Pub. 6 2011-2012 Issue 1

May/June 2011 7 Extraordinary Service for Extraordinary Members. 233 South 13th Street, Suite 700 Lincoln, NE 68508 Phone: (402) 474-1555 • Fax: (402) 474-2946 NBA Board of Directors NBA Staff George Beattie NBA President & CEO george.beattie@nebankers.org Joni Sundquist Vice President of Communications joni.sundquist@nebankers.org Kendell G. Holthus NBA Chairman (2011-2012) (402) 363-7414 Cornerstone Bank, York Clark D. Lehr NBA Chairman-Elect (2011-2012) (402) 563-3656 First Nebraska Bank, Columbus 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 David P. Dannehl (308) 876-2451 First State Bank of Loomis, Loomis Curt Denker (402) 434-3115 Pinnacle Bank, Lincoln Donovan H. Ellis (402) 396-3431 Midwest Bank, N.A., Pilger Alan L. Fosler (402) 323-1272 Union Bank & Trust Co., Lincoln Stephen J. Hatz (402) 918-1567 Bank of the West, Omaha Michael J. Homa (402) 351-4248 Mutual of Omaha Bank, Omaha Allan D. Jefferson (402) 362-4411 York State Bank & Trust Co., York Jeffrey C. Johnson (402) 562-2108 Columbus Bank & Trust Co., Columbus Philip Jossi (308) 893-2351 State Bank of Riverdale, Riverdale Timothy E. Keller (402) 375-2043 F&M Bank, Wayne John F. Kotouc (402) 399-5088 American National Bank, Omaha Vicki L. Kraai (402) 773-5541 Astra Bank, Sutton Clarence L. Landen III (402) 449-0919 Security National Bank of Omaha, Omaha Brian Lierman (402) 475-0521 Great Western Bank, Lincoln Barry J. Lockard (402) 434-2225 Cornhusker Bank, Lincoln Scott J. Meister (402) 941-8603 Pinnacle Bank, Fremont Ken H. Niedan (308) 368-5555 Hershey State Bank, Hershey David A. Ochsner (402) 476-1131 Nebraska Bankers’ Bank, Lincoln Ryne D. Seama n (402) 643-3636 The Cattle National Bank & Trust, Seward John P. Stinner (308) 436-2300 Valley Bank & Trust Co., Gering James H. Varne y (877) 860-2266 Custer Federal Savings & Loan, Broken Bow Michael B. Jacobson NBA Past Chairman (308) 534-2861 NebraskaLand National Bank, North Platte Larry D. Marik NBA Past Chairman (402) 562-5846 First National Bank of Columbus, Columbus Grassroots or Astroturf? George Beattie, President & CEO, Nebraska Bankers Association O NE OF THE MOST SIGNIFICANT CHANGES I HAVE SEEN in the last five years is the industry’s movement from “astroturfing” to real grassroots. Sure we have always been involved in the political process, but in my opinion we have never been involved to the extent we are today. The NBA’s ability to lobby successfully in Lincoln and Washington, D.C., correlates directly with the willingness of our members to engage in the political process. Today, our congressmen and senators know their constituent-bankers are paying close attention to their actions and votes, regard- less of the issue. These are bankers who write letters, make phone calls, and support campaign efforts both personally and collectively through the NBA BankPAC. With term limits now the reality in Nebraska, bankers have engaged in encouraging candidates to run for office and, in some cases, running for and getting elected to office themselves.Wemust elect people who share our pro-business and pro-banking view of the world. Being involved very early in the process will pay dividends in the future. Others have taken grassroots to a whole new level. Sev- eral weeks ago, two NBA past chairmen—Leslie Andersen of the Bank of Bennington and Matt Williams of Gothenburg State Bank—testified before House subcommittees on behalf of the American Bankers Association. Leslie testified at a hearing before the House Financial Services’ Financial Insti- tutions Subcommittee. She stressed the need to strengthen the accountability of the Consumer Financial Protection Q Grassroots or Astroturf? — continued on page 11 PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE