A trailblazer in Rochester banking

Ken Bell’s laughter could fill a room. But the former regional president of HSBC Bank and longtime Rochester leader was just as disciplined as he was warm—a careful listener who, when the moment called for it, could cut through the fluff.

Bell died last month at 80.

“He had a great sense of humor, and also knew when the work needed to get done,” says his daughter, Syd Bell, who recalls that his directness allowed conversations to move forward and decisions to be made when needed. 

“I’ve heard stories of the balance that he brought to the rooms he was in, always in service of the work the group was there to do.” 

A degree in public accounting from Utica College of Syracuse University, also known as Utica University, led Bell to a career in finance. He worked for Arthur Andersen in the 1970s, eventually moving into banking when First Federal Savings and Loan of Rochester hired him. (First Federal was acquired by HSBC in 1997.)

“Utica University was an important place for him. …I think he saw it as the place where he started thinking seriously about his career,” says Syd Bell, co-director of Our Local History.

A couple of professors were especially influential, affirming his choice of career. Bell remained connected to the school, eventually joining the board and was involved for over two decades, his daughter says.

When Bell assumed leadership of HSBC, the bank was the largest in the six-county area by deposits and had expanded into retail banking operations. He has been credited with helping HSBC focus on branch sales and motivating sales teams to sell banking services. 

“Ken once told me the story of his career journey in banking. He, not having started as a banker, but (as) an accountant, explained that he sought out the opportunity to ‘put points on the board.’ That meant leading a profit-driving line of business for the bank,” says Ajamu Kitwana, senior vice president and director of purpose and community at ESL Federal Credit Union. “As an African American in a field where few Black Americans before him got an opportunity to thrive, Ken wanted a role where his impact and contribution to the business would be undeniable.

“As I, in many respects, try to follow Ken’s footsteps, I often reflect on Ken’s words to seek opportunities to demonstrate measurable impact, or points on the board.”

Faheem Masood, recently retired CEO of ESL, got to know Bell as a board member of the credit union. (Bell also chaired the board.)

“He had an amazing journey in banking, and he was a senior statesman in our banking industry,” Masood says.

ESL, during Masood’s tenure, took some bold steps, including building offices on Chestnut Street downtown, acquiring businesses like Cooper Haims, and strengthening its commitment to the community through its charitable foundation.

“I always had Ken to be able to ask him, ‘Hey, this is what we’re thinking of,’” Masood says. “He asked me questions, but he encouraged me, and he gave me tremendous confidence in myself.”

During the pandemic, Masood recalls, Ken Bell recorded a video for the ESL management team. He did that, Masood says, “to encourage us, to support us, to compliment us, and to say with all the difficult choices in front of us, we are doing an amazing job, and that meant a lot on behalf of the board.”

Bell’s ability to connect with people included organizations in the community. In that work,  education in all forms and ongoing support for students and families stood out the most, Syd Bell says. His work with Junior Achievement of Central Upstate New York enabled him to share his business experience with students.

“He enjoyed meeting with them, learning about them, and offering guidance and advice in the classroom alongside the JA curriculum,” his daughter adds.

Those who knew Bell knew of his dedication to Hope Hall School. Members of the Bell family volunteered at the school for students with special learning needs during Bell’s board service.

Rochester was home to Bell, his daughter says. He was born in 1945 in Chicago and lived in Indianapolis before joining the Air Force and rising to the rank of sergeant. Rochester would come later, after Utica.

“He made sure to make his voice heard in the areas he thought would make it a great home to everyone who lives here,” Syd Bell says.

Ken Bell’s philosophy, “don’t take yourself too seriously but take your work seriously,” has stayed with many.

“We have lost someone of significant intellect, but a very human person who did his work in a very human way,” Masood says. “And I think if you talk to a number of people who got exposed to him early in their career, they will say he taught them exactly that: take your work seriously, but don’t take yourself seriously. Meaning, remember you’re a human being,”

The last year was a special one for Bell; he was able to spend time with his children and grandchildren and celebrated his 80th birthday with his whole family.

“My dad has accomplished an incredible amount in his life, and he had so much to be proud of—the one thing he was most proud of was his family,” Syd Bell says. “I watched him pause to take us all in who gathered to celebrate his 80th—his wife, his kids and their partners, his grandkids, and his niece and nephew—and he was absolutely beaming. There was nothing better than that for him in that moment.”

As a former reporter and associate editor at the Rochester Business Journal, my memories of Ken Bell center on his being available to writers who requested his opinion, including myself. His humility was striking. When I saw him last year, I greeted him as Mr. Bell. He laughed and said, “I’m just Ken.”

Ken Bell is survived by his wife, Anne Veness-Bell, his children Justin (Meg Cooch), David (Courtney), Catherine Bell-MacKinnon (Stuart MacKinnon), and Syd (Doug Weglicki). 

Calling hours are on June 22, 4-7 p.m., at Farrell-Ryan Funeral Home, 777 Long Pond Road. 

Smriti Jacob is Rochester Beacon managing editor. She works at WealthForward ROC, where Ken Bell was a board member.

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