The Missouri Banker January February 2025 : simplebooklet.com

ContentsThe Missourifacebook.com/mobankers @mobankers@mobankersMissouri Bankers AssociationFrom our ChairmanSing the Praises of America's Farmers. ....................................................... 2From our President and CEOElements of Tax Package Are Critical for Banks ............................................... 5American Bankers Association PerspectiveIt’s Time for a Regulatory Reset .............................................................. 6Department NewsGovernment Relations: MBA FAME Award Recognizes Excellence in Grassroots Advocacy .......... 8Legal: What Could DOGE Mean for Banks? .................................................. . 9Compliance: Get Ready for Sports Betting .................................................... 10MBA VEBA: Short- and Long-Term Disability Policies Offer Financial Support ................... 11Next Generation in BankingMake Your Voice Heard! NextGen Day at the Capitol .......................................... 12Cover StoryPlowing Forward In Washington ............................ 14After years of pending ag measures on Capitol Hill, bankers hope 2025 yields a productive harvestGuest CommentaryNew MBA Endorsed Partner BancCard Enhances Banks' Merchant Service Providers ............. 18Proposition A Creates Major Questions for Employers ........................................ 202025’s Top Challenges and Opportunities for Community Banks .............................. 22Around the StateBeyond Banking: Kristen Ziegler ............................................................. 242024 Executive Management Conference .................................................... 26Achievements .............................................................................. 28MBA Welcomes Interns ..................................................................... 29MBA Foundation Awards Five InternConnect Scholarships .................................... 29Jackson Hataway, PublisherLori Bruce, EditorLauren Rush, Designer573-636-8151The Missouri Banker (USPS Number 000044, ISSN Number 0893-5637) is published six times a year by the Missouri Bankers Association, 207 E. Capitol Ave., Jefferson City, MO 65101. Second-class postage is paid at Jefferson City, Mo. Copyright© 1998 by the Missouri Bankers Association. All rights reserved. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to The Missouri Banker, P.O. Box 57, Jefferson City, MO 65102. Opinions expressed in any signed article in The Missouri Banker are those of the author and should not be construed as the viewpoint of the editors or of the Missouri Bankers Association. Neither should information provided in The Missouri Banker be construed as legal advice. The Missouri Banker does not provide legal advice, nor does it take the place of legal counsel hired by ﬁnancial institutions. While this publication makes a reasonable effort to establish the integrity of advertisers, it does not endorse advertised products or services, unless otherwise so stated. This issue may contain legislative advertising. Advertising copy is generally segregated from news and other information.Address ChangesSubmit changes for The Missouri Banker to mba@mobankers.com.CONNECT WITH MBA!For the latest news, visit mobankers.com. THE MISSOURI BANKER 1

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Sing the Praises of America's Farmers David M. Gohn, MBA Chairman West Plains Bank and Trust CompanyHow do you occupy your time when driving to the bank each day? For me, that drive often is ﬁlled with music, and my selection runs the gamut from the 80s to alternative to hip hop, and everything in between. And when there’s a song that hits at the right time, I deﬁnitely “turn it up,” much to the chagrin of my middle school choir teacher. One genre that’s been a constant in my life is country music. It’s nearly impossible to not know country music growing up in West Plains, especially when the most famous person from your community is a member of the Country Music Hall of Fame. Porter Wagoner, the “thin man from West Plains” and son of a farming family, performed with his band on the radio for the ﬁrst time from a butcher shop in West Plains. Fast forward several years, and Wagoner moved to Nashville, where From our Chairmanhe donned his Nudie suits in rhinestones and beads and introduced the world to Dolly Parton on The Porter Wagoner Show. Wagoner paid tribute to his farming roots with his song “The Farmer.” Country music has immense, deep roots in farmlands across our nation, and songs throughout the history of country music have paid tribute to farmers. From traditional to old school to current artists, each generation of country music has used its platform to showcase the love and pride they have for America’s farmers. Farm Aid, an annual beneﬁt concert for American farmers, marks its 40th anniversary in 2025. This beneﬁt and these songs tell the stories of farmers so more may know and understand their vast signiﬁcance to our country and the world.We, the banking community, have a responsibility to also share the experiences of farmers. Our stories most likely won’t end up on the radio or someone’s playlist, but it’s critical we lend our voice to support the farming community.This issue of The Missouri Banker takes a look at key initiatives in Washington, D.C., that signiﬁcantly affect the livelihoods of America’s farmers. One of the top legislative priorities for our industry is passage of the ACRE Act. This bipartisan bill would help lower interest rates for rural borrowers and help revitalize rural communities. ACRE has been introduced previously in Congress, but it never moved to the president’s desk. With a new Congress and new administration, it’s imperative that ACRE ﬁnally becomes law. I encourage you and your team to meet 2 mobankers.com

