5
minutes with... Jason Tennant President/Chief Lending Officer Cornerstone Bank
How long have you been in the banking industry? I’ve been in the banking industry for thirty-five years. I began with Union National Bank in Little Rock, then moved to Northwest Arkansas in 1990 and worked at Arvest and First National Bank of North Arkansas, and now I’m with Cornerstone Bank where I’ve been since 2012. Over the course of your career, what is the biggest shift you’ve seen in banking? It has to be technology and electronic/mobile banking. Thank goodness we are in the electronic age because with the recent COVID-19 documentation, it would have been much more cumbersome if clients had to physically sign paper work! Most of this has been for the betterment of our industry. Many years ago, if someone moved away, they almost always closed their accounts. Now we can bank with them from a distance. To you, what is the most enjoyable aspect of being a banker? I am basically a “country banker,” where relationships really matter. My single favorite thing to do is to help the first-time buyer, whether it is with an automobile or a home. They are so excited and happy. That is very rewarding to me. What is the most helpful banking product on the market today? Again, I would have to say the electronic side of banking. Debit cards and mobile banking have changed how our industry works. What trait does the modern banker need to have to be successful? To be successful in the long run in our industry, you have be able to balance the mobility of bank products and convenience with personal service. One thing that will never go out of style is personal service. We pride ourselves in being available for our bank clients. It means so much for your client to know that they can call you for anything, even if that is “not your expertise.” Seeing the problem solved and making sure that your client is cared for will keep your client base with your bank better than anything. A simple follow-up call goes a long way! Tell us something that your fellow bankers might be surprised to know about you! I grew up in a family that loves music and likes to play it. I have three brothers. When I was a child, our family–led by my parents– had a band and played in various shows in Northwest Arkansas. I still like to pick around on a guitar. I guess you can call it a “JOYFUL NOISE!” I also have been the PA announcer for Berryville Schools since 2008. What can you simply not resist? I can’t resist totally spoiling my grandsons. We now have been blessed with four grandsons. I am pretty pitiful to watch around them!
12
The Arkansas Banker n Summer 2020
