Independent Banker - July 2024 - 38

LENDERS
ICBA's
TOP
2024
with the punches, although Bailey
says circumstances are " a bit more
intense " right now, both from
the income and the expense side
of things.
" We've seen some margin
compression and a slight increase
in carryovers this year, but it's still
manageable, " says Bailey.
He notes that through it all, the
community bank is sticking with its
agriculture customers. " We know
we'll have some good years, some
tough years and some really tough
years. We ride along with them
through those cycles. "
Community institutions like the
Bank of Eastern Oregon are " in the
agricultural space for the long haul, "
says Bailey. " Agricultural lending isn't
just a sideline opportunity that we're
going to get in and out of. "
In fact, he says the community
bank takes its responsibility to
support rural communities-of
which agriculture is a large part-
very seriously.
" It's not just a line of business; it is
our business, " Bailey adds. " We see
our members at the grocery store, ball
games and church; they're our friends
and neighbors. "
Smart strategies for farmers
With 23 locations in Missouri and
Iowa, $1.23 billion-asset BTC Bank
operates in predominantly rural
markets. Like Bailey, BTC's president
and CEO Doug Fish says agricultural
customers are concerned about
increasing input costs and shrinking
profi t margins. This isn't a new
scenario, either.
" These are issues that the industry
battles all the time, " Fish says. Add
droughts, excessive rainfall and low
production yields to the mix, and you
get a dynamic industry that's always
on edge.
" These are some of the 'normal
issues' that agricultural producers
38 /// ICBA Independent Banker // July 2024
/
Above: BTC Bank serves a predominately rural market, meaning farmers are frequent
customers. Opposite: Bank of Eastern Oregon CEO and president Jeff Bailey (left) speaks with
Mehrten Homer (right), owner of Homer Ranch and part owner of Painted Hills Natural Beef in
Fossil, Ore.
Rank Bank name
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
Agriculture: Less than $300M in assets
City
The First State Bank
Ultima Bank Minnesota
McClave State Bank
The Bank Of Protection
Campbell County Bank
Corn Growers State Bank
The First National Bank Of Hereford
Nebraska State Bank
The First National Bank Of Dighton
The First National Bank Of Fleming
Prairie Sun Bank
Ergo Bank
State Bank of Bottineau
Home State Bank
First State Bank in Temple
McIntosh County Bank
Stockgrowers State Bank
Bank of Cave City
Nebraska State Bank
The State Bank Of Toledo
Boise City
Winger
McClave
Protection
Herreid
Murdock
Hereford
Bristow
Dighton
Fleming
Milan
Markesan
Bottineau
Royal
Temple
Ashley
Ashland
Cave City
Lynch
Toledo
State
OK
MN
CO
KS
SD
NE
TX
NE
KS
CO
MN
WI
ND
IA
OK
ND
KS
AR
NE
IA
Ag lender score
97.2
96.1
95.6
95.3
95.2
95.1
94.7
94.7
94.0
93.9
93.7
93.5
93.4
93.0
93.0
93.0
92.9
92.8
92.6
92.6
Photo: Alicia Castañeda

Independent Banker - July 2024

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Independent Banker - July 2024