Pub. 13 2018-2019 Issue 2

NEBRASKA BANKERS ASSOCIATION 11 President’s Message — continued from page 7 Contact Richard J. Baier at (402) 474-1555 or richard.baier@nebankers.org . Since 1857, Cline Williams has devoted attention to the unique needs of the banking and nancial services industries. Since then, we have provided our clients with the resources they need in the areas that are most important to them – from lending and collections, to regulatory compliance, to mergers and acquisitions, and so much more. We’re more than a law rm. We’re a partner for your bank. | | | | | in-depthwith them to determine their careermotivations. While participating in recent college fairs, for instance, I witnessed students more interested in their work assignments, opportuni- ties for continuing education and the ability to have an impact on the organization than the starting salary. Finally, several Nebraska banks have started to target recent graduates from the state’s community colleges. Generally speak- ing, these students are more directly tied to their community. They often possess strong skill sets, are hard workers and are putting themselves through college. With a baseline talent, organizations like the NBA, Schools of Bank and the various Graduate Schools of Banking can help backfill some of the more technical skills needed to be successful in banking. Consider- ing recruitment and retention challenges, how has your hiring strategies evolved to locate and develop your team? Speaking from experience, one of the easiest ways to connect with future employees during their college years is to implement an aggressive internship program. Research conducted by the Nebraska Department of Economic Development suggests that 50% of students who intern at a Nebraska employer, accept full- time employment with that business upon graduation. From a business perspective, these students learn your culture, under- stand your customer base and integrate more efficiently than a traditional new hire. One Nebraska bank recently began host- ing their college interns for beer and pizza events to socialize with staff. This effort helped to develop relationships and has resulted in long-term employee placement. Your NBA team works extensively to advertise options and to place interns upon request. Do not hesitate to contact our staff with questions on our internship program or to seek placement assistance. Developing the next generation of bankers is vitally impor- tant to the long-term sustainability of the banking industry in Nebraska. The NBA remains committed to developing strategies and tools to help ease and support our members with this process! 