Kakepetum treats money like ‘royal’ty

Aaron Kakepetum helps First Nations manage their money.
It’s what he’s been doing since he joined Royal Bank of Canada’s Commercial Banking Division as a business development officer and account manager in September, 2007. He spent nearly a year working for RBC as a trainee before moving up to the position of account manager.
“This position is all about relationship building with First Nations,” Kakepetum said. “I work with the communities on loans, Visas and operating lines of credit.”
Growing up, Kakepetum never thought he’d work in the financial sector.
“I never thought I’d be working at a bank,” Kakepetum said.
But as he grew up and went to the University of Connecticut, he worked toward earning a resource economic degree. He graduated in May, 2006 with the idea of returning home to Canada.
“Ever since I moved away from home at 14 to play hockey, I knew I wanted to come back and work with First Nations. I didn’t know in what capacity. This position allows me to do what I wanted to do.”
Kakepetum has enjoyed being able to offer advice to communities to help them meet their needs.
“There are a lot of things I can help them with,” he said.
These include working on efficiencies like setting up direct-deposit for payroll.
“Direct deposit allows easier access to money,” he said. “Instead of writing cheques, money is deposited in accounts.”
Kakepetum also helps communities with problem solving.
“When it comes to fuel loans, we try to help the communities save money by buying fuel in bulk for the winter road season instead of flying up small quantities.”