Pub. 12 2023 Issue 4

Mark Schifferdecker’s roots in community banking run deep. On Jan. 5, 1923, Mark’s great-grandfather, Martin C. Schifferdecker, was elected to The Farmers’ and Miners’ State Bank of Girard’s (now GNBank, N.A.) board of directors. Later that year, Martin’s son, W. Earl Schifferdecker, began working as a bookkeeper at the bank after graduating from Pittsburg Business

Feature Photo (above): (L-R) KBA’s Doug Wareham moderated the KBA Leaders Panel, featuring three former KBA Board Chairman: Leonard Wolfe, Frank Carson III and Bob Leftwich. They shared their experience as Chairman and encouraged the BLOK Class to stay involved in the KBA throughout their careers to keep the industry advancing. The 2023 KBA Bank Leaders

Feature image (above): Brandon Oien, President & CEO, and Gary Walter, Board Chairman of The Bank in Oberlin. KBA President & CEO Doug Wareham along with Alex Greig, President — KBA Insurance, Inc.; Terri Thomas, EVP & COO; Mary Taylor, SVP — Communications & Marketing Director; Kansas Bankers Educational Foundation Ambassador Ron Johnson; Kathy Taylor,

Beyond lending to local businesses and households, smaller banks often serve key leadership roles in their communities. These bankers sit on the boards of local schools, hospitals and other civic organizations, not only meeting the credit needs of their local communities but they are also an integral part of them. Gary Walter, Chairman at The

Save the Date!

Bank mergers and acquisitions (M&A) were hard hit last year, with only 168 announced whole bank and thrift transactions in 2022. Excluding the pandemic low of only 112 transactions in 2020, banking M&A fell to its lowest level since 2011, when only 145 transactions were recorded. The unexpected liquidity crisis in early 2023 that included

s a leader and decision-maker at your bank, you know that technology is a double-edged sword. It helps you work effectively, learn more about your customers, and make better decisions. But the online world also has the potential to destroy a business you’ve worked so hard to build. We live in a digital world —

Longtime financial strategist Jeff Caughron is retiring this year from The Baker Group after decades of service in roles including CEO and Chairman. He offers some thoughts and lessons he’s learned over his career. You’ve been involved in banking and investments for nearly 40 years. Talk about the early days of your career.I got into

As a banker, you are a prime target for phishing attacks due to the nature of your work involving sensitive financial information. Here are some best practices specifically for bankers to help avoid falling victim to phishing attacks: Perform rigorous employee training: Ensure that all bank employees undergo regular training on cybersecurity best practices, including

Kansas has a rich history of entrepreneurship, and our strong community of Kansas banks has supported and shared that entrepreneurial spirit over the years. This year, the Kansas Bankers Association was invited to participate in a program that connects financial technology entrepreneurs to financial institutions in Kansas looking for innovations to help better serve customers.

To view this year’s winners, please click here:https://enter.amcpros.com/hermes/winners

Bank of the Flint Hills Recognizes Board Member James (Jim) Meinhardt for Service Jim Meinhardt was recently honored by the Bank of the Flint Hills for his remarkable 35 years of service to the Board of Directors. As the local owner of KanEquip, Inc., Jim brought invaluable expertise and a unique perspective to the board,

James “Jim” Koch James “Jim” Koch, 73 years of age, Clyde, KS, entered into rest on Saturday, July 8, 2023, at the Overland Park Regional Medical Center in Overland Park, Kansas. Jim was born March 29, 1950, in Concordia to Herman and Mayme (McCawley) Koch. Jim was a 1968 graduate of Clyde High School. He

The business of banking has become increasingly complex over the last few years. Today’s employees are feeling the pressure, reporting high levels of burnout and stress. According to a 2022 study by LemonEdge, 31% of financial services and banking professionals are planning to leave the industry due to stress, and 23% of workers are concerned