Pub. 3 2014 Issue 3

l e a d i n g a d v o c a t e f o r t h e b a n k i n g i n d u s t r y i n k a n s a s 6 BLOK SESSION II The 2014 BLOK Class pictured from left to right; Bobbi LaViolette, Farmers Bank & Trust, Great Bend; Chris Bualle, Girard National Bank, Girard; Chris Gilbert, Bankers’ Bank of Kansas, Wichita; Kristy Umscheid, Farmers State Bank, Westmoreland; Chris Baker, Bank VI, Salina; Kent Schwerdt, Kaw Valley Bank, Topeka; David King, Equity Bank, Wichita; Brenda Unruh, KBA, Topeka; Susan Otterstein, Centera Bank, Dodge City; Alan Campbell, Impact Bank, Wellington; Jamie Smith, Community National Bank, Tonganoxie. Not pictured: Ryan Leiss, INTRUST Bank, El Dorado. T HE 2014 BLOK CLASS GATHERED IN Overland Park on Monday, March 24th, for an evening session over the future for community banks with Dr. Bruce Morgan. Covering industry topics including concern over asset quality, regulatory burden and surviving in a low interest environment, Dr. Bruce analyzed industry trends and shared characteristics needed to lead in the banking industry today. A highlight of Session II is visiting the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City. The group heard multiple speakers from the leadership of the bank. Troy Davig, Senior Vice President and Director of Research, greeted the class and provided an economic outlook. Key themes of the report included expected growth in consumption and investment, corporate profits at near record levels and inflation running below 2%. The housing industry has not bounced back fully but is making marginal growth. He also spoke to the influence of Esther George’s dissenting vote, last year, in regard to the Federal Reserve Policy of QE in 2013. The engaging session with Mr. Davig proved to be interactive for the class. Krissy Young, Vice President and Public Information Officer, provided a history of the Federal Reserve Bank and led the group on a tour that included the board room and Esther George’s private office. She was able to convey a sense of the type of work done in the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City. Tara Humston, Assistant Vice President, Examinations & Inspections Department gave a presentation to the class over “Conditions and Emerging Risks in Community Banking.” Comparing various markers of Kansas banks, Humston was able to validate that Kansas banks are more profitable than they were 4 to 6 years ago and loan loss provisions continue to decline. Loan portfolios seem to be growing despite a slow housing market. The second component of BLOK Session II included attendance at the Tri-State Leadership & HR Conference. A sincere thank you to BLOK Grand sponsors Bankers’ Bank of Kansas FHLBank Topeka Kansas Bankers Surety Company KBA Insurance, Inc. Kennedy and Coe, LLC Professional Bank Consultants, LLC Promontory Interfinancial Network UMB Bank, N.A