Main Street Banking: A Podcast for Community Bankers

Any type of lending is risky...and so much more with ag loans. However, for many of our communities, ag lending is a HUGE part of the local economy. How can we mitigate that risk? How can we partner with our farming customers to help them manage their risk, manage our risk as the lender, and everyone still profit? It might take a change in how we look at ag loans. Joe Jennings is the founding part...

It's one thing to say "we're in a relationship business" and it's a whole other to actually live it. If there's one thing that we do as community bankers...we live that statement! There's been no greater example of that than 2020 and PPP. Yes, it was tough...but community banks saved the economy and there's really no other way to say it. We wrap up our conversation with former ICBA chairman, Noah...

We sit down with with former chairman of ICBA, Noah Wilcox and current ICBA chairman, Bob Fisher for a two part series on community banking. Today's part is a fascinating conversation on advocacy. Advocacy is an enormously crucial part of community banks and, recently, we have seen incredible progress in community banks being "at the table". So...how can we get involved? What can we do at the loca...

Much like community banking, agriculture is being impacted by the fintech space. If we think about it, it really is a positive for both farmers and lenders...but...we have to know how and why it generates efficiencies. Scott Sartor and Allen Lyon, from CropLine Financial return to the podcast to give us an update on FinTech in the agricultural and ag lending spaces. To learn more, check out their...

We at Barret have a passion for ag lending and have partnered up with 2 of the top minds in the industry, Dr. David Kohl and Tim Ohlde. Tim teaches our Ag Lending 101 and 201 classes and is the CEO of Country Banker. Today, we sit down to discuss the outlook for 2021 in the ag sector. To find out more about Country Banker, check out their website at https://www.countrybanker.com/ And don't forget...

As bankers, we HAVE to deal with cyber risks. Sadly, it's a fact of life and will continue to be so. But there has to be a better way to train on the risk than we're doing. Beauceron Security, one of the ICBA/Venture Center ThinkTECH Cohorts in 2021 concentrates on telling that cyber story to bank employees. It's a fascinating concept that can really shape the way we think about improving the cybe...

In order for both community banking and fintechs to succeed, we are all going to need to work together in mutually beneficial relationships. Today, we are continuing our look at the ICBA/Venture Center's ThinkTECH Accelerator cohorts and how they bring efficiencies to the community banking industry. In addition, we have fintech executives and a banker on to give their perspectives on this topic as...

Today we are kicking off a series focusing on the cohorts of the ICBA/Venture Center ThinkTECH Accelerator. We'll be not only highlighting the companies but striving to understand the value and efficiencies these companies bring to the community banking industry. In addition, I hope you hear how these companies "get" community banking. It's impressive to hear. AgentIQ kicks this off and their syst...

"The Potency of the Possible..." When Fed Gov Miki Bowman said that during Regulator Day at the ICBA/Venture Center ThinkTECH, I floored because, to me, that encapsulates the relationship between fintech and community banks. It's scary (in a good way) to think about that potency of what's possible when banks and fintech work together and leverage the best of both parties. Wayne is the Executive Di...

Lending, no matter what the environment we are in, is always going to be crucial to the bank's success. At some point, even with technology, we are going to have to determine cash flow or understand how the spreading software arrived at its conclusions. Some things are just that fundamental. Richard Hamm has been a long time instructor for Barret in credit as well as several state associations, th...

If you've been in any level of retail banking, switching customer accounts can be one of the most frustrating parts of the job...for banker and customer alike. ClickSWITCH has a solution for that that not only makes it easier but delivers some tangible efficiencies to the bank's bottom line...and that is where we want to see the magic happen. Be sure to check out ClickSWITCH at https://www.clicksw...

Don't know about anyone else, but part of my early training involved Mystery Shopping. I learned more about product and brand differentiation doing that than anything else. Sadly, I haven't heard that much about it in a few years until Paul Nunn brought it up in some conversations we had for our previous episode. I had to bring him back on and go into mystery shopping a little bit more. Check out...

