December 29, 2001

By Stephen Elliott, Dispatch/Argus Staff writer

Matt Stern remembers when he was 6, trying to learn flash cards. He remembers his mother, Bonnie, crying when he couldn't seem to grasp it right away.

Childhood memories sometimes shape the character of an individual's future. For Mr. Stern, it built an intuitive sense of knowing to work harder than the rest of the field.

Mr. Stern, a Rock Island native who has traveled the world as a financial advisor, now lives in Tokyo with his wife, Yumi and their son, Matthew John. He recently returned to the Quad-Cities to visit his parents, Mike and Bonnie.

Mr. Stern is a vice president at Deutsche Bank and commutes between Hong Kong, Seoul, Kuala Lumpur, Jakarta, Singapore, Bangkok, Beijing and Manila.

The 6-year-old boy who couldn't figure out his flash cards now figures out million-dollar deals.

Mr. Stern said he's had some interesting experiences traveling in his job, and Russia was one of the most interesting. ``There were not many investment bankers in 1997 and 1998 brave enough to cover the Russian banks.

``In 1997 alone, I believe over 20 bankers in Russia were killed. Meetings at Russian banks were an adventure all by themselves. After going through metal detectors and a passport control in the lobby, I would be escorted by security guards with machine guns to the elevator.''

He said window blinds were to protect him against would-be assassins. While in Riga, Latvia, he went to a bank where a huge crowd of people were breaking down the bank doors to get inside to get their money.

The bank had invested most of its money in government bonds and Russia announced that morning it would default on its debt obligations.

``It was an incredible sight, and I could only think my career would have ended quickly if I had happened to be in Latvia a few days earlier and arranged a $300 million deal for that bank,'' he said.

After Russia defaulted on its debts, Deutsche Bank sent Mr. Stern to try to retrieve $10 million the band recently loaned a premiere Russian bank. ``This was not a pleasant experience to negotiate $10 million with people who were essentially the Russian Mafia in the middle of a severe financial crisis,'' he said.

The Sept. 11 terrorist attack in New York City brough back memories of an attack at the World Trade Center in 1993. Mr. Stern was across the street from the center at the time.

``It's amazing to think that the building had held up so well after the first terrorist bombing in 1993,'' he said. ``The first terrorist strike in 1993 killed less than 10 people. People had broken out the windows and were screaming for help.''

Mr. Stern graduated from Rock Island High School in 1988 and the University of Illinois in 1992.

He's looking forward to someday moving back to the Quad-Cities.

He also bought 150 acres of land on Knoxville Road, near Pinnacle Country Club. He plans to develop the land with his brother, Mike Stern Jr. He also plans to get involved in politics.

``My brother and I are currently reviewing all possible options for what to do with the land,'' Mr. Stern said. ``But our initial thoughts are to build a beautiful, natural subdivision with two to three-acre lots.''

``Real estate in the Quad-Cities is a great investment opportunity,'' he said. ``When you consider that I pay $6,500 per month for my 1,000 square-foot apartment in Tokyo, it is not hard to see the value in buying Quad-City property.

``But after seeing the world, the one thing I have learned is that while every place has something unique to offer, America is truly the best country in the world.''

Staff writer Stephen Elliott can be reached at 786-6441, Ext. 247, or by e-mail at selliott@qconline.com.

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