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Sing the Praises of America's Farmers “We have a responsibility to also share the experiences of farmers. Our stories most likely won’t end up on the radio or someone’s playlist, but it’s critical we lend our voice to support the farming community.with your representatives, senators and their district staff to share why their support is needed to pass ACRE.Discussions and meetings with elected ofﬁcials tie back to MBA’s strategic plan — make every Missouri banker an advocate for our industry. It’s been a little more than six months since MBA launched its three-year strategic plan. Since then, MBA staff has provided an update on the goals and objectives outlined in the plan at every meeting of the MBA Board of Directors, and we’ll have our next update at our April meeting.I share this because as we approach the one-year mark of the plan, it’s important to know the progress of MBA’s work in achieving the plan’s overall goal — simplify engagement with MBA while enhancing value for Missouri banks and increasing MBA's impact on critical issues. This primary goal includes four key areas.• Maintain Missouri as a preeminent state for banking.• Make every banker an advocate.• Innovate to address evolving member needs.• Maximize member value.To achieve these goals, MBA staff is concentrating on objectives that focus on the following.• Advocacy and Government Affairs• Member Experience and Engagement• Service Optimization and Innovation• Communications and ScaleA brief, one-page summary of the plan is posted at mobankers.com. I encourage you to take a minute to review the plan and if you have any questions or comments, reach out to me or MBA staff. Planning plays a key role in farming. One must account for several variables that can affect market outcomes for crops and livestock. In the end, one hopes that their labor yields a successful, productive year. The same can be said for MBA’s strategic plan. MBA is laying the groundwork for initiatives that will take time to nurture and grow. In the end, that work will reap success for our banking community as we continue to survive and thrive. Porter Wagoner, member of Country Music Hall of Fame & West Plains native THE MISSOURI BANKER 3

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Elements of Tax Package Are Critical for Banks 2025 is upon us, and the year is off to a rapid start for MBA. The state legislative session has ofﬁcially kicked off, and we are focused on delivering important outcomes for our banks, particularly as they combat the never-ending wave of fraud that has overtaken our industry.At the federal level, Chairman Jason Smith’s job leading the House Ways and Means Committee — an always critical role in government — has ofﬁcially become the most important job in Congress. Smith must move a tax package as the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act creeps toward expiration, and there is no end to the demands for continued tax cuts and new “pay-for” items.There are certain elements of the tax package that are critical for Missouri’s banks. First and foremost, lawmakers must know Jackson Hataway, President and CEO, Missouri Bankers AssociationFrom our President and CEOAs the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act creeps toward expiration, there is no end to the demands for continued tax cuts and new “pay-for” items.“that banks pay one of the highest effective tax rates of all industries. In addition to the federal corporate tax rate your bank pays, you also pay assessments to the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation to support the Deposit Insurance Fund. Although these assessments are not included in the tax calculations, they are, by their nature, a required payment by and to the federal government that is based on bank-speciﬁc factors. Helping our legislators understand that any additional tax burden would only reduce available capital for lending and negatively impact communities across the state must be a priority for our industry.Second, ACRE — Access to Credit for our Rural Economy Act — must be included in the tax package. This legislation would allow banks to deduct the interest income from agriculture and rural housing loans from federal taxation, enabling you to offer much lower loan rates to customers. At a time when land and input costs are at record highs, Congress must do everything in its power to protect our farmers and the broader agricultural economy upon which our nation relies. ACRE could play a key role in bringing affordable credit to more rural communities and agricultural producers.Finally, we must remind Congress of the most obvious “pay-for” in the country — credit unions. Even if a line is drawn at a particular credit union asset size, the taxable income would be signiﬁcant for a federal government in desperate need of revenue. We can continue to pretend the largest credit unions’ are putting their tax advantage to “good use” by splurging millions of dollars for NFL stadium naming rights for the Washington Commanders or to be the ofﬁcial “banking” partner for the Kansas City Chiefs, or we can ﬁnally recognize that the largest credit unions no longer match the rest of the credit union industry. If it walks like a bank and talks like a bank, let’s tax it like a bank. THE MISSOURI BANKER 5

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Rob Nichols, President and CEO American Bankers AssociationABA PerspectiveIt’s Time for a Regulatory ResetOver the last four years, the banking industry has battled an onslaught of new rules and regulatory changes that have threatened to fundamentally alter how ﬁnancial institutions in this country operate. Regulators have taken a de facto “one-size-ﬁts-all” approach to rulemaking — ignoring the diversity of bank sizes, charters and business models within the banking sector, as well as the undeniable trickle-down effects of regulations that are, on paper, only targeted toward larger institutions. For whatever reason, they also have chosen to pursue rulemakings more tied to the past than the present. It’s time to stop ﬁghting the last war and stay focused on the present and the future. ABA and the state associations have stepped up on behalf of our members, challenging misguided ﬁnal rules in court wherever warranted and pushing back with facts and data to stop faulty assumptions from underpinning major regulatory changes and bogus claims about our industry from spreading. We’ve had some notable successes over the last four years, but it hasn't been easy. As we welcome 2025, a new presidential administration and a new Congress, it’s time to reset the conversation around banking regulation. That effort began right after the election during the transition, as ABA worked to communicate our priorities to the incoming Trump administration. With leadership changeovers anticipated at the regulatory agencies following the inauguration — including at the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, Ofﬁce of the Comptroller of the Currency and the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau — we expect to have the opportunity to share our perspective with the new players and help refocus the conversation around rightsizing the supervision and regulation of the banking sector. Although we can expect some of the new regulators to pause some proposed rulemakings altogether, and Congress could use the Congressional Review Act to undo some of the most recent regulatory proposals, it’s important to remember that the new administration and new Congress will not wield a magic wand.Undoing policy changes in a durable way can take just as long as putting new regulations into place because the Administrative Procedure Act and its notice and comment procedures apply. As we have noted in our many active lawsuits, regulators have frequently ﬂouted the APA in recent years, and partisan agendas have too often driven a rulemaking process that is supposed to be even-handed and fact-based. We have the opportunity now to get it right — by following a transparent process and by working constructively to engage policymakers of both parties in crafting commonsense 6 mobankers.com

