What Members Say
“I must admit the primary reason for attending the first meeting was selfish in nature. I simply wanted the two bank CEO'S named above and me to spend time getting to know each other better away from the daily duties at home. We quickly realized we had stumbled onto something more. The professionals brought in for presentations at the meetings truly bring value. One or both of the subsidiary banks has worked with six of the presenters we have met in the areas of profitability, loan pricing, non-interest income, leadership training, strategic planning, investment management and marketing.In addition to the direct benefits mentioned above, we have also benefited from the contact with quality CEO'S from across the country in our peer group discussions. The peer group sessions, the "one good idea" sessions and the "open forum" sessions continue to give us ideas or heads-up on important banking topics.
I would urge any bank CEO looking for something to help manage his/her bank better to give The Bank CEO Network a try.”
George Thompson, President & CEO, First Olathe Bancshares, Overland Park, KS
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“In addition to the educational sessions, one of the most beneficial parts of the Network is getting to know others in similar size banks that you can talk with, share ideas with, and use as a resource as things happen in your bank. I have many times called upon other members of the group that I am in, and I have always been able to get information that is helpful to my situation.”
Huey Townsend, President & CEO, Guaranty Bank & Trust Company, Belzoni, MS
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“The Peoples Bank became a charter member of the Bank CEO Network in 1992 because we knew the principals involved would provide strong leadership. That leadership has caused our bank to look at the CEO Network as not just an excellent educational program, which it is, but also as (by a wide margin) the highest return on investment dollars spent by the bank on consulting services. Why?
The first reason for the value of the CEO Network to our bank is the unique challenge provided by other members, the meeting format, and the presenters. If one relishes a challenge, the CEO Network has it in the form of ideas, brainstorming, and tough questions.
Next, the CEO Network benefits our institution by providing an open door to a large number of progressive bankers. For example, these other members help each other identify best practices, share problem resolution techniques, and serve as a sounding board for purchases of new technology.
A final benefit, the CEO Network broadens the horizons of its members by sharing ideas from banks of different sizes, locations, and ownership structures. It is a group in which you definitely get from it in proportion to how much you are willing to put into it.
The Bank CEO Network has been and continues to be the cornerstone of our improvement as a bank and my growth as a CEO.”
J. Porter Loomis, President, The Peoples Bank, Pratt, KS
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“I have been a member of many community bank CEO Programs in my thirty plus year banking career, but none more packed with practical information to improve bank performance than that found through The Bank CEO Network (the "Network").
However, the most important ingredient to the success of the Network lies in its members. I have found that they welcome opportunities to share and you and the Network provide many opportunities for this to happen at our group meetings and through the Network's web site and directors conference.”
Archie McDonnell, Jr., President & CEO, Citizens National Bank, Meridian, MS
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“I appreciate your allowing me to share my feelings as it concerns the Bank CEO Network. My first meeting attended was in the spring of 1999 at the insistence of my partner in the bank. I enjoyed this meeting but did not really come back with anything that I felt I could implement at the bank. I was not going to go forward with the next meeting but my partner was adamant that I continue. At the fall of 1999 meeting in Florida I truly saw the value of the CEO Network. From that meeting alone I came home with ideas from other bankers and presenters that added recurring income of some $300,000 plus per year to our bank. Since that meeting the new ideas implemented as a direct result of my CEO meetings have pushed this number to well over $750,000 per year of recurring income. Some of the things we have implemented are not items you can measure in dollars but have improved our efficiencies or put us in front on new regulatory and compliance matters that may be just as important as the actual dollars.”
Brian Pohlmeier, President & CEO, HCSB, Plainview, TX
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