Mr. Smith joined the trust department at what is now First of America-Michigan in 1955. Having risen through the ranks at the bank, he was elected to its board n 1974 and two years later was named president.
In 1983, he was named president of First of American Bank Corporations and was elected chairman and CEO in 1985.
A retired captain with the U.S. Army Reserve, her presided of the Michigan Bankers Association and is on the board of the American Bankers Association.