About us
Get to Know the Person Behind Leanthony.com
My name is Leanthony Stephens, and I’m the founder of Leanthony.com, an independent financial education platform focused on banking, credit, and consumer finance. I am currently based in Las Vegas, Nevada, where I attend Tallahassee State College while building my career in the financial industry as a Military Personal Banker.
My interest in finance goes beyond working at a bank or writing articles about money. I’ve been interested in learning about finance since I was a teenager, and over the years, that curiosity has grown into a career and a platform where I can share what I’ve learned with others.
I started Leanthony.com after noticing how often people struggle to understand things that are part of everyday banking. Whether it’s figuring out why a bank needs a particular document, understanding how a transaction dispute works, or learning how credit reporting affects their financial lives, I believe people deserve explanations that actually make sense.
I don’t believe you should need a financial degree or years of banking experience to understand what’s happening with your own money. I want to take complicated financial subjects, break them down, and make them easier for everyday people to understand.
But before explaining why I created this website, I think it’s important to share how I got here.
Where My Interest in Finance Began
My interest in finance and investing started in 2021, when I was around 16 or 17 years old. I was visiting Miami, Florida, with my brother when I met his agent, Malki Kawa. During our conversation, he introduced me to investing, trading stocks, and the opportunities available in financial markets.
At that age, I was still figuring out what I wanted to do and what interested me. That conversation opened my eyes to an entirely different side of money. I began realizing that there was so much more to finance than simply earning a paycheck, spending money, and putting whatever was left into a savings account.
I wanted to understand how the stock market worked, why people invested, how financial markets operated, and what went into making financial decisions. One question led to another, and before I knew it, I was spending more and more time learning about finance and investing.
What started as curiosity eventually became a genuine passion. I became interested not only in investing but also in banking, credit, financial products, and the way financial institutions operate.
Looking back, that conversation in Miami was an important starting point for me. It introduced me to a subject that would eventually influence my education, career choices, and the creation of Leanthony.com.
My Career in Banking: Learning Beyond the Textbook
Today, I’m a Military Personal Banker with Armed Forces Bank. Working in banking has given me the opportunity to experience the financial industry from a perspective that goes beyond researching financial concepts or reading about how banks operate.
I work directly with customers, listen to their concerns, answer questions, and help them navigate situations involving their everyday banking needs.
Some of the areas I encounter through my work include account deposits and withdrawals, transaction inquiries, disputed transactions, affidavits of forgery, check-related concerns, identity verification, and communication with back-office departments.
I’ve also gained exposure to the administrative side of banking, including preparing reports, completing audits, sending emails to the appropriate departments, and helping move customer concerns through the proper channels.
One thing I’ve learned is that banking involves a lot more than what customers see when they walk through the front doors of a branch.
For example, someone might come in because they noticed a transaction they don’t recognize. Another customer might need help understanding an affidavit of forgery or why a particular document is required. Someone else might have questions about a deposit, withdrawal, or check that hasn’t processed the way they expected.
Although these situations are different, they often have something in common: the customer wants to understand what’s happening and what they need to do next.
I’ve seen how confusing banking terminology and procedures can be, especially when someone is experiencing a situation for the first time. Terms that might be familiar to someone working in banking can sound completely foreign to the person sitting across the desk.
Just because something is common in the banking industry doesn’t mean everyone knows how it works. People shouldn’t feel embarrassed about asking questions, and they shouldn’t have to search through pages of complicated information just to understand a basic banking process.
Working directly with customers has helped me recognize that knowing a banking procedure and being able to explain it to someone else are two different things.
That realization is one of the biggest reasons I created Leanthony.com.
I kept encountering customers with questions about banking documents, transactions, disputes, and everyday financial situations. It made me think about how many other people were probably searching for those same answers online.
I wanted to create something that could help people understand these subjects even when they weren’t sitting inside a bank branch.
My experience as a Military Personal Banker has influenced the direction of my website and the topics I choose to cover. It has given me practical exposure to everyday banking situations and helped me recognize the questions consumers commonly have.
My employment with Armed Forces Bank is separate from Leanthony.com. The website is my independent educational project and does not represent Armed Forces Bank, its policies, products, or official guidance.
Why I Created Leanthony.com
Leanthony.com started with a simple idea: make banking, credit, and consumer finance easier to understand.
I noticed that people could search for a financial question online and find plenty of information, but that didn’t always mean they were getting an explanation they could actually follow. Sometimes the information is too technical, while other times an article gives you a definition without explaining why the subject matters or when you might encounter it.
I wanted to approach financial education differently.