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“Although we can expect some of the new regulators to pause some proposed rulemakings altogether, it’s important to remember that the new administration and new Congress will not wield a magic wand.regulations that ensure our banking sector remains safe, sound and well-capitalized. That’s how we bring about meaningful, long-lasting change.At ABA, we are ready to roll up our sleeves and get to work, together with our state alliance partners — and we need your help. We need every banker in this country to stay engaged on the issues that matter. Reach out to your members of Congress, particularly in states where freshmen lawmakers took ofﬁce. Get to know your representatives, invite them to your bank and introduce them to your customers and your employees. Help them to understand not just the important work banks do each day but the ripple effect that the provision of credit can have in our cities, towns and neighborhoods. Finally, I invite every banker in this country to join us in Washington, D.C., from April 7-9 for the 2025 ABA Washington Summit. This year’s annual gathering of bank leaders will be critically important in making sure we have a policy environment that will unleash economic growth and allow banks to serve their customers and communities. We need all of you there to make sure our industry’s voice is heard loud and clear. Email Rob Nichols at rnichols@aba.com. WASHINGTONSUMMITJoin the biggest annual gathering of bank leaders in Washington to push for a bank policy framework that lets your bank stay focused on serving your customers, clients and communities.Hear directly from the key players in the 119th Congress and the new administration on what the future holds for banks of all sizes. Registration is free for all bankers – Don’t miss your chance to connect!April 7–9, 2025Marriott Marquis | Washington, DCaba.com/SummitSBA THE MISSOURI BANKER 7

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Department NewsMBA is proud to announce the launch of Fostering Advocacy and Meaningful Engagement (FAME), a new award designed to recognize banks that excel in advocacy efforts. The FAME award aims to celebrate those who have gone above and beyond in making their voices heard and actively engaging with policymakers.To qualify for FAME status, banks must complete at least ﬁve of seven advocacy objectives. Examples include, but are not limited to, the following.• contributing to a PAC• hosting a local meeting with lawmakers• participating in MBA’s Target Banker program• naming an advocacy ofﬁcer at your bank In addition to the FAME award, MBA has introduced Advocacy at Your Fingertips, a concept designed to make grassroots advocacy easier and more accessible than ever before. This initiative provides banking professionals with a comprehensive suite of tools to help them stay engaged in advocacy efforts, including through MBA’s app, an advocacy toolkit and an easier process to register for Target Bankers.A new advocacy section on the app allows bankers to track legislative updates, access talking points on speciﬁc bills and directly contact lawmakers — all from their mobile devices. GOVERNMENTAL RELATIONSMBA FAME Award Recognizes Excellence in Grassroots AdvocacyBy David Kent, Senior Vice PresidentWith just a few taps, users can easily engage on important issues affecting the banking sector, making it a quick and efﬁcient way to stay informed and take action. To access this feature, simply download the MBA app, log in and choose the advocacy section.The Advocacy Toolkit serves as a “one-stop shop” for all things related to advocacy, providing users with resources and strategies for effective engagement. The toolkit is intended to help empower banks of all sizes to make a meaningful impact in the legislative process. It is available online or in printed copy.Finally, registering for MBA’s Target Banker program is now much easier and more efﬁcient. Simply go to the Target Banker page on MBA’s website, log in and choose the date most convenient for you. Your lawmakers will automatically be pulled from our database, and MBA staff will receive an email notiﬁcation that you have registered. Our new initiatives illustrate advocacy is not just a responsibility; it’s a key to success. Through Advocacy at Your Fingertips and the FAME award, MBA is empowering banks to make advocacy an integral part of their mission, ensuring that the banking industry remains a strong, inﬂuential voice in shaping public policy. 8 mobankers.com8 mobankers.com

