Pub 1 2012 Issue 1

O UR BANKING FOREFATHERS were very wise when they realized that there were certain things that the in- dustry could do more effectively in a cooperative manner rather than an individual bank basis. State and Federal lobbying ef- forts, representing the industry before the court system to affect positive case law and training were, and are, the foundation of those cooperative efforts. Records from that first meeting of bankers, held in Topeka, quote J.R. Mulvane as saying, “The purpose of forming such an association of bankers is to unite the banking interests of the state to influence enactment of wholesome laws, to simplify business methods, and to formulate public opinion.” During these past 125 years the banking industry has seen a lot of ups and downs. The “Great Depres- sion” of the 1930s and the “Great Re- cessions” of the 1980s and the 2000s have hit the industry hard causing the decline in the number of bank charters. Yet the banking industry has not decreased its commitment to its customers. The number of “banking locations” has remained relatively steady in the State. The banking industry in Kansas has provided leadership on a na- tional, State and local level. Kansas bankers have become United States Treasurer, United States Congress - men and Senators, Federal Reserve Bank Presidents, Governors, State Representatives and Senators, and countless Mayors, commissioners and school board members. Kansas bankers have always been committed to their local communities and their economies. It wasn’t officially put on paper until recently, but the mission of the KBA has always been “to support and assist Kansas banks and Kansas bankers.” We always have, and always will, take that mission very seriously. The KBA has initiated many unique ser v ices to br ing about its mission, including forming an insurance agency to help protect banks from risk; forming a health insurance group plan (and now other group insurance plans) to help protect and attract our employees; creating banker education programs, designed by bankers; starting a “le- gal department” (called the Compli- ance, Litigation and Legal Center at its inception) to help bankers with the huge burden of regulations (this one initiative has saved Kansas banks millions of dollars in legal fees over the years); and starting a new consulting service to assist banks even further with their legal and compliance issues, to name a few. Throughout the 125-year history of the KBA, one thing has remained constant, we are banker-led. Bank- ers always have the final word in our decision-making process. That is true of our Officers and Board of Di - rectors, who are banker-nominated and elected to committees who are appointed by the Chairman. Thousands of bankers have con- tributed untold hours to the banking industry through the KBA. These bankers have only one motivation: to assist Kansas banks and Kansas bankers. Bankers develop and ap- prove our position on all legislation; bankers make sure the employee benefit plans remain stable and a good value for banks and their employees; bankers develop the strategic plan and direction for the KBA every three years; and bankers review and recommend changes to the KBA by-laws, to ensure that the KBA keeps current with current trends and efficiencies. As we go forward, we believe that any successful organization needs to have more than a mission statement — it needs to be on a mission. It’s also easy to work for an industry and a group of people that you believe in and are pas- sionate about. We here at the KBA truly believe in our mission, but it is because of you, the bankers of Kansas, that that Mission State- ment truly comes to life. February 22, 2012 marks the 125th anniversary of the Kansas Bankers As- sociation. On that day, 50 bankers from all over the state met in Topeka for the purpose of forming an association for the state’s banking industr y. By C huck S tones , President of Kansas Bankers Association