through everything David Rankin does, from his vocation as a banker and his several roles in community service, has been that “one gets out of what one puts into it.”
In addition to his 44-year banking profession, Rankin has been active in the Apopka community for decades. He was a founding director of the John H. Land Apopka Community Trust, which was started in the late mayor’s honor and gives scholarship money to youth programs. He sat on the trust board for 10 years before stepping down in 2024, but still plays a role in the trust’s annual fundraiser, the John H. Land Legacy Gala.
Rankin also served with the Apopka Area Chamber of Commerce for 25 years, including as board member, treasurer and president; a Rotary Club member for over 30 years, including serving on the board and as president; and a Foliage Sertoma Club member.
“I had a football coach many years ago, and he said, ‘Everybody hates football practice,’” Rankin said. “He said ‘but you get out of it only what you put into it.’ That goes with anything. I’ve always subscribed to that.”
Rankin, 67, is retiring on June 30 as executive vice president of two One Florida Bank branches, one located on East Third Street in Apopka, and the other one in south Orlando.
Over the years, Rankin worked at several banks. Those include Barnett Bank, which is now Bank of America across the street from One Florida Bank, and United American Bank, owned by Orlando Magic co-founder Jimmy Hewitt.
In 2019, with banker and former City Commissioner Bill Arrowsmith, Rankin launched the two One Florida Bank branches. After 50 years in banking, Arrowsmith retired in 2024.
“We were competitors for years,” Rankin said. “We said if we get the opportunity, we need to join forces. And it’s worked out very, very well. The bank is doing extremely well.”
While One Florida is thriving, Rankin has decided it’s time to wrap up his career due in part to health concerns.
“We’ve had a lot of fun, but I’ve been doing this for 44 years, and it’s time,” he said. “I’ve had a couple health issues, and it’s kind of caused me to pause and reflect. My wife’s been retired for almost two years. We just said maybe this is God’s way of saying it’s time for you to cool your heels a little bit.”
During his career, Rankin has enjoyed working with people and developing relationships with customers, working with three generations of customers from same families. He praised his Apopka bank staff as outstanding.
“They’re the best I’ve ever encountered,” he said. “And I don’t say that with any hesitation.”
Being a banker comes with its challenges too, especially with what he called a “tough” regulatory environment and evolving technology. As he spoke with The Apopka Chief, Rankin was waiting for someone to arrive at his office to fix his locked-down computer.
“But being a community banker is, it’s just very rewarding, seeing people that you’ve helped out and watching them and their businesses succeed,” Rankin said.
Rankin recounted a customer he first had in the 1990s, to whom he loaned $25,000 to start a business and whose father co-signed the loan. Now that business makes over $2 million, and the customer keeps over $1 million on deposit with Rankin’s bank.
An advice Rankin would give to young bankers are the importance of hard work and finding solutions rather than excuses.
“There are two kinds of people in this world … those that find a way, and those that find an excuse,” Rankin said. “I’ve always been one of those that says, ‘Don’t tell me I can’t do something, because I will find a way.’ But hard work … With this industry and being a community banker, you get out of it what you put into it. So, people that give it a halfway effort, you won’t make it, but you won’t make it in anything.”
Born in Danville, Kentucky, Rankin moved to Sebring, Florida, in 1966, before settling in Apopka in 1985. He married his wife Gini in 1985 and they have one child, Andrew. Their son is a graduate of the University of Central Florida and served in the Marine Corps. He currently lives in Colorado and recently became engaged.
Amaris Diaz, One Florida Bank Apopka branch vice president and manager, has known Rankin for over 20 years and described him as a mentor. She praised him as someone who is authentic, brutally honest, and has a strong work ethic.
“My banking career has taken a turn for the better,” she said. “If it weren’t for him, I would have left banking years ago.”
Rankin now lives in rural Lake County, but still often eats out with people from Apopka.
“Just because I’m retired doesn’t mean I don’t want to see my friends or change my routine,” Rankin said. “If I can help in anyway, something in Apopka, call me. I’ll be happy to do it.”