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The Department of Government Efﬁciency emerged as a concept in a discussion between then GOP presidential candidate Donald Trump and businessman Elon Musk. At an August 2024 campaign event, Trump said he was open to offering Musk an advisory role in his administration. Musk posted “I am willing to serve” on his X platform, along with an AI-generated image of him standing at a lectern marked “Department of Governmental Efﬁciency.”1 Musk suggests DOGE could cut as much as $2 trillion from federal spending. JPMorgan Chase CEO Jamie Dimon has supported the idea of creating DOGE to improve government competency. Congressional members in both chambers also have expressed support. House Oversight Chairman James Comer announced Nov. 21, 2024, the establishment of a subcommittee for government efﬁciency. A month later, Trump announced Katie Miller, the wife of incoming deputy chief of staff Stephen Miller, would be joining DOGE. WHAT WOULD DOGE BE? DOGE likely will not be a federal department because that would require an act of Congress, and establishing another department would not appear to be efﬁcient or consistent with DOGE’s objectives. DOGE will most likely be established as a presidential advisory commission under the “Federal Advisory Committees Act” 5 USC Sections 1001 to 1014. The act typically limits the life of advisory committees to two years. This is consistent with comments that DOGE will complete its activities by July 4, 2026. CAN DOGE BE IMPACTFUL? Prior experience with advisory committees tasked to similar missions suggest mixed but not generational results. Examples include the Grace Commission under President Reagan and the National Partnership for Reinventing Government under President Clinton.However, the two most recent administrations demonstrate potential for signiﬁcant change in government in a short period of time. During his 2016 administration, Trump issued Executive Order 13772 on the Core Principles for Regulating LEGALWhat Could DOGE Mean for Banks? By Keith Thornburg, Vice President and General Counselthe United States Financial System. Under this order, Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin produced a series of reports titled “A Financial System that Creates Economic Opportunities” that informed policy and guided the administration in providing regulatory relief and clarity, countering regulatory excesses under the Dodd-Frank Act, bringing signiﬁcant relief to consumers and stimulating the economy. Reports included those that addressed capital markets, ﬁnancial technology and ﬁnancial institutions. Some recommendations required congressional action, such repealing Section 1071 of the Dodd-Frank Act.2 A second example is President Biden’s “all of government” initiative issued via executive orders during the ﬁrst two years of his administration. These orders embedded climate change priorities, social justice and competition by government planning into all federal agencies via rulemaking and enforcement actions under the centralized direction of various task forces and supported by American Rescue Plan and Inﬂation Reduction Act appropriations made by Congress.WHAT COULD DOGE MEAN FOR BANKS?An article published Dec. 12, 2024, by The Wall Street Journal noted that ofﬁcials from DOGE had inquired about abolishing the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation and restructuring all the federal bank regulatory agencies. Both the prior Trump administration and the Biden administration had dramatic impacts on banking via executive orders and regulatory actions. Musk also has criticized the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau as a duplicative regulatory agency and posted on X in November 2024 about deleting the CFPB.The contrast between administrations has been stark. Both produced substantial change in the federal government and the U.S. economy that affected consumers, companies and relationships between nations — each within the span of a single administration. If past administrations are any indication, DOGE could have a signiﬁcant impact on banking and the U.S., as well as the world. References1 The acronym “DOGE” also may represent dodge coin, a cryptocurrency promoted by Musk.2 Banks and Credit Unions June 2017, see also Capital Markets, June 2017; Nonbank Financials, Fintech, and Innovation July 2018 THE MISSOURI BANKER 9

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Department NewsCOMPLIANCEGet Ready for Sports BettingBy Carol Barnett, Senior Vice President of Compliance ServicesIn the November 2024 general election, Missouri voters narrowly approved Amendment 2, which will allow licensed sports wagering for individuals physically located in the state and 21 and older. The Missouri Gaming Commission is tasked with regulating and licensing sports betting operators. The deadline to begin is Dec. 1, 2025. However, estimates are that it could be as early as mid- to late summer 2025 when sports betting in Missouri will be operational.The Missouri Gaming Commission and/or the state legislature could implement restrictions on sports betting, and we will know more in the coming months as to exactly how the system will work as regulations are ﬁnalized.What is the potential impact for banks and bank customers? Because almost all states bordering Missouri already allow sports betting, banks near the borders likely have already encountered customers engaged in this activity. As an increasing number of states have enacted sports betting since 2018, the impact of essentially frictionless online sports betting available 24/7 from your couch is now being studied.An article on NBC News dated Aug. 24, 2024, highlighted two separate papers in which researchers have begun measuring the impact of legalized sports betting on the ﬁnances of Americans. In these papers, academics found that households in states where gambling was legalized saw signiﬁcantly reduced savings, as well as lower investments in assets like stocks. The papers also acknowledged that states that legalized sports betting saw their residents’ credit card balances increase and aggregate credit scores decrease while bankruptcies increased.Banks may want to start considering the potential impact on both loan and deposit customers. Gambling losses could affect their ﬁnancial standing, leading to potential consequences, including increased overdrafts on deposit accounts and delinquent loan payments.What about payments for sports betting?Each sports betting operator has its own rules as to what payment methods for deposits and withdrawals they accept. They appear to commonly accept debit card and credit card transactions, as well as e-wallet options such as PayPal, Venmo, Google Pay, etc. Some states restrict certain payment methods. Banks will likely want to become familiar with how these transactions will affect bank customers, whether via debit card or ACH or other means, how they will be coded in processing and appear on statements, etc.In addition, banks may need to be prepared for additional disputes or claims of unauthorized transactions. Scammers will likely target Missourians with fake sports betting apps and copycat websites and services to mimic legitimate sites and apps.The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau recently released a “Data Spotlight” analyzing cash advance fees on credit cards after the legalization of sports betting in Kansas and Ohio. The CFPB reviewed credit card agreements to determine how online gambling or other legal wagers were treated. Some card issuers permit legal gambling transactions and treat them as cash advances, with accompanying fees and interest accrual. Others prohibit any type of gambling transaction. Banks that issue and offer credit cards will want to know how these transactions will be treated and ensure that language in credit card agreements is clear to customers.Banks considering these and other issues now will be better prepared for the advent of legalized sports betting in Missouri. This article is for information purposes and does not contain or convey legal advice. The information should not be used or relied upon in regard to any particular situation without consultation with your bank attorney. MBA Compliance Services and its Compliance Force program offer various programs to aid banks with compliance needs. For more information, call 573-636-8151.10 mobankers.com10 mobankers.com

