4 minute read
Our Steadfast History Bears Repeating for Customers & Communities
Rebeca Romero Rainey
President and CEO ICBA
In today’s climate, the road ahead feels uncertain. Between growing inflation and fluctuating interest rates, the future may seem more clouded than ever, leaving us to ponder, “Where’s the crystal ball when you need it?” Yet, it doesn’t require clairvoyance to chart our path ahead; we can rely on our history and our experiences to map the course. For hundreds of years, community banks have stood strong, adapting to market changes and evolving to serve our communities. Through industry highs and lows, community banks have risen on a foundation of relationship banking and thoughtful preparation.
Market shifts means that we must come back to those basics today, focusing on our strengths and what we can do to continue to excel. What sets us apart? How can we best demonstrate our commitment to our communities in the products and services we offer? Examining our strategic initiatives through this lens will help us ensure we aren’t simply reacting to a sense of urgency but proactively preparing for what lies ahead.
And we wouldn’t be community banks if we didn’t approach our businesses from a customer-first mentality. Fortunately, we have access to technological tools that enable data to tell our success stories. We have information on customer preferences, behaviors and needs, which, in turn, allows us to make strategic decisions about how to prioritize our efforts and get real success stories out into the mainstream. But with everything in life, we can’t do it all. We need to prioritize as we enter budget discussions over the next few months. Our banks, customers and communities will benefit when we align objectives with the potential solutions or opportunities that are going to make the most impact. By focusing on the problems we’re trying to solve and how those solutions will benefit our customers, we can separate timely initiatives from those that can wait.
From courses with Community Banker University to our ThinkTECH initiatives to Bancard’s Payments Strategy Guide and the ICBA Tell Your Story Marketing and Communications toolkit, we strive to provide solutions to help you address this post-pandemic society of instant gratification and digital transformation in a thoughtful, strategic manner.
It’s no surprise that uncertain times lie ahead, but I can confidently say that community banks will continue to thrive with ICBA by their side. I don’t need a crystal ball to tell me that, though, because as they say, the best predictor of the future is past behavior, and for community banks, our steadfast history bears repeating for the customers and communities that continue to depend on us.
SGENERAL COUNSEL ERVICES
cbahotline
@ jamesbatesllp.com As General Counsel, our Financial Institutions team assists our clients in managing legal and regulatory exposure, training, and best practice development. Our Financial Institutions team – and our firm as a whole – has the depth of experience and resources available to assist your bank in navigating legal matters and answering questions. We are directly accessible to your employees and board of directors at all times to ensure a professional, timely resolution of issues or questions. We are committed to being well-acquainted with your organization, its strategic priorities, and with your employees, shareholders, and board of directors so that we wisely manage each matter in the best interests of all. We also work to ensure that our knowledge of your policies, procedures, general operations, strategic goals, and higher level business plans remains up to date and that our recommendations on any issue help you implement same with best practice in mind. Our ongoing representation is designed to serve as an integrated resource for your institution, and to be a right hand on any particular topic, regardless of its scope, at any time. Our goal is to bring our skill sets, experiences, and resources alongside you, and help your bank reach its ultimate potential.
ACCESSIBILITY
We offer all of our clients open lines of communication. We are committed to a high standard of responsiveness and to managing your matters at the pace your business runs. We employ our knowledge of your institution to internally allocate our most efficient and effective resources to ensure that our external response to you is coordinated, professional, and guided by expertise and experience. If you need us, call us. Our phone numbers are direct lines to capable, experienced attorneys, ready to make you feel like your call is to another member of your team.
RELATIONSHIP
As General Counsel, we want to be part of your team and a contributor to your success. As our relationship grows, we will develop an understanding of your needs, increasing our efficiency in handling your matters. We will understand your core system, ancillary software platforms, your policies and procedures, your management structure, and your strategic goal, which will allow us to provide you with uniquely tailored legal services. We believe in superior client service and endeavor to foster a relationship with each client that reflects this standard of excellence.
SERVICES OFFERED
Strategic Planning Corporate Governance Navigating the Regulatory Environment Deposit Compliance Loan Compliance Commercial Loan Closings Employee, Officer, and Board Training Landlord/Tenant Representation Employment Matters Vendor Contract Review Bankruptcy Case Management Transcription of Board Meetings Resolution of Special Assets Insurance Reviews Cyber Security Assessments Risk Management Audit Assistance Mergers and Acquisitions
DATA PRIVACY EXPERT
Meet our data privacy expert, G. Grant Greenwood. Mr. Greenwood has experience in data security privacy laws and is a Certified Information Privacy Professional/U.S. Credential “CIPP/US”. For more information, Mr. Greenwood can be reached at (478) 749 9935 or ggreenwood@jamesbatesllp.com.
