To hear more from J.R. Buckner about his goals as MBA chairman, check out his conversation on Our Two Cents with MBA, available on MBA’s website, iTunes, Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts and Spotify.
In 1999, the bank merged with Valley View Bancshares Inc. in Overland Park, Kansas. Although both banks were commercial lenders, the Bank of Lee’s Summit was asset-based whereas Valley View assessed cash flow analysis.
“I was the only one with an accounting background, so I became the de facto credit officer because the Valley View financial group wanted to see cash flow analysis and tax returns,” Buckner said.
As Buckner became more involved with lending, Tom Jackson, bank president, encouraged him to attend MBA’s programs and its lending school. Te education and connections made through MBA’s schools of lending, management and operations opened doors for Buckner.
“Tom gave me opportunities long before I earned them and encouraged me to attend any and all of the MBA classes I could,” Buckner said. “It was because of my experience at the Missouri School of Banking that I was able to attend and ultimately be an instructor at the Graduate School of Banking
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at Colorado for almost 10 years, where I met some really smart bankers and increased my professional network.”
Te experience gained at the Bank of Lee’s Summit led to an opportunity in 2005 to serve as executive vice president for First Community Bank in Lee’s Summit. Tis role found Buckner taking on more responsibilities and learning from a new mentor, Greg Bynum, bank president.
“Greg gave me even more opportunities and leeway, and he supported me when I failed, which was frequently,” Buckner said.
Buckner’s time at First Community Bank coincided with the housing market crash, the Great Recession of 2008 and the implementation of the Dodd-Frank Act of 2010. Bank consolidations and mergers began to increase. Tis affected First Community Bank, which merged with Equity Bank in 2012.
At the same time, First Federal Bank of Kansas City was undergoing a transition
of its own as its president and CEO, Clarence Zugelter, wanted to take a step back from day-to-day operations at the bank. Zugelter’s retirement plans, along with the merger, presented another career opportunity for Buckner. He joined First Federal Bank of Kansas City in November 2012 as an executive vice president and worked with Zugelter for the next year-and-a-half to learn about the bank, its employees and culture.
“Clarence had the courage and discernment to turn his bank over to me and then proceeded to walk side-by- side with me while providing counsel and encouragement,” Buckner said. “He still serves as chairman of the board and a mentor to me today.”
Since April 2014, Buckner has guided the direction of First Federal Bank of Kansas City as president and CEO. He leads a team of 160 employees to fulfill the bank’s mission — helping customers build a better financial future.
“First Federal is a mutual, so our depositors own the bank,” Buckner said. “Our profits are reinvested in
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