Pub. 10 2015-2016 Issue 2

July/August 2015 7 Extraordinary Service for Extraordinary Members. PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE NBA Washington Visit Offers One-of-a-Kind Experience 233 South 13th Street, Suite 700 Lincoln, NE 68508 Phone: (402) 474-1555 • Fax: (402) 474-2946 NBA Board of Directors NBA Editorial Staff Richard J. Baier Joni Sundquist NBA President & CEO Senior Vice President of Communications richard.baier@nebankers.org joni.sundquist@nebankers.org  President’s Message — continued on page 11 Richard J. Baier, President & CEO, Nebraska Bankers Association Michael Pate NBA Chairman (402) 916-1401 United Republic Bank Omaha Jerry A. Catlett NBA Chairman-Elect (402) 353-2555 Bruning State Bank Bruning Robert A. Balfany (402) 434-1035 U.S. Bank, N.A. Lincoln Nicholas W. Baxter (402) 602-1839 First National Bank of Omaha Omaha Cory A. Bergt (402) 434-4122 Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. Lincoln Alan L. Fosler (402) 323-1272 Union Bank & Trust Co. Lincoln Karl W. Gramann (402) 988-2255 Adams State Bank Adams Kristie K. Holoch (402) 363-7431 Cornerstone Bank York Michael J. Homa (402) 351-4248 Mutual of Omaha Bank Omaha Chris Hove (402) 420-8344 Nebraska Bank of Commerce Lincoln Dale L. Johnson (308) 452-3225 Town & Country Bank Ravenna Susan K. Koranda (402) 256-3247 Security Bank Laurel John F. Kotouc (402) 399-5088 American National Bank Omaha Kevin J. Larson (402) 372-5147 CharterWest National Bank West Point Brian D. Lierman (308) 217-1382 Great Western Bank Lexington Larry E. McPhillips (402) 367-4334 Bank of the Valley Bellwood Donald E. Moore (308) 345-4994 First Central Bank McCook McCook Debbie R. Newkirk (402) 449-0902 Security National Bank of Omaha Omaha Ken H. Niedan (308) 368-5555 Hershey State Bank Hershey Anthony Rappa (402) 918-5442 Bank of the West Omaha Kimberly A. Schroll (308) 534-2861 NebraskaLand National Bank North Platte Jason R. Smith (402) 372-5331 F&M Bank West Point John C. Wilkins (402) 759-8126 Heartland Bank Geneva Lydell L. Woodbury (402) 439-2168 First Nebraska Bank Stanton Craig G. Brewster NBA Past Chairman (402) 775-2271 Butte State Bank Butte I RECENTLY HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO TRAVEL TO WASHINGTON, D.C., with our current NBA Leadership Class and a contingent of Nebraska bankers. Our itinerary included meetings with various bank regulatory agencies as well as individual meetings with each member of our congres- sional delegation and the traditional “Nebraska Breakfast.” After interacting closely with our Leadership Class members on a personal and professional basis, I returned from my trip even more excited about the future of the banking industry in Nebraska. Unfortunately, I cannot tell you that my optimism for political and regulatory improvements in the banking arena was nearly as positive. The NBA Leadership Class of 2016 consists of 19 bankers representing institutions fromboth rural and urban communi- ties, fromGering on the west side of the state to Omaha on the east. Their areas of specialty are diverse, ranging from lending and retail banking to operations and information technology. This Washington, D.C., trip represented the first time to the nation’s capital for many of these outstanding Nebraskans. Some participants experienced cultural opportunities not readily available in their respective Nebraska communities. Many of the participants travelled with their families, includ- ing a small army of inquisitive, energetic, and well-behaved young people! What I enjoy most about interacting with our Leadership Class members is their passion for the banking industry and their overall commitment to self-improvement. This excep- tional group of Nebraska bankers was ready and eager to ask intelligent questions of our various speakers. They clearly recognize the diverse challenges facing our industry and are keenly interested in finding common-sense solutions. They think about technology and customer service vastly different than many of our long-time bankers. Several class members, for example, were actively googling facts and trivia as we