CHAIRMAN’S COLUMN Accountability & Serving Our Communities Anger and nervousness — those were my emotions in September when I first heard about the Wells Fargo fiasco and considered the potential backlash to the community banking industry. It’s hard to fathom a bank taking advantage of the people it purports to serve and violating the very trust that serves as a pillar of our organizations. The resultant consumer sentiment and negative spotlight shone brightly on our industry is both disappointing and disgusting. Add national reporting that mostly doesn’t distinguish between a systemically risky megabank and a community bank, and skyscraping frustration levels ensue. My nervousness arises from the realization that we’ve been down a road very similar to this one, and the last time it didn’t end well with the passage of the Dodd Frank Act (reminds me of the Pig Trail on ice)!
I believe every Arkansas banker would agree that when we make mistakes, even do something wrong, there’s a price to pay. It’s the same notion that existed in my home as a child and the same I’ve tried to impress upon my two daughters. It’s called accountability. I know enough bankers in Arkansas and across the country to know that we, as an industry, believe in accountability. When any of us make decisions, we expect to be held accountable and, in fact, our business model demands it. We are all held accountable, and we all should be. That said, a reaction we don’t need now is a policy response that results in increased regulatory demands or inhibits the passage of
bills containing tailored regulatory relief for community banks.
In Arkansas, we are integral parts of the communities we serve and have built relationships on integrity and trust over many decades. We operate from a position of strength because of trust-built relationships and an intimate knowledge and understanding of our communities. It’s a strength that only stems from walking, talking, investing and serving a community day in and day out. Empowered by that fact, it’s imperative that we continue to work diligently to ensure that policymakers and the public understand exactly what we do, and why our industry is so consequential to the success of our state and, ultimately, the entire country. I greatly encourage you to take part in the ABA’s advocacy efforts today! There are numerous ways to get involved and play a part. Whether it’s via email or social media, written communications or face-to-face meetings, the channels are in place and the Arkansas Bankers Association is ready to assist you and your team. Please consider joining other Arkansas bankers March 20-22, 2017, as we participate in the American Bankers Association Government Relations Summit in Washington, D.C. We’ll receive timely and relevant industry updates while meeting with our delegation concerning key industry issues in 2017 and beyond. I hope to see you there! In closing, I want to wish you a very Merry Christmas! This time of year is incredibly special
CHAIRMAN SEAN WILLIAMS President & CEO First National Bank of Wynne
and always leads me to reflect on the many things in life for which I am thankful. In America, in Arkansas, and in banking, we sometimes focus much of our time and effort on the challenges before us (see comments above!). In spite of challenges, we are unquestionably a blessed people, nation and industry. It is a privilege to be a member of the Arkansas banking community, and I am thankful for great friends across our state and the privilege to serve as your chairman.
ABA EMERGING LEADERS SECTION COUNCIL
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Stone Bank, Little Rock
BLAKE FLETCHER | PRESIDENT
JOHN ANDERSON | VICE PRESIDENT Malvern National Bank, Little Rock
GEORGE PURVIS | SEC./TREAS. Cornerstone Bank, Eureka Springs
EDUARDO ABRIL | GROUP 4 First State Bank of DeQueen, DeQueen
BURT HICKS | GROUP 5 Simmons Bank, Pine Bluff
HUNTER NORTON | GROUP 3 First Security Bank, Fayetteville
NATALIE BARTHOLOMEW | GROUP 3 First National Bank of NWA, Rogers
BLAKE JOHNSON | GROUP 1 Evolve Bank, Jonesboro
BEN RIDINGS | GROUP 2 Bank of the Ozarks, Little Rock
JOHN BOLLINGER | GROUP 3 Simmons Bank, Fayetteville
MATT LAFORCE | GROUP 2 First Security Bank, Searcy
RACHEL SCHWARTZ | GROUP 4 Farmers Bank & Trust, Texarkana
BRANDON GENTRY | GROUP 1 Cross County Bank, Wynne
JAMES LYLE | GROUP 5 McGehee Bank, McGehee
SANDY STARNES | GROUP 2 The Citizens Bank, Batesville
ROBERT HARGIS | GROUP 5 The Citizens Bank, Monticello
RYAN MOORE | GROUP 1 Centennial Bank, Jonesboro
HUNTER WINDLE | GROUP 4 The Malvern National Bank, Malvern
The Arkansas Banker | December 2016