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MBA VEBAShort- and Long-Term Disability Policies Offer Financial Support By Lesley Weaver, Director of Business Development, Insurance ServicesWhen people think of a disability, they think this is something that won’t happen to them, but it’s more common than you may think. Some of the reasons for long- and short-term disability claims include pregnancy, accidents, cancer, mental illness, arthritis, back problems, stroke and other conditions that prevent employees from completing normal day-to-day tasks. Short- and long-term disability insurance often provide greater beneﬁts compared to Social Security Disability Insurance. Coverage applies regardless if the injury or illness occurred on the job, and the payout is typically higher. Beneﬁts are paid directly to you, so expenses can be covered without limitation on how the money is spent. Policies vary, but disability insurance provides a beneﬁt of a speciﬁc percentage of your income for a duration from weeks to the time you reach retirement age. The two main differences between long- and short-term disability policies are the length of the beneﬁt periods and the level of coverage each type of policy offers.Short-term disability provides ﬁnancial support immediately following an illness or injury. Long-term disability is intended to maintain income replacement if your condition keeps you out of work past the end of your short-term disability beneﬁt period, even to retirement, depending on the plan. If you have both short- and long-term disability policies, short-term disability will pay you beneﬁts during the waiting period before your long-term disability coverage begins. At that time, you will transition from one policy to the next to receive beneﬁts. To receive beneﬁts, employees must provide medical records that show the illness or injury that lasted beyond the elimination period. Employees will receive beneﬁts until they have been medically cleared, or until their policy beneﬁts have been exhausted.Here are some highlights that outline the coverage.Short-Term Disability Insurance• Income Replacement: provides a portion of your salary, typically between 40-70%, for a short period if you're unable to work because of an illness or injury• Coverage Duration: usually covers you for a few weeks to up to a year, depending on the policy• Quick Beneﬁts Start: often begins after a short waiting period, usually a few days to a couple of weeks• Common Uses: often used for recovery from surgeries, injuries or conditions like pregnancyLong-Term Disability Insurance• Extended Income Protection: covers around 60% (policies vary) of your gross monthly income for a longer period, potentially up to retirement age• Longer Coverage Duration: can last from several years until you reach retirement age• Broader Coverage: designed for more severe conditions that prevent you from working for an extended period, such as cancer, mental illness or chronic conditions• Higher Payout Likelihood: generally offers a higher likelihood of pay compared to Social Security Disability insuranceMBA VEBA offers both short- and long-term disability through Unum. If you are interested in learning more, contact Lesley Weaver or Tina Woehr at 573-636-8151 or visit mobankers.com. Scan QR code for more details on VEBA's plans. THE MISSOURI BANKER 11 THE MISSOURI BANKER 11

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Make Your Voice Heard! NextGen Day at the Capitol Next Generation in BankingWednesday, March 5 The Millbottom 400 W. Main St. Jefferson CityScan QR code to register.NextGen Day at the Capitol provides an opportunity for members of Next Generation in Banking to learn about and take part in Missouri’s legislative process by making a Target Banker visit to the Capitol during the legislative session of the Missouri General Assembly. NextGen Day at the Capitol is a great opportunity to learn about banking advocacy and get to know your legislators, along with your peers from around the state.The Target Banker Program is MBA’s chief grassroots lobbying tool. As a Target Banker, you’ll be equipped with background information and talking points on a few key banking issues and then proceed to the Capitol to meet with your legislators, accompanied by MBA staff.These low-key, low-pressure visits are very valuable. Legislators regularly hear from MBA’s government relations staff on issues important to the banking industry, but they prefer to hear directly from you, their constituents. They truly appreciate the effort you make to come to the Capitol during the session. “Attending NextGen Day at our the Capitol is crucial for ensuring that our industry's voice is heard," said Garett Boatright, chair of Next Generation in Banking and business services ofﬁcer with First State Community Bank in Farmington. "By engaging directly with legislators, we can inﬂuence policies that support the growth and stability of our banking community, ultimately beneﬁting all Missourians. Additionally, it’s a great way to learn more about our industry, the MBA and how our government works.” Participants in this year's NextGen Day at the Capitol will meet at The Millbottom. MBA staff will provide a brieﬁng on MBA’s lobbying efforts and key banking bills. Handouts will be provided to share with your lawmakers.Participants will then go to the Capitol to visit the lawmakers who represent you and your banks. Appointments are scheduled in advance by MBA staff. Participants will return to The Millbottom for lunch and will hear from lawmakers and industry leaders on banking issues and the importance of being a banking advocate.We look forward to seeing you for NextGen Day at the Capitol! 12 mobankers.com

