Walking (running) in customers’ shoes

20 August 2025
Business Banking  Voices from NAB

Running a business isn’t easy – but when your banker understands both sides of the counter, you’re backed by the best. 

Most mornings at 6am, you’ll find Luke Millard pounding the pavement around Bendigo, Victoria. By 9am, he’s hard at work supporting the local community, both as a NAB banker and a local small business owner.

You see, for Luke, running isn’t just a hobby – it’s a way of life. And now, it’s also a business.

What started as a passion for early morning runs and community connection has grown into Verve Running, a specialty retail shoe store with a cult following.

Every Friday morning, more than 100 runners lace up for the store’s weekly shop run – a 6am ritual that ends with coffee, conversation, and connection.

But Luke isn’t just a co-founder of Verve. He’s also a NAB Small Business banker. And now, he’s a NAB customer.

“I love being supported by NAB as a customer and as an employee,” Luke said.

“As a customer, they’ve been fantastic – helping us grow through our journey to date. And as a banker, NAB has been incredible for my career. I see future opportunities and a long-term career here.”

Having launched Verve Running in May 2024, Luke’s experience as a banker helped shape the business from day one. Running cash flow forecasts, analysing industry reports, and consulting local experts to assess viability.

Despite working full-time, Luke and his co-founders trust their staff to run the store day-to-day.

“Having the right people in your business is critical,” Luke said.

“We’ve got amazing staff, and we leave a lot of responsibility with them. They do a fantastic job.”

Community is at the heart of everything Luke does – whether he’s walking to a business meeting or heading out for a run, he’s constantly crossing paths with familiar faces.  “Whether it’s banking or running, I’m the local trusted expert,” he says.

And that customer-first mindset carries through both roles.

“Customer obsession is number one,” Luke says. “Whether it’s business banking or running a retail store, a happy customer is everything.”

With NAB backing him as both a banker and a business owner, Luke’s journey is just getting started.