The Right Fit: Zach Isbell’s Path from Intern to Loan Officer

For Zach Isbell, an internship with AgTrust was more than an opportunity to gain experience in finance. It helped him discover the kind of work — and the kind of environment — where he wanted to build a career.

Zach grew up around agriculture and was familiar with AgTrust long before becoming an intern. He knew how the Association supported the communities it served through his family and first met AgTrust employees Craig Hartman and Thomas Bugner when they purchased his chickens at the Cooke County Junior Livestock Sale in 2018.

Years later, while studying finance and accounting at Oklahoma Christian University, Zach realized traditional corporate finance wasn’t necessarily the path he wanted. He wanted to work directly with people, build relationships, and contribute to the industry and communities he grew up around.

In summer 2024, Zach joined AgTrust’s internship program, spending part of the summer with the credit analyst team and part alongside lenders in the Denton branch. The experience gave him a firsthand look at both sides of agricultural lending and how closely teams work together to serve customers.

One of his biggest lessons was the importance of communication. Zach watched employees share information quickly, clearly, and respectfully across teams and with customers. It showed him that strong communication was a skill he would need to continue developing to be successful.

Just as important were the people around him. Zach saw colleagues succeeding through hard work and continually growing their knowledge while also investing in their families and communities.

“We are products of our geography and the individuals we surround ourselves with,” Zach said. At AgTrust, he found the kind of people he wanted to learn from.

By the end of the internship, Zach could see himself building a career there. Today, he is a loan officer in AgTrust’s Denton branch.

Learn more about AgTrust’s summer intern program