Ben-James Brown

Ben-James Brown, a native of Los Angeles California, started his career at Wells Fargo in 2001. While attending San Jose State University, Brown worked part-time as a Customer Service Representative and since that time, he has held a number of leadership positions throughout his 20 years of experience in finance. Brown has served in several markets, to include, Northern/ Southern California, Las Vegas, Nevada, Northern Virginia and Washington D.C. Ben-James serves as Regional Banking District Manager for Wells Fargo Bank and has overseen territories in the District of Columbia and Maryland Markets, leading more than 42 branches and 500 employees in his career. He is responsible for the effective management of multiple Wells Fargo locations with one line of business that provides products and services to a designated marketplace while meeting the profitability goals and objectives of Wells Fargo Bank. He currently manages a portfolio nearly a billion in Deposits, 600 million Loans and over 1 billion dollars in managed assets.

Ben-James is the founding manager for a two digital concepts of banking in Wells Fargo called The Neighborhood Branch and Express Center. The first Neighborhood location, opened in 2013, features a “Tellerless” branch driven by enhanced ATMs and a Banker staff that can handle nearly every transaction done in a Traditional Branch. This unique concept, catering to millennial communities and the on the go person, has been visited by many worldwide. Brown continues to manage 1 of the 7 locations across the Wells Fargo footprint in the heart of the U Street Corridor. The Express Center, which opened in first quarter of 2019, helps customers learn about new products and services in a collaborative environment, complete with ATMs, video-conference capabilities and a lounge-like setting. The benefit is to make banking less intimidating for customers, and provide a space where customers can interact with technology, collaborate with bankers and explore how “fintech” – financial technology – can complement their lives. Currently we have 2 opened across the enterprise.

Ben-James holds his Bachelors of Sciences degree in Business Management. He is a Commissioner for the Mayor’s Office of Fathers, Men and Boys and is Vice President for 100 Black Men of Greater Washington D.C. Brown gives back countless hours of volunteer time to help underserved communities across the District of Columbia. Brown recently was named Vice-Treasure for a non- profit organization DC Scores, serving 2000+ students across Washington, DC.

Brown has giving more than 450 volunteer hours from 2016 through 2021. He’s mentored groups of young men to compete in a competition sponsored by Wells Fargo Bank at the 32nd and 33rd Annual 100 Black Men of America Conference, where they developed a Child Tracking System called “LOST” and job readinessapplication called “IMPRESS”. Brown volunteered more than 100 hours towards this effort alone which helped these team place 2nd and 3rd of 15 teams nationally. Brown plans on further developing these apps with the young men with hopes to launch.

Brown was the proud recipient of the DC Made Man award in 2018 and Black Enterprise’s 2019 Modern Man honoree. Brown has 1 son, Deshawn-James, and instills his passion of always paying it forward; giving back whenever possible.