The 2026 Bank Leaders of Kansas (BLOK) class gathered in Kansas City from April 15-17 for Session II of its leadership development program, launching the week at UMB Bank.

The session opened with an engaging discussion on leadership and banking in Kansas featuring Tyler Bachman, President and CEO of First Heritage Bank in Lenexa, and Scott Coup, President of Security Bank of Kansas City. Both leaders shared pivotal moments from their careers, offered insight into what they look for when hiring strong leaders and discussed strategies for positioning community banks for long-term success. The class also heard from Dr. Bruce Morgan of Professional Bank Consultants, who presented “What’s the Future for Community Banks?” and sparked thoughtful discussion about the evolving financial landscape and why there will always be a role for community banks.

Day two began at the Federal Reserve Bank in Kansas City with a full slate of speakers. Executive Writer and Historian Tim Todd provided a concise history of the Federal Reserve, explaining the conditions that led to its founding, what the banking system looked like prior to its creation and how it has evolved over time. Economist Stefan Jacewitz then led an Economic Outlook focused on Kansas and the Tenth Federal Reserve District. His remarks explored key indicators shaping the regional economy, including employment trends, inflationary pressures, agricultural performance and interest rate impacts on local growth. The morning concluded with Ryan Harwell, Group Vice President, Community Banking Organizations Supervision, who delivered an interactive and detailed overview of Kansas banking conditions and current trends. Harwell also addressed regulatory expectations and emerging supervisory priorities, including interest rate risk management and the evolving competitive landscape for deposits.  

Following lunch, participants took part in a dynamic, half-day leadership training session titled “Leadership Accountability,” facilitated by Ted Garnett of PS Culture Matters. During this executive-level training, Garnett equipped the class with practical tools for leading their institutions and communities. Through hands-on exercises, participants explored effective leadership strategies and the importance of accountability — to both their teams and themselves.

To conclude Session II, the class met with the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, hearing from Regional Director Jessica Kaemingk and Deputy Regional Director John Jilovec. The discussion focused on the FDIC’s role in protecting depositors and current banking conditions, including dialogue around past bank failures and the possibility of increased FDIC insurance coverage. FDIC economists also presented insights on economic trends in Kansas and the Midwest, touching on housing supply and demand, the Kansas agricultural economy, and how tariffs could potentially affect the market. The session closed with an interactive “hot topic” discussion centered on stablecoin and digital currency. 

The BLOK class will reconvene for Session III in Wichita in July, followed by a trip to Washington, D.C., in September alongside the Kansas Bankers Association Board of Directors and Federal Affairs Committee.