Page 275 - BWM March 2013

March 2013 | Business World Magazine | 275
the leadership of local community banks
were still getting-up each morning, going to
work, making loans and continuing to serve
despite facing enormous odds. “They kept
their little towns going and helped get us
through the crisis,” says Fine. And while the
truth of that statement resonates with mem-
bers of the ICBA, the very same sentiments
have been shared by principals of the Federal
Reserve, theWhite House and financial ana-
lysts throughout the country.
“What’s more, community banker’s
emerged with their reputations intact. You
don’t see headlines of community banks
cheating customers. They’re towing the line
every day and serving in their communities.
Our executives are the people that buy the
scoreboard for the local football team. They
purchase candy from the kids. They buy
school bonds and participate in programs
vital to their communities. The Wall Street
bankers’ reputation may be in tatters, but
ours is very much intact.”
Fine says as community banks increas-
ingly incorporate technology to offer range
of convenient services and their traditional
“nimble” management approach that allows
for faster response to customer needs, the
small banks will not only be positioned to
compete against the larger banks, but more
effectively capture the hearts of customers
that appreciate the autonomy, reliability and
relationships fostered from engaging in busi-
ness with the local community bank.
For anyone wanting to go local, or simply
go in to offer a word of thanks for their ser-
vice, April’s Community Banking Month of-
fers an opportune occasion. Of course, Fine
might agree that today is a good day too.
Employees of Reliance Bank in Faribault, Minn., pitched in to build a rain garden in the community bank’s yard. The employees
worked with the local soil and water conservation board and prepared the 80-square-foot garden, which uses native
plants to filter pollutants and prevent runoff.