Independent Banker - April 2024 - 44

WHAT MAKES
A GREAT
COMMUNITY
BANKER?
These board members
believe there are certain
traits that help a community
banker rise above the
rest and resonate with
their customers.
" I was taught at a young age
to treat others as I want to be
treated, and I learned later from
a great speaker that we should
treat others better than we want to
be treated. "
-Verlin " Gus " J. Barker, ICBA Rural
America and Agriculture Committee
chairman, and president and CEO of First
Community Bank in Newell, Iowa
w
" Being able to listen to and
understand a client's needs and
communicate eff ective solutions. "
-John V. Evans III, ICBA at-large
director and Federal Delegate Board
representative, and CEO of D.L. Evans
Bank in Burley, Idaho
" I've always strived to be
enthusiastic in all my dealings
with my customers and staff and,
most of all, honest and forthright
with everyone! "
-Douglas E. Parrott, ICBA PAC chairman,
and CEO and chairman of State Bank of
Toulon in Toulon, Ill.
" A love of people and the desire to
connect. Customers want to bank
with someone they know, trust and
like. Community bankers think of
customers as friends! "
-Michael J. Burke, Jr., ICBA Bank
Innovation & Solutions Committee chair,
and president of ChoiceOne Bank in
Lapeer, Mich.
Continued on page 46 X
ICBA STANDING
COMMITTEE CHAIRS
Rural America
and Agriculture
Committee chairman
Verlin " Gus " J. Barker
President and CEO of
First Community Bank in
Newell, Iowa
Bank Operations
Committee
chairman
Sarah Getzlaff
CEO of Security First
Bank of North Dakota
in Bismark, N.D.
Bank Innovation &
Solutions Committee
chairman
Michael J. Burke Jr.
President of ChoiceOne
Bank in Lapeer, Mich.
Policy Development
Committee chairman
Peter Nelson
President of Glenwood
State Bank in Glenwood,
Minn.
the fi nish line. Most importantly, I
hope we can use election season as a
way to highlight the unequal, uneven
playing fi eld that exists with the
tax avoidance, taxpayer subsidized
credit union industry and fi nd
ways to keep them from buying our
community banks!
Fisher: Education is key with all
members of Congress. We need
to educate them on our issues
and why our issues ultimately
matter to their voting constituents.
This is best conveyed with
stories of how legislation aff ects
customers-both the intended and
unintended consequences.
Q: What does your position on
the ICBA board mean to you?
White: Being from rural Indiana
and spending my life working at the
bank, I never thought I would have an
opportunity like this. It is the privilege
of a lifetime to be chairman of ICBA.
Hopkins: I feel blessed to be able
to give back to an organization that
has been very good to me, my family
and my bank. [ICBA has] been a very
strong advocate for the industry I love.
Frazier: I have long respected and
been inspired by the dedicated
community bankers who have served
44 // ICBA Independent Banker // April 2024
Independent Banker - April 2024

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