Real estate developer doesn’t take shortcuts; neither does his bank.


Many entrepreneurs who set off to pave their own way have no idea if they’ll succeed. No idea if all that hard work and sacrifice will actually pay off. And no idea just how hard the work can be.
 
That was the case with Andy McGinty, President and CEO of NewCastle Group, a developer and operator of multi-family communities in the Mid-Atlantic region. With nearly 70 employees, he owns, operates, and manages thriving communities across Virginia, Maryland, and North Carolina.
 
But it wasn’t that long ago—about 15 years—that he was a one-person operation, driving a jeep with no air conditioning and working in an office space with no bathroom.
 
Having a passion for his business mission
What kept him going? Passion for his business mission, which is to make sure there’s enough housing for people. It’s why he builds where there is a need, ensures what he’s building is what the market wants, and builds efficiently—always mindful of being a good steward of the capital he’s been entrusted with.
 
“One of the most basic things we should be able to do as a society is provide housing for everybody,” says Andy. “I get excited that we have a role in that. And then once it’s built, we run it properly and we take care of the residents. We maintain it to a high standard.”
 
Partnering with people he trusts
In addition to Andy’s perseverance and belief in his mission, he credits his success to having partners he can trust and who share his values, such as his bank partner, C&F Bank.
 
“Everybody at C&F cares about doing a good job,” says Andy. “They care about taking care of the customer. They care about following up. That’s a core value of our company as well. We want to come into the office and do a good job. We roll up our sleeves. We don’t take shortcuts. We do things right.”
 
Andy says he tried to work with some of the national banks on a specific loan product he needed, but they couldn’t understand the situation.
 
“I went to C&F, and they understood the local markets, understood the ins and outs of our business and how it changes from year to year,” he said. “With that understanding, they gave us a loan product that actually made sense.”
 
From the start, the bank was upfront about their fee structures and they’ve stuck to them, Andy says. In addition, there's always someone available by phone or email, making it easy to move through the constant flow of opening accounts, closing accounts, and navigating changes.
 
Making an impact in housing
C&F’s support of NewCastle and their commitment to customer service and efficiency have, in turn, allowed NewCastle to provide great homes and superior management services to their customers. The partnership has been critical in helping Andy to grow his company, widen his reach, and make an even bigger impact in the housing sector.
 
As Andy reflects on the career path he chose, he's found a deeper sense of purpose in what his work makes possible. He may not be finding the cure for cancer, he says, but the nurses providing care to patients might be living in one of his communities. And the children who will grow up to change the world need a stable home. Home, after all, is the foundation for everything else in life. And he’s grateful that his business is having a hand in that.
 
“I feel proud of what our company does and I feel like our mission is important,” Andy says. “There were plenty of times when I didn’t know if this was going to work out or not. It did, and a lot of hard work and blood, sweat, and tears got to this point. So I am very proud of the business, and I am proud of what our team is capable of doing, and the contributions we’ve made.”