When I write about a banking document, for example, I don’t want to simply tell someone what the document is called. I want to explain what it’s used for, why a financial institution might request it, what information it generally contains, and what someone should understand before completing or submitting it.
The same approach applies to credit disputes, banking procedures, financial products, and consumer financial rights. I want readers to understand the subject rather than walk away remembering a definition without knowing what to do with it.
My experience working with customers has shown me how much of a difference a clear explanation can make. That’s the approach I bring to the educational articles and resources published on Leanthony.com.
What I Write About and Research
My work on Leanthony.com focuses on four main areas. Each represents a different part of the financial system that consumers interact with throughout their lives.
Banking and Everyday Financial Services
Banking is one of the areas closest to my professional experience.
I cover everyday banking services, account procedures, deposits, withdrawals, transaction processing, check-related matters, financial documents, and common situations people encounter when working with financial institutions.
I also have a particular interest in explaining the documents and procedures behind banking.
For example, an affidavit of forgery isn’t just a document with a complicated name. Someone completing one should understand its purpose, why it may be requested, what information it generally requires, and how it relates to a disputed transaction.
I want to explain the actual process and the details people should understand rather than stopping at a basic definition.
Credit Reporting and Credit Education
Credit is another major focus of my financial education work.
I research and write about credit reports, credit reporting agencies, credit disputes, credit history, and the different factors consumers should understand when reviewing their credit information.
Some of the questions I want to help answer include how long credit report disputes take, what happens after a dispute is submitted, how inaccurate information can be challenged, and what consumers should know about their credit reports.
Credit reporting can be confusing, especially when someone discovers information they don’t recognize. I want to help readers understand the dispute process, their options, and the rules that apply.
Consumer Finance and Financial Rights
Consumers interact with financial institutions and financial service providers in many different ways. Understanding those relationships is an important part of financial education.
I cover consumer banking concerns, financial products, relevant regulations, consumer protections, financial responsibilities, and other topics that help people better understand their rights and available options.
I also want to explain the paperwork and procedures that often come with consumer financial matters, including what consumers should know before taking their next steps.
Financial Education and Investing
My original interest in finance started with investing, and that interest remains an important part of who I am.
I enjoy exploring financial concepts, saving, investing fundamentals, and the decisions that influence how people manage their money.
I believe financial education should begin long before someone finds themselves in a difficult financial situation. Understanding basic financial concepts can help people become more comfortable asking questions, researching their options, and making informed decisions.
As I continue learning and developing professionally, I intend to expand the financial topics I explore and share with readers.
Find Me Across the Internet
Leanthony.com is the central platform for my financial education work, but I also maintain a presence across several other platforms.
I believe people learn in different ways. Some prefer reading detailed articles, others enjoy watching videos, and some would rather look at a visual explanation they can save and revisit later.
I use these platforms to develop my professional presence and share educational content in different formats.
LinkedIn — Professional Background and Career Development
LinkedIn is an important part of my professional identity. I use it to share my career development, maintain connections within the financial industry, and connect with other professionals interested in banking and finance.
You can learn more about my professional background and connect with me here:
Leanthony Stephens on LinkedIn
YouTube — Financial Education Through Video
I use YouTube as another way to explain banking and financial concepts through video. My goal is to make educational information accessible to people who prefer watching someone walk through a subject rather than reading a lengthy explanation.
Pinterest — Visual Financial Guides and Resources
Pinterest gives me a place to share visual financial education, including graphics, guides, and resources that people can save and revisit.
Yelp — Public Online Presence
I also maintain a Yelp profile as part of my broader public online presence.
Across these platforms, I want to build a consistent professional identity under my name, Leanthony Stephens, while making financial education available in different formats.
My Education, Certifications, and Continued Learning
I’m currently attending Tallahassee State College while continuing to develop my knowledge and professional skills.
Alongside my college education, I’ve pursued additional training and credentials related to artificial intelligence and financial technology.
My professional development includes:
- AI Certification Level 1 — Power Up Innovation: Recognition for successfully completing the required criteria and demonstrating effective use of artificial intelligence.
- Glia Certified Professional (GCP): Professional training related to Glia and its use in financial service interactions.
My interest in technology comes from seeing how much the financial industry is changing. Financial institutions increasingly rely on technology to communicate with customers, support banking operations, and provide services.
I believe understanding both finance and technology is becoming increasingly valuable as the industry evolves.
I also believe learning shouldn’t stop once you enter the workforce. There are always new financial products, procedures, regulations, and technologies to understand. I make a point of continuing to research subjects, developing my knowledge, and improving the way I communicate financial information.
As I gain additional education, training, and professional experience, I intend to keep this page updated so readers can understand my evolving background.
