Nikki Banks shared their story and experiences with us recently and you can find our conversation below.
Nikki, it’s always a pleasure to learn from you and your journey. Let’s start with a bit of a warmup: What are you being called to do now, that you may have been afraid of before?
I am being called to stop playing small. I am truly blessed to possess a wealth of knowledge gained through both life experience and professional training. However, due to past fears about the perceived “meanness” of social media, I have often shied away from sharing that knowledge online. Instead, I’ve kept it within my circle—family, friends, and clients.
I now realize that by doing so, I’ve not only limited my reach but also denied myself and others the opportunity to grow. After being sidelined for nearly a year due to an emergency spinal surgery, I am more determined than ever to share my insight and wisdom with the world.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
Hi, I’m Nikki Banks—a Certified International Property Specialist (CIPS), though I prefer the term Global REALTOR®. I’ve been in real estate for over 11 years, backed by more than two decades in customer service and sales. From the start, my vision was clear: to become an international real estate professional serving clients across borders and time zones—not just zip codes.
That dream was reignited after I was laid off from a major telecommunications company while on medical leave. The decision impacted thousands of employees so the company could buy bandwidth it never used—just to block competitors. It was a turning point. I realized I could no longer leave my future in anyone else’s hands. That same day, encouraged by my daughter who reminded me of my longtime dream of becoming a REALTOR®, I enrolled in real estate school.
Since earning my license, I’ve worked diligently—first on a team, then independently—while staying laser-focused on my global goals. I’ve aligned myself with brokerages that offer international reach and built a trusted network that spans six continents. As a CIPS, I make cross-border transactions personal and accessible for every client I serve—whether they’re buying, selling, or investing internationally.
My brand, Nikki Banks Global Real Estate, lives by the motto: “Everything’s Better with Banks”—and I genuinely believe that. I’m committed to helping people reach their goals and build generational wealth, whether they work with me directly or not.
For the past five years, I’ve served on the Maryland REALTORS® Global Business Committee, where I currently lead embassy outreach initiatives—building relationships that foster international collaboration and investment opportunities.
Outside of real estate, I proudly serve on the board of two nonprofits: I Matter Youth Center, which promotes child development and STEM education, and the International Association of African Real Estate Professionals (IAAREP), which connects African and Diaspora communities through real estate development and empowerment.
Today, I’m expanding my brand globally through travel, digital content, and my regional real estate show, Selling the DMV, on American Dream TV. By the time this article goes to publication, my new app—the Global Realty Referral Network (GRRN)—will be fully launched.
GRRN allows consumers to find vetted real estate professionals anywhere in the world—at no cost— by using an interactive map feature in the location where they’re looking to buy, sell, or invest. For global real estate professionals, it creates opportunities to connect with each other and directly with consumers, in 10 different languages.
The app also integrates essential tools in one place: links to WhatsApp, Zoom, Calendly, plus the ability to upload YouTube content and referral contracts. What used to take days—finding a reliable referral partner across the globe—can now be done in just minutes.
It’s truly a one-stop shop for global real estate connections. That’s why our tagline is: “Global Connections, Local Trust.”
I truly believe GRRN is a game-changer for the industry. https://grrn.app. Whether I’m connecting people to properties, partnerships, or purpose—locally or internationally—my mission remains the same: to leave every person and every place better than I found them.
Amazing, so let’s take a moment to go back in time. What relationship most shaped how you see yourself?
The relationship that has most shaped the way I see myself is motherhood. I’m a mother to many—some biological, some gifted to me through life—but every one of them has been a blessing. Motherhood has taught me to lead with patience, to honor individuality, and to teach my children to “be a blessing, not a curse.” That phrase is a constant in our home because it reminds us that how we show up in the world is always a choice.
What I didn’t expect were the lessons they’d teach me in return. One daughter taught me not to let other peoples opinion of me dictate the way I see myself! Gods opinion is the only one that matters. Another daughter taught me about the power of protecting your peace. After a rough day at school, I offered to let her cancel her plans. She looked at me and said, “No. My next event is my peace. And I’m not letting anything take that away from me.” Her clarity left a permanent mark on me.
My oldest child has always had a gift for seeing every side of a situation—a skill that reminds me daily to slow down and consider the bigger picture. And through every challenge, every triumph, the greatest lesson they’ve taught me is this: love deeply, even when it’s hard. We may not always agree, but we’re always family—and love is the constant.
What did suffering teach you that success never could?
Suffering taught me who’s truly in my corner. My emergency spine surgery in 2024—and the year of recovery that followed, culminating with hip surgery in early 2025—revealed invaluable lessons about faith, resilience, and love. When life strips you of everything, including your health, you quickly learn who shows up without being asked, who prays for you, who speaks life into you without expecting anything in return. In those moments, you discover the people who love you unconditionally—not for what you have, but for who you are. Those are the people God places in your life to remind you that you are never alone, and they are the ones I will carry with me forever.
Sure, so let’s go deeper into your values and how you think. What do you believe is true but cannot prove?
I believe world peace is possible—but only if world leaders had to live one full day as the poorest person in their country before making any major decisions. Just 24 hours. They’d wake up when that person wakes up, eat what they eat, work where they work (as long as it’s safe), and sleep where they sleep. No filters. No assistants. No privileges.
Then—the next day—all the leaders would gather on a cruise ship. They’d eat the best foods from every nation, share stories, and take a line dancing class together on the Lido deck. Sounds funny, but hear me out: you can’t hate somebody you’ve broken bread with and laughed beside.
Only after that—after experiencing both suffering and celebration—would they sit around a big table, talk policy, and vote on matters affecting the people they serve. Not from power. From perspective.
It sounds simple, maybe even silly to some. But after having been on a cruise myself, feeling that unity and joy among strangers from all over the world, I truly believe this would work, and if it ever happens, I want full credit—and a Nobel Peace Prize!
Okay, so let’s keep going with one more question that means a lot to us: When do you feel most at peace?
I feel most at peace during my morning prayers and when I’m by the water. Growing up, I spent every summer in North Carolina’s Outer Banks, where I’d walk to the pier just to sit—or sometimes even fall asleep—listening to the waves. To this day, nothing calms me more. As long as I can hear the water moving, I feel grounded, centered, and completely at peace.
Contact Info:
- Website: http://www.betterwithbanks.com/
- Instagram: betterwithbanks
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/betterwithbanks
- Youtube: @banksglobalrealty
Image Credits
Local photographs taken by Sir Charles Photography, Arlington VA.
Hair done by DD Artistry, Philadelphia PA.
Hair Done by Ebony Jones, Baltimore MD.
Local Make-up done by Mariah Green , Towson MD
