Ready to Take the Next Step in Your Career? General Banking School Might Be the Answer.

by Jessie Southworth, KBA Director of Education

While May in Kentucky is known for the fastest two minutes in sports, mint juleps, and a blanket of roses, June brings a different flair to Kentucky’s banks. Each year, during the first week of June, bankers from across the state gather at the Griffin Gate Marriott in Lexington for General Banking School. From tellers and loan officers to compliance specialists, IT experts, accountants, attorneys, trust specialists, and fraud investigators—each role in a bank demands a unique set of skills and knowledge.

Our General Banking School is designed to address this complexity by bringing together employees from all these diverse functions. This two-year program helps participants understand how different parts of the bank interact and depend on each other. It combines theoretical knowledge with practical application, culminating in a state-of-the-art bank simulation. In this simulation, participants step into the roles of upper management, making critical decisions that affect the bank’s operations. Beyond gaining knowledge and skills, the program also offers a valuable networking opportunity. Participants connect with banking professionals from across the state, often forming lasting relationships that extend well beyond their time at the General Banking School.

Recently, we had the opportunity to reach out to three successful bankers who participated in General Banking School early in their career. Check out what they had to say about their experience below!

Charles Beach, IV GBS GraduateClass of 2015 Vice PresidentPeoples Exchange Bank Winchester, KY

“I really enjoyed meeting all of the other bankers from across Kentucky and learning about their lending practices, the intricacies of their individual markets and the businesses that drive the economy in each of those markets. Whether it was banking Soybean farmers in Western Kentucky, looking at commercial real estate in Louisville or addressing the banking needs of the Amish community in Bath County you were able to see the full spectrum of banking in Kentucky.

I found the classwork quite interesting mainly due to the instructors, specifically Dr. Dianna Preece. The instructors make various topics like CAMELS, UBPR or Financial Analysis surprisingly engaging. I gained a comprehensive understanding of how a community bank works from the ground up; which I use daily as we examine how to maximize efficiencies in our institution.

The lasting benefit of attending the General Banking School is the network of bankers across the state that you are introduced to as a banking school attendee and can call upon to compare notes and seek advice. The KBA actually cares about promoting the interests of community banks and community bankers and the infrastructure that they provide for the banking industry in our state is an incredible resource for all of us to call upon.”

Doug LawsonGBS Graduate, Class of 1999President and COO, Field & Main Bank Henderson, KY

“I thoroughly enjoyed meeting new people. The opportunity to learn more about them, their families, their banks, and to make friends for life was worth the price of admission. It is amazing how many classmates I can recall, still see, and have maintained relationships with since we graduated in 1999. General Banking School taught me to love banking and that passion still lies deep inside of me 25 years later. The benefit is that I love what I do, I was blessed with great teachers, coaches, mentors, and bankers who invested in me and who continue to invest in me daily. The biggest benefit is the gratitude I feel every morning when my feet hit the floor. Thank you KBA for the opportunity to learn and to grow my career.”

What skill did you learn in GBS that was was most useful in your career?

“ALCO – without question the best part of banking. Asset Liability Management is a little art and a little science. I am a little competitive, so the bank simulation game was particularly fun for me, and it really hooked me on the idea of running a community bank someday. Being a well-run bank is the precursor to helping people and I believe that great communities have great financial institutions.”

Lonnie FoleyGBS Graduate, Class of 2005Chief Financial Officer, Peoples Bank of KYFlemingsburg, KY

“Having never been exposed to the interworkings of how a bank functions on the financial side, the numerous topics covered by the instructors was a huge benefit. It provided a great foundation, especially early in my banking career. Since my accounting career began some 20 years ago, I always had a good understanding of balance sheets and profit and loss statements in private organizations. I realized once I began my banking career, banks are somewhat different in this respect. Banking School helped me understand the total package using the simulation and being taught the interworkings of the UBPR. Attending GBS provided an overall bird’s eye view of how the bank functions. Most importantly it provided a networking opportunity that has proven to be invaluable. I still communicate with banking school “colleagues” to this day and for that I am forever grateful for the opportunity to attend the KBA Banking School. “