My Career Goals: Growing Into Commercial Banking
Although my current professional experience is in retail banking, I have ambitions to continue progressing throughout the financial industry.
One of my long-term career goals is to move into commercial banking. I’m particularly interested in understanding how banks work with businesses and the financial services that help them operate, grow, and manage their financial responsibilities.
Some of the areas I want to develop professionally include commercial lending, business banking relationships, business credit, and the financial products and services available to businesses.
I’m interested in learning how commercial banking relationships are built, how financial institutions evaluate business financing needs, and how banks support businesses through different stages of their growth.
I see commercial banking as an opportunity to expand my understanding of finance beyond individual consumer banking and gain experience in another important area of the industry.
I’m still early in my career, and I recognize that there’s a lot more to learn. That’s part of what motivates me. I want to continue growing professionally, developing my knowledge, and gaining experience in different areas of banking.
I also want Leanthony.com to grow alongside my career. As I gain experience and expand my understanding of financial services, I want the website to reflect that progress through better educational resources, more detailed explanations, and coverage of additional financial topics.
The Person Behind the Research
I’m still developing my knowledge of finance, and I don’t pretend to have every answer. Working in banking has given me practical experience, but I also recognize that there is a difference between understanding something through everyday professional experience and having specialized expertise in a particular financial subject.
That’s why I take the research behind my articles seriously. I want to understand what I’m writing about, look beyond the first explanation I find, and use reliable sources when discussing banking procedures, credit reporting, consumer protections, and financial regulations.
I value the combination of practical experience and continued learning. My experiences help me recognize the questions people have, while research helps me develop explanations that go beyond what I’ve personally encountered.
I don’t expect readers to treat everything I publish as unquestionable authority. I want them to understand the information, see where important claims come from, and feel comfortable doing additional research when their circumstances require it.
My goal is to keep learning while sharing useful, carefully researched financial education along the way.
How I Approach Financial Research and Writing
When someone reads an article on Leanthony.com, I want them to walk away understanding more than they did when they arrived.
I don’t want to publish content just to fill a page or repeat information readers can find anywhere else. I want every article to answer a real question and provide enough context for someone to understand the subject.
My approach is to explain:
- What the financial subject actually is.
- Why it exists and why it matters.
- When someone might encounter or need it.
- How the process generally works.
- What documents, procedures, or important details someone should understand.
- Where readers can find additional reliable information.
Accuracy is just as important as readability.
When researching financial topics, I aim to use reliable sources, including government agencies, regulatory resources, financial institutions, and official documentation when appropriate.
For subjects involving banking regulations, credit reporting, or consumer protections, details matter. A small difference in a rule or procedure can change how someone should understand a situation.
I also understand that my experience as a Military Personal Banker doesn’t make me an expert in every area of finance. Some subjects require additional research, specialized knowledge, or guidance from appropriately qualified professionals.
I’d rather be transparent about what I know and take the time to research something properly than present myself as an authority on a subject I haven’t fully investigated.
Important Information About Leanthony.com
Leanthony.com is an independently operated financial education website created by Leanthony Stephens. It is not affiliated with or operated by Armed Forces Bank.
Content published on this website is intended for general informational and educational purposes. It should not be interpreted as individualized financial, investment, legal, or tax advice. Banking policies, financial product terms, and applicable regulations can vary and change over time. Readers should verify important information with the appropriate financial institution, government agency, or qualified professional.
A Little More About Me
Outside of my work in banking and my college studies, I spend a lot of time researching financial topics, exploring new ideas, and finding better ways to explain things that people might otherwise find confusing.
I’m based in Las Vegas, Nevada, and I’m working toward building a long-term career in the financial industry while developing Leanthony.com into a valuable educational resource.
I know what it’s like to start learning about finance without having all the answers. My own journey began with a conversation about investing when I was a teenager, and that curiosity eventually led me into banking and financial education.
I’m still learning, still growing, and still finding new subjects that interest me.
I don’t want Leanthony.com to be a place where people feel intimidated by financial terminology or embarrassed to ask questions. Whether you’re learning about banking for the first time, trying to understand a credit report, researching a financial document, or simply looking to become more informed about your money, I want you to feel comfortable exploring the information here.
At the end of the day, I created this website for the same reason I enjoy explaining banking to customers: I like helping people understand something that might have seemed confusing before.
I’m Leanthony Stephens, founder of Leanthony.com, and my goal is to make banking, credit, and consumer finance easier to understand, one explanation at a time.
Thank you for taking the time to learn a little about me and the reason behind this website.
— Leanthony Stephens
Founder of Leanthony.com | Military Personal Banker
Las Vegas, Nevada