For the past several years, Barret has been sponsoring the Chairmen's Forum along with Gerrish Smith Tuck in Naples, Florida every year. On today's episode, we have Phillip Smith and Greyson Tuck from the firm to recap some of the takeaways from this year's Forum. It's a great insight into what is on the minds of banking executives as they approach 2021. Be sure to check out Gerrish Smith Tuck at...

Jim Reber, CEO of ICBA Securities, is back today to give us his industry update. Check out https://www.icbasecurities.com/ for more information

Today we're taking a look another look at technology and efficiencies in the high-risk business markets. It's a fact that many community banks have to deal with the economic realities of their local communities and, in many communities, that means MRB's, MSB's, and other traditionally high risk customers. Join us today as we talk with Justin Fischer of RiskScout about a wide range of topics from c...

We are in a brave new world and training our bankers is becoming an ever increasing challenge. Yet, at the same time, it is becoming more of a requirement in order to build culture and retention. Paul Nunn, with Pinnacle Financial Strategies is our guest today and he's got some great insights on this topic that I think you'll enjoy. Check Pinnacle out at https://www.pinnaclefinancialstrategies.com...

Welcome back to the Superhero Community Banking series! It’s been a minute since we last dove into Sun Tzu and The Art of War and how it applies to community banking. There’s so much really cool stuff in the book that we can all learn and apply...particularly in this new environment where we find ourselves. If 2020 had a silver lining, it’s that banks were forced to adapt and change...and that’s a...

We're wrapping up our series we've been doing on technology and innovation with Ray Chandonnet from Neocova. Technology really does not have to be the scary thing we sometimes make it out to be. In a world with razor-thin margins and still needing to maintain those customer relationships...technology and humanity have to be seen as extensions of each other. To find out more about Neocova, check ou...

My favorite episode every year...the Barret team year in review. And what a year it's been. But on flip side of that...what a year 2021 is going to be. We have a very special team at Barret and, each year on the podcast, we let you all take a look "behind the curtain" and get to know us a little better. Also, we have a new sponsor! Go check out ICBA Securities at their website, https://www.icbasec...

Charles Potts is the SVP and Chief Innovation Officer for the Independent Community Bankers of America. "Innovation" and "community bankers" don't often go together you might say...but...Charles (and Barret frankly) say otherwise. Charles lays out his vision for the ICBA's role in bringing innovation to the community banking space and shares how they've already been doing that. There really is no...

Jimmy Sawyers needs very little introduction to students and alumni of Barret, but for our new listeners, Jimmy Sawyers is CEO/Chairman of Sawyers and Jacobs in Memphis, TN. They are a consulting firm specializing in technology, security, and many other areas for community banks. He has been one of our highest rated faculty members year-in, year-out for over 23 years. Each year, Jimmy does his pre...

It's one thing to say "go make ag loans" but as anyone who has ever tried to do that...it's a little more difficult than that. What makes a good ag lender? How can banks find and/or develop that talent within? If you're a college student or looking to move into agri-banking...what should you be looking for? We'll talk about those today with the guys from Ag Head Hunters. Find out more from them at...

Agriculture is facing many of the same problems community banks are facing today...reaching that next generation of producers through technology while still retaining the relationships necessary to be successful. Scott Sartor, with CropLine Financial, is our guest today and addresses the concerns both banks and farmers have in leveraging fintech to meet farmers' needs. To read more about CropLine...

Who needs a breather? I do...so, I thought I'd write down and share with you my community banking gratitude list. These are the things that I am thankful for in our industry that have arisen out of this "one of a kind" year. We have a tremendous amount to be thankful for in our industry as we each do in our lives. Hope this helps you be proud of all the hard work you have done this year!

We welcome Jim Reber, CEO of ICBA Securities, back to the podcast to give us an update as to what is going on with bank's balance sheets. We have election season behind us, good news with the vaccines, earnings appear to be strong...what does all of this mean for your bank?