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Ambition Risk Services offers loan portfolio protection through its cutting-edge insurance tracking technology, compliance and force-placed insurance products. It provides risk management and insurance to protect bank assets, including property, casualty, directors’ and ofﬁcers’ coverage. Antonio Lee, tlee@ambitionrisk.com | ambitionrisk.comiTGC provides a unique approach to IT governance, combining deep governance expertise with strategic business insights to align your technology strategy with your bank's objectives. With iTGC, banks gain a trusted partner focused on enhancing security, streamlining operations and driving innovation to support their growth and resilience. Jeff Roosman, j.roosman@itechgovernance.com | itechgovernance.comThe KC CDFI Coalition is a partnership of regional community development ﬁnancial institutions that provide accessible capital and resources to Kansas City communities. Coalition members promote the vital services CDFIs bring to communities and demonstrate awareness of persistent issues that stand between low- to middle-income communities and equitable economic growth. Brian Savoy, bsavoy@altcap.org | altcap.orgMulti-Bank Securities Inc. offers various investing and funding products and services, including CRA-targeted investments, ﬁxed-income securities and DTC-eligible CDs. Its proprietary online investment and funding platform, eConnectDirect®, provides tools for banks to better manage ﬁnancial objectives on both sides of the balance sheet. Ian Zamora, izamora@mbssecurities.com | mbssecurities.comRivial Data Security partners with banks to exceed their examiner's expectations and mature their cybersecurity program. Its all-in-one cybersecurity management platform enables security leaders to accurately measure risk, automate compliance and effectively manage cybersecurity programs. Its platform quantiﬁes the ﬁnancial impact of cybersecurity decisions, ensuring resources are allocated efﬁciently and your organization stays secure. Lucas Hathaway, lucas@rivialsecurity.com | rivialsecurity.comWelcome New MBA Associate Membersvisit mobankers.com for more detailsCalling all photographers! The Missouri Bankers Association is accepting photo submissions for its 2026 Scenes of Missouri calendar. These photos depict the beauty of the Show-Me State — from the Bootheel to the Ozarks to the northern farmland, our great cities and all points in between — anything that features Missouri scenery, historical locations, the changing seasons, city scenes, wildlife and more. You could win $100 if your photo is chosen as “Best of Show!”MBA’s calendar features photos from MBA-member bank employees, directors and their family members. Dozens of Missouri photographers have had their photos featured. You could be next!Sold exclusively to banks throughout Missouri, these calendars make fantastic gifts for customers to enjoy year-round and to promote your bank. Only digital photos are being accepted until May 31. Email photos to photos@mobankers.com or submit them on a CD. For complete entry details and a photo contest entry form, visit mobankers.com. If you have questions, contact Carol Barnett at MBA at 573-636-8151 or cbarnett@mobankers.com.SHOWCASE YOUR PHOTOSIN MBA’S 2026 SCENES OF MISSOURI CALENDAR THE MISSOURI BANKER 13 THE MISSOURI BANKER 13

