Pub. 14 2019-2020 Issue 2

NEBRASKA BANKERS ASSOCIATION 7 PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE Contributing Time, Talent and Treasure Richard J. Baier, President & CEO, Nebraska Bankers Association A T A RECENT CONFERENCE, I HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO HEAR froma newly retired Ohio banker about the importance of community banking and leadership. His comments and insights challenged the bankers in attendance to think bigger, and to think more deeply about what makes com- munity banks and bankers so impactful. More specifically, this engaging and passionate speaker talked about the three areas of focus which sepa- rates bankers from other industries and also makes banking such a unique industry. The speaker suggested that success- ful bank leaders should focus their time, talent and treasure in the following areas: 1. Your institution 2. Your community 3. Your industry Und e r s t a nd i n g t h e daily role an indiv idual banker plays within their institution is fairly clear: operations, retail, account- ing, IT, lending, etc. However, I think bankers often lose focus of the significant impact they have on the bigger picture. Too often, discus- sions and meetings focus on an account or product, loan loss reserves, this regulation, that problem, etc. It is important to remember the direct role that bankers routinely carry out in many of life’s milestones for their customers, such as, buying a first car, funding college, supporting a business startup or purchasing a new home. This role makes bankers unique in their impact on custom- ers and fellow citizens. The influence that Nebraska banks and bankers have on their communities is visible. Banks are often the first entity contacted when the local school wants to install new artificial turf, or the local band is seeking donations to march in a New Year’s Day parade, for instance. In addition to financial support, our Nebraska bankers contribute leadership to valuable com- munity organizations, elected offices, other trade associations and worthwhile not-for-profits. Throughout the past six months, I have also witnessed the critical role our bankers have played in helping Nebraska communities recover from storm and flood damage. Nebraska bankers stepped up at every turn to help with the immediate needs of their communities and continue to do so with long-term rebuilding efforts. I personally observed bankers organizing supply convoys, assisting with search and rescue, working to secure funding for infrastructure repairs, and even perform- ing housing searches to assist those that had been displaced. Clearly, these tireless bankers were not undertaking these recovery leader- ship roles to gain business for the bank or to bring personal benefit to themselves. Rather, focus and attention was directed to af- fected communities to provide support and stability during a turbulent time. This edition of the Ne- braska Banker Magazine features a number of suc- cessful Nebraska bankers who are clearly leaders within their institutions and their communities. More impor- tantly, the Nebraska Bankers Serving the Greater Good segment features voluntary roles these bank- ers have taken to promote and contribute to the greater banking industry through involvement in state, regional and national orga- nizations. We applaud these individuals as well as other Nebraska bankers who routinely offer their time, talent and treasure to support our important industry. Nebraska and the NBA are blessed to have a large number of bankers who live out the advice and commitment suggested by the Ohio speaker: “Service to institution, community and industry.”  Contact Richard J. Baier at (402) 474-1555 or richard.baier@nebankers.org .