to Our Communities
a turn for the worse, the implementation of this couldn’t come at a worse possible time. We are fortunate in Missouri to have well-run, well-rated and well-capitalized banks, so an economic downturn may have a temporary impact on earnings but should not pose a serious threat to our banks. I see the increasing costs of regulation and lack of succession planning being two key issues we will need to tackle. Failing to address succession planning in your banks could result in even more consolidation, and the fewer charters we have, the fewer voices we have to amplify our stories.
Steve Jobs said, “It’s always easier to connect the dots looking back.” I was educated to be an accountant but had friends who convinced me to give banking a try, and I’m so grateful they did. I started my banking career as a management trainee at a $150 million community
bank in Lee’s Summit; I am now the CEO of an $800 million mutual savings bank. Tirty years ago, I could not imagine being where I am today but looking back, it is easy to see the path. As I think about succession and my path, I assure you I would not be where I am today if so many people hadn’t encouraged and challenged me along my journey.
Tis brings me to what I believe is our greatest challenge and opportunity — our Young Bankers. Te older we get, the shorter our memories get. We oſten forget all the mistakes we made and all the people who were there to support us on our journey. I’m incredibly grateful that 10 years ago our Chairman Clarence Zugelter had either the courage or lapse in judgement to turn his bank over to me, a 40-year-old punk. But he didn’t just throw me the keys and walk away, he has walked alongside me, supporting
me and challenging me every step of the way since then. I think about all the opportunities that Greg Bynum gave me at First Community Bank in Lee’s Summit. I made a lot of mistakes, and he was there to liſt me and encourage me as I worked through them all.
We must invest in our Young Bankers and encourage them to attend our seminars, conferences and conventions so they can make the same connections we have. We must give them opportunities before we think they are ready and, in a lot of cases, before we were given them. Our world is changing at a much faster pace, and we need folks on our teams who can change with it. Tese are the individuals who can share our stories, be our banks’ advocates and ensure our banks’ commitments to our communities continue for years to come.
MBA’s podcast explores topics relevant and interesting to bankers. Our fun, engaging conversations help you stay ahead of what’s happening in banking. Our Two Cents with MBA is on MBA’s website, iTunes, Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts and Spotify.
THE MISSOURI BANKER 3
O
u
r
w T
o
C
e
s
n t
w
t i
h
M
A B
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
