Independent Banker - April 2018 - 40

Leadership
What is your top goal for your community
bank over the next 12 months?
Zimmerman: We just completed a merger of equals last
year [see the March 2018 issue of Independent Banker], so
we are working to streamline our systems, make all processes
as customer-friendly as possible and keep our focus
on core community bank values.
Kennedy: We want to reach more customers through our
electronic channel by expanding and improving our online
offerings. We want our
community to know they
can have it all: exceptional
service in our offi ces, on
the telephone or through
electronic devices.
Wilcox: Our goals are to
continue achieving strong
fi nancial performance,
to continue to grow as
an organization and to
continue delivering on our
strong reputation for giving
back to the communities that we serve.
knowledge and expertise of our employees so that we
can add additional value to our clients. All client-facing
employees will begin a broader educational curriculum
that will position them as the trusted advisor responsible
for the complete client relationship. We will be undergoing
a core conversion and are currently in the process
of researching potential systems. We recently opened a
wealth management offi ce in a new market and will be
looking to expand our presence with a new branch utilizing
all the new technological tools.
" ICBA advocacy -which
is solely focused on
community banks, our
education programs
and partner services -
is critical in helping
us compete today and
into the future. "
-KATHY UNDERWOOD
Underwood: Our goals are to continue to expand the
Warm welcome-New
executive committee members Noah
Wilcox, ICBA vice chairman, and Kathy
Underwood, ICBA treasurer, with
Christopher Jordan, ICBA secretary
Jordan: The short answer is to make money.
Beyond that, enhancing cybersecurity is garnering
a lot of attention.
Heitkamp: Wow! This is a big question for us. We
are really preparing for the future by adding more
services/features to our existing core processor,
which will give us more fl exibility and the ability
to serve our customers in the manner they choose
to bank. We are making ourselves nimble and
responsive. We suffered wind and water damage
in some of our locations due to Hurricane Harvey.
We decided to make lemonade out of lemons, so we
are currently going through a whole new branding
strategy for our community bank. In addition to all of
this, we are continually searching for ways to improve our
customer service experience. We have a full year ahead of
us, but it is exciting.
Hartings: The top goal
in the next year is to
increase loan growth
and penetration in our
marketplace. We are a
C corp, so the tax bill was
very favorable to us, so
we look to employ those
tax savings in competitive
products, employee
attraction and retention,
and shareholder buybacks
and dividends.
Loving: The goal for
our institution over the
next 12 months and
beyond is to build upon
our strengths and to look
for strategic growth,
both organically and
through new initiatives.
I believe there will
always be a need for
38 ICBA Independent Banker April 2018
Independent Banker - April 2018

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