Academy Bank 
1201 Walnut St Kansas City MO 64106
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Bank Routing Number
107001481
Bank by Mail/General Mail
PO Box 26458
Kansas City, MO 64196
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PO Box 26744
Kansas City, MO 64196
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1-877-712-2265
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featured
2026-06-08
Commercial Banking
published
5 minute
The Strong Banking Partnership Helping SimonCRE Scale with Confidence
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Scaling a commercial real estate company takes more than capital—it requires a banking partner who understands the pace, complexity, and stakes behind every deal. For SimonCRE, that partnership has been built over nearly a decade with Academy Bank—grounded in trust, responsiveness, and a shared commitment to long-term growth. From single-tenant projects to large-scale retail developments, their collaboration demonstrates how strong relationships, clear communication, and deep industry expertise can turn opportunity into execution—and vision into lasting community impact.
The Company We Keep: Built on Trust. Proven through Execution
As SimonCRE grew from single-tenant projects to large scale retail developments, it needed a banking partner that could grow alongside it. For nearly a decade, SimonCRE and Academy Bank have built a relationship centered on speed, trust and long-term growth. Founded in 2010 while the market was still feeling the effects of the 2008 financial crisis, Arizona-based SimonCRE built its business around a clear vision: communities still need places to gather, shop and live their daily lives. Recognizing a gap in Arizona commercial real estate development, SimonCRE aimed to move quickly while maintaining high standards and prioritizing lasting relationships.
“You don't build a development company alone. You build it with partners who show up the same way you do.”
– Joshua Simon, CEO/Founder, SimonCRE
A Partnership Built for Growth
SimonCRE always knew it needed a lending partner who shared both its vision and pace. Marketing Director Nick Robello said that relationship was a top consideration from the beginning. When asked what they were seeking in a bank, Robello said “The first is fluency in real estate, somebody who understands retail development, not just a credit committee reading a spreadsheet. Second is speed and certainty (…) and third is the relationship, the kind where phone calls get the same person each time.”
That search was rooted in SimonCRE’s long-term vision, something CEO and Founder Joshua Simon says Academy Bank has supported from the start.
“You don’t build a development company alone. You build it with partners who show up the same way you do. Academy Bank has been that for us for eight years now. They understand retail, they understand our pace, and they understand that the next deal matters just as much as the current one. That’s the kind of partner I was looking for when we started SimonCRE in 2010, and it’s exactly what we’ve found,” said Joshua Simon, CEO and Founder of SimonCRE.
In the eight years since the relationship began, SimonCRE has evolved from single-tenant projects to large-scale developments with complex zoning and entitlement structures. “The business has completely changed, yet Academy Bank is still there for us. Everything we’ve thrown at Academy Bank to date, they’ve been able to handle,” said SimonCRE Capital Markets Manager Charlie Goff.
As SimonCRE expanded into more complex projects, the need for a strong lending partner grew. It needed a partner who understood its speed, business model and the stakes behind every deal.
“The Academy Bank closers know our closers, and our draw coordinators know the Academy Bank draw coordinators, and it’s really a well-oiled machine,” said Goff.
A Relationship-Driven System for Commercial Lending
The relationship has also been strengthened through Academy Bank Lender Gerardo Marquez. For SimonCRE, he is more than a point of contact; he understands the nuances and needs of its projects. “Oftentimes I feel like Gerardo knows the deal better than I do,” said Goff.
Gerardo sees another perspective, noting that SimonCRE positions Academy Bank for success too. “SimonCRE is transparent and well-prepared, which allows us to be responsive and solution oriented. There’s also a shared focus on long-term growth rather than just individual transactions, which strengthens the relationship over time,” said Gerardo.
Gerardo’s familiarity with both the market and SimonCRE allows him to “cut through the noise” in a business where similar projects often move at once. "Sometimes things get confusing on our end with multiple deals involving similar tenants and he helps me cut through the noise,” said Goff.
Execution, Communication, and Confidence
In commercial development, familiarity and responsiveness directly affect timelines and execution.
“We do projects with groups we’re less familiar with, and those projects frankly don’t go as smooth,” said Goff. “The attention to detail matters to us. The timeliness of responses and the familiarity with our process makes a world of difference.”
Timeliness and communication are core to strong partnerships for SimonCRE. In development projects, many moving parts and tight timelines make both essential.
“One key thing I have learned is that SimonCRE values proactive communication and forward planning. They tend to move quickly when they see an opportunity, so it’s important for us to stay ahead of their pipeline and understand upcoming needs,” said Gerardo.
This responsiveness has enabled SimonCRE to scale with confidence. As the company has taken on more complex developments, Academy Bank’s speed, consistency and familiarity with its operations have created stability at every stage of growth.
“In this business, reputation is everything. With brokers, tenants, and lenders, they all remember who they can call on a Friday and get answers,” said Robello.
Asante Trails: From Concept to Community
Academy Bank’s approach to relationships follows a pattern anchored in certainty, clarity and consistent communication.
"At Academy Bank, our commitment to clients is centered around transaction certainty and direct access to decision makers. We believe that making every step clear and reliable, while connecting our clients to those who can make things happen, is what truly sets up apart in the market,"
– Paul Holewinski, Academy Bank CEO.
More than a Banking Relationship
Academy Bank's support has become more than operationally valuable. It has helped build a long-term partnership grounded in trust, earned through years of consistency, responsiveness, and a shared commitment to getting each project across the finish line.
"It's earning trust, and we've certainly tried to earn Academy Bank's trust, and they've certainly earned ours," said Goff.
Need a Done Deal?
Trust the experienced team at Academy Bank with your future and let us show you the possibilities for your next project.
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