Independent Banker - December 2020 - 7

FROM THE TOP
" It's time to look toward the
future, and I encourage you
to hold onto this
bigger-picture perspective
to propel our communities
out of this crisis. "
Noah W. Wilcox
Chairman, ICBA
Noah Wilcox is president, CEO and chairman of
Grand Rapids State Bank and its holding company,
Wilcox Bancshares Inc., Grand Rapids, Minn.
As we welcomed 2020, we did it with gusto,
laser-focused on the potential for this new
decade. In fact, " Vision 2020 " became a buzz
phrase used by banks and businesses nationwide.
But beginning in March, thanks to COVID-19,
that vision grew murky. As we navigated stayat-home
orders, lobby closings and a host of
unsettling fi rsts, our precise plans lost their luster
and clarity.
But the perspective that came in its wake may
have been even more important.
This year will go down in history as an arduous
one-to say the least-and we all are reeling from
its impact. But, like I recently said to my team,
it's only one year, a short timeframe when you
consider the course of your life. One year doesn't
defi ne your bank, its work or its impact.
Yet, if this year did defi ne us, we would be
proud of what we witnessed. First, we would
see community bankers stepping up for their
communities, galvanizing them to ensure small
businesses stayed afl oat. I recently had a local
business owner tell me that if it wasn't for the
Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loan he
secured through our bank, he wouldn't still be
in business. That's a powerful testimonial to the
impact we have made on millions of lives.
And we would notice how we amped up our
dedication to our communities and our teams.
My Top
Three
My good friend
Jim MacPhee was
well-known for
saying " hope is
not a strategy, "
but since it's
that time of year,
here are my top
three wishes
for community
bankers:
1. Automatic
forgiveness for
PPP loans
2. A crystal ball
to predict what's
coming in 2021
3. A joyous
and restful
holiday season.
We served those most in need through community
soup kitchens, food pantries, virtual charity
events and more. We helped to keep spirits up
through our continued dedication to our staff ,
our neighbors, our families and the community
at large. That's what makes community banks pillars
of their communities and top places to work;
we do the right things to serve.
Now, it's time to look toward the future, and I
encourage you to hold onto this bigger-picture
perspective to propel our communities out of
this crisis. More than ever, we have to be intentionally
present for our communities. We need to
continue to think creatively about how to engage
with our customers, because it's going to look different
in the long haul.
So, as we consider what's next, I'm struck by
the irony of the phrase " Hindsight is 20/20, "
as this has been the year for some serious rearview
refl ections. But I'm proud to say I wouldn't
change our response to COVID-19. We showcased
who we are as community bankers: leaders
who rise to the occasion when they are needed.
And that's a perspective that's worth keeping as
we enter a new year.
Connect with Noah @NWWilcox
independentbanker.org Q 7
http://www.independentbanker.org
Independent Banker - December 2020

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