Podcast INTERVIEW 🎙️ - Peter Orvos

Peter Orvoš is a former pastor and is currently involved in social banking. He helps his clients to cope financially with difficult times in their lives. 

He is 36 years old, comes from Komárno, but has lived in different parts of Europe. Currently he lives in Revúca. He has changed different types of professions - he studied theology, worked as a helper in the IT sector and accepted a job offer in the banking department of the Slovak Savings Bank. He invents methods and ways for clients who are in a difficult social situation.

How does someone get from pastor to banking?

He abandoned the idea of studying at the math school and applied for theology. For 5 years he educated himself and tried to pass on his skills, his hobby and his experience. After school, he worked as a pastor in Klyenovac. His marriage hit a dead end and he felt the need to change his approach to being a man and a husband. After changing jobs at the bank, much improved. He is currently looking for ways to resolve the situation that will work for both parties.

What problems do your bank's customers solve?

In general, these are the following types of problems - divorce, deaths, health problems and limitations. They get into these problems through job loss or poor housekeeping. We also have clients from what we call generational poverty. People from generational poverty have learned to deal better with the ups and downs. They tend to be less financially literate. These people have experience of how to survive on 50 euros a month.

What's the first thing he advises people to do?

I spend an hour asking questions and listening to the client. I want to understand the weight of what he is carrying with him, the desperation that led him to the financial decisions he made. I need to teach him to calculate his income and expenses. I approach a young person who is not yet organized differently and a retiree who just doesn't make it on this income differently. The other thing is to direct them to what they need and what they want.

What is the ideal client state?

So it is best if a person can use what he borrows cheaply to his advantage. My client group, however, does not deal with such things. What they have borrowed is already causing them stress and they need to get rid of as much debt as possible and as soon as possible. In order to do that, they need to monitor it.

What are the indicators that he or she is succeeding with a client?

It comes down to one simple factor - the parameter of whether the client wants us to help them and be proactive and open to change. That is the best option. The client himself declares what life situation he is in and that he wants to change it.

What about the "financial shootout" with Peter?

What is meant by financial literacy?

• One knows how much money and how it was earned, and one knows what it was spent on. And he knows how to decide freely what part of that money he will use for what. Things, which he has to pay, wants to pay, and which he puts aside, invests.

What does he like to invest in?

• He likes to invest time in people and in relationships.

What does money mean to him?

• Transfer of value.

When is a man rich according to him?

• When he is satisfied, not in the sense that he is satisfied, he doesn't want more, but when he is not consumed by the ultimate dissatisfaction.

What was the best investment he made in his life?

• A 20 euro cylinder that helps with his chronic pain; an hour with a psychotherapist that has given him a lot and the third is a camera - an old one, 40 years old.

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