Cover Story By Lori Bruce, Director of Communications
“We put the roof on that house.” “Your grandpa and I framed in that house over there.”
Tis is a typical conversation that J.R. Buckner has had numerous times with his wife and daughters while driving through suburban Kansas City neighborhoods. As a little boy, his mom sewed a loop on his pants and shorts so he could carry around a hammer like his dad, a carpenter. Buckner spent many summers as a teenager working with his dad to build houses, an experience he fondly cherishes.
“Te joy of leaving the jobsite was instant gratification because you saw the fruits of your labor at the end of the day,” Buckner said.
Although the days of building homes are now a memory, Buckner is still a builder — just in a different capacity. Today, as president and CEO of First Federal Bank of Kansas City, Buckner seeks to build upon lessons that have guided him as a community banker and to use his platform as chairman of the Missouri Bankers Association to amplify the vital role that banks hold in their communities.
“Banks are the hub of their communities, and everything revolves around that hub. We are here to support economic development in our communities and to help our fiends and neighbors.”
Tis fall marks 10 years since Buckner joined First Federal Bank of Kansas City. His banking career began nearly 30 years ago while visiting with a friend aſter Sunday church services.
“He said there was a management trainee position at Bank of Lee’s Summit and asked if I was interested,” Buckner said. “I had just graduated from college, so it seemed like a good decision at the time.”
Banking was new to Buckner, who earned an accounting degree from Park University in Parkville. He credits the leadership at Bank of Lee’s Summit for their guidance early in his banking career.
“Te bank was relatively small, which provided me an opportunity to work in every area of the operation,” Buckner said. “My time in bookkeeping and internal audit really gave me insights into how all the areas of the bank worked together and impacted one another.”
MBA Chairman J.R. Buckner pours into profession, community focusing on service to others
THE MISSOURI BANKER 15
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32