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Make hay while the sun shines. Farmers put this phrase to work constantly in their livestock and crop operations as they use favorable conditions in hopes of achieving positive results. Sometimes it produces the desired outcomes, and sometimes farmers experience setbacks. In those moments, farmers reassess their situations and keep plowing ahead, knowing that a little more work is needed to achieve the end results.This situation applies to the work that lies ahead in the halls of the U.S. Capitol for the ag banking community. Agriculture is a common denominator for banks across the nation. According to the American Bankers Association, 80% of banks in the country have ag in their portfolio. More than one-third of banks in the nation — 1,600 — are considered ag banks by their portfolio size.“Banks all across the spectrum have ag in their portfolios,” said Ed Elfmann, ABA senior vice president of agricultural and rural banking policy. As the new Congress settles into its role, now is a ripe opportunity to secure passage of several measures that signiﬁcantly beneﬁt America’s ag industry. Bankers play a crucial role in raising the proﬁles of these bills with lawmakers. Elfmann highlights ag legislative priorities on Capitol Hill and how MBA banks can help cultivate these measures to fruition.Access to Credit for our Rural Economy Act Known more familiarly as ACRE, this bipartisan legislation would help lower interest rates for rural borrowers. By removing the income earned from interest on farm real estate loans and rural housing, ACRE makes banks more competitive with Farm Credit System loans. It is one of ABA’s top ﬁve legislative priorities to pass this session, Elfmann said.“Banks are in an uncompetitive spot because they pay 21% in federal taxes while Farm Credit System pays nothing. That doesn’t make sense,” Elfmann said. ACRE seeks to remedy this unfair tax advantage by putting banks and Farm Credit System on a level playing ﬁeld. When all pay the same, it creates competition and drives down costs, Elfmann said. He added this ultimately helps farmers and ranchers.“If they can have a fair shopping experience between banks, farm credit and other lenders, it will drive down interest rates,” Elfmann said.ACRE has been introduced in previous sessions of Congress, but it has never moved beyond the walls of the U.S. Capitol. With increased focus for legislators to vote on ACRE this year, ABA is calling on all bankers to speak with their senators and representatives.“If you have relationships with your Missouri senators and representatives, please, please, please try to get them onto ACRE in any way, shape or form that you can,” Elfmann said. Missouri Congressman Sam Graves and Congresswoman Ann Wagner co-sponsored ACRE in 2024. However, those sponsorships do not carry over in a new Congress, Elfmann said. In addition, Missouri’s two freshman House lawmakers — Congressman Bob Onder and Congressman Wesley Bell — may not know about ACRE.“Talk with your freshman representatives so they understand ACRE and get them on board as sponsors,” Elfmann said. “We want as many members of Missouri’s delegation on the bill as sponsors as possible.”ABA is focusing attention on incorporating ACRE as part of a tax reform bill. Congressman Jason Smith, chair of the House Ways and Means Committee, has co-sponsored ACRE in the past. However, because ACRE is essentially a tax bill, it will move through Ways and Means. This means that Smith cannot co-sponsor the bill, but he can allow it to be part of committee, subcommittee or ﬁeld hearings. “He understands the legislation and knows we want to get this done,” Elfmann said.In addition to discussing ACRE with Congress, Elfmann advises bankers to reach out to various farm groups across the state such as Missouri Farm Bureau THE MISSOURI BANKER 15

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and those associated with agriculture. He emphasized their importance in publicly supporting ACRE.“Every single bank has people in their portfolio who are involved in these organizations,” Elfmann said. “When these groups get a phone call from a member of Ways and Means staff or member of Congress, it would be great to have them say ‘we support ACRE.’” Elfmann emphasizes ACRE is a farming bill as much as it’s a banking bill. “This is a pro farmer, pro rancher bill that will provide cost-savings without creating a new government program,” Elfmann said. Tax Reform BillACRE is just one component that may be part of a tax reform bill under consideration by the House Ways and Means Committee. Elfmann said lawmakers could potentially have a package mid-April, and it will be massive. He advises bankers to not “worry about the process” but to “worry about what’s in there.”For ABA, that means monitoring how Congress addresses Section 199A concerning Sub S and C Corp banks, as well as estate taxes for “passing the bank from one generation to the next.”“We will need some bankers to help at different times throughout tax reform discussions to contact their congressional members and explain our industry’s needs concerning the tax base,” Elfmann said.Farm BillThe American Relief Act 2025, signed into law Dec. 21, 2024, extended the 2018 Farm Bill for one year through Sept. 30, 2025. This extension enables the continuation of Farm Bill-authorized programs for one year, including safety-net, price support and conservation programs available through U.S. Department of Agriculture.“Congress doesn’t want to extend this bill a third time,” Elfmann said. “Frankly, if Congress had passed a farm bill a couple years ago, it would have helped our current economic situation if we had higher reference price already in place.”On Capitol Hill, much of the talk surrounding the measure is to have the House move quickly on the bill so it can go to the Senate. From a banking perspective, Elfmann said the focus is to increase the size of guaranteed loan limits administered through the USDA’s Farm Service Agency from $2.2 million to $3 million. “People will tap into the guaranteed loan programs more than they have in the past because ag costs continue to increase,” Elfmann said. “This program can help customers wondering how they are going to make the numbers work. Bankers need to be ready to advise customers who may have never used a guaranteed loan program.” Another area ABA wants to see addressed in a new farm bill involves beginning farmers. When it comes to loans for this group, there are many rules about if an individual is a son or daughter of a farmer or related to a farmer. It makes it difﬁcult for someone to access an ag loan if they don’t fall into a category deﬁned by the rule’s parameters. Elfmann said these rules need to eliminated.“If people want to get into ag, let lenders be the one to determine if a loan is right for them, much like we do for small businesses,” Elfmann said.Farm Credit SystemAs ABA monitors legislation on Capitol Hill, it keeps a watchful eye on Farm Credit System. “I don't see any big expansions for them, but who knows what 16 mobankers.com

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shenanigans they come up with in the next couple months,” Elfmann said.With tax reform top of mind for Congress, Elfmann said conversations with legislators should focus on the tax advantages Farm Credit System receives.“Why should Congress give them more if ACRE doesn’t pass?” Elfmann asked. “There’s got to be some give and take.”Keep Plowing ForwardAs work gears up in Congress, so does the push for bankers to make their cases known to lawmakers. Although visiting Washington How ACRE Benets MissouriansThe bipartisan ACRE bill helps lower interest rates for rural borrowers. By expanding an existingtax incentive to all rural lenders, ACRE would increase competition and lower the cost of credit on rural mortgages and farm real estate loans. In Missouri:farms would qualify for interest savings on loans secured by real estate87,887644,490people live in a community that would qualify for mortgage interest savings under ACRE$4,016,685total rural mortgage savings per year$38,622,053total farm real estate savings per year$42,638,738TOTAL ESTIMATED SAVINGSSource: American Bankers Associationmay not be possible for some bankers, every banker can share their perspectives in their communities.“Every single member of Congress has district staff in their states,” Elfmann said. “Get to know the local staff.”Elfmann encourages bankers to take every opportunity to be in front of their congressional members, whether it’s in Washington or back home.“Tell them what you do at the bank and how you want to help your customers,” Elfmann said. “Make your voice heard.” THE MISSOURI BANKER 17

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“When a bank works with just one processor, it is reducing its competitive edge in the market because the bank is limited to only the beneﬁts of that one processor,” Young said. In addition, BancCard works with banks to help proactively identify potential customers. As a true merchant services partner, BancCard makes calls on the bank’s behalf or in partnership with the bank to connect the bank’s team with those clients to discuss their merchant services needs. “In meeting with business clients, we purposefully ask questions that provide the best solution for the customer,” said Rod Foster, market leader. “We also listen for any banking needs the client may have in order to bring business back to the bank.”This commitment stems from BancCard’s focus on providing cutting-edge technology solutions with old-fashioned service.“We believe in face-to-face customer interaction,” said Joseph Perkins, relationship manager. “We welcome the opportunity to partner with Missouri banks and their business customers.” Submitted by Travis Young, BancCard of AmericaGuest CommentaryBancCard of America, one of the nation’s leading merchant service providers, is now an endorsed partner of the Missouri Bankers Association.“We are committed to enhancing Missouri banks’ services for their business customers,” said Travis Young, regional vice president. “Partnering with BancCard allows your bank to focus on advising your customers’ with their ﬁnancial goals.”BancCard works with the industry’s top ﬁve processors — FiServ, TSYS, Elavon, Clearent and Signapay — to give banks’ business clients, large or small, access to the latest in processing technology. This relationship allows BancCard to offer banks any of the beneﬁts or technology offered by those processors. New MBA Endorsed Partner BancCard Enhances Banks' Merchant Service Providers18 mobankers.com

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Established in 1997, BancCard of America provides merchant services to more than 75,000 merchants accepting credit and debit cards as payments for products and services. BancCard currently partners with more than 700 community banks in 29 states and is endorsed by 10 state banking associations. If an issue arises with terminals or software, BancCard has seven local representatives servicing Missouri banks and their clients onsite, often within 24 hours, to resolve terminal or software problems that a bank customer may encounter. “We are excited for this opportunity as an MBA endorsed partner and look forward to a rewarding partnership with your bank and business customers,” Young said. Travis YoungJoseph PerkinsRod FosterHOW CAN WE HELP YOURBUSINESS CUSTOMERS?Joseph Perkins731-435-0167jperkins@banccard.comPEOPLE BEFOREPROCESSING. WE INVEST OUR TIME IN WHATMATTERS TO YOU.EmailInvoicingOnline PaymentsMobilePaymentsDonate orPay NowLocal Service | Face-to-Face Consultations24/7 Support | Online ReportingCustomized Plans to Fit Any BusinessMonth-to-Month PlansRod Foster913-486-3714rfoster@banccard.comTravis Young423-321-4740tyoung@banccard.comBancCard of America partners with ﬁnancial Institutions nationwide in providing credit card processing for their business customers. BancCard provides local, face-to-face customer service and focuses on building trusted, one-on-one relationships. With the lowest turnover in the industry, BancCard is one of the nation’s leading merchant service providers. Contact Travis Young, Rod Foster or Joseph Perkins to learn more, or visit banccard.com. BancCard is an MBA endorsed partner.Meet the BancCard Team! THE MISSOURI BANKER 19

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Submitted By Paul Satterwhite and Katherine Davis, Spencer Fane LLPIn November 2024, Missouri voters approved Proposition A, an initiative to amend state law to increase minimum wage and mandate paid sick leave for most Missouri employees. The proposition passed with nearly 58% of the vote.Leading up to election day, many Missouri business owners and industry leaders opposed the initiative, arguing that the cost of increasing the minimum wage and of mandating paid sick leave would increase costs to consumers, as well as burden small businesses. Industry leaders are now challenging the constitutionality of Proposition A in court, arguing that it was improper because it dealt both with wages and beneﬁts, among other reasons.MINIMUM WAGE INCREASEProposition A increased the minimum wage in Missouri to $13.75 per hour, effective Jan. 1, 2025. On Jan. 1, 2026, the minimum wage will increase to $15 per hour. By comparison, the federal minimum wage is currently $7.25 per hour. The minimum wage in Kansas is still $7.25 per hour while the minimum wage in Illinois is $13 per hour.MISSOURI PAID SICK AND SAFE LEAVE Mandated paid sick leave, if it survives the pending legal challenge and the possibility of legislative repeal, is effective May 1, 2025. This change will signiﬁcantly affect most Missouri businesses, including banks, other than retail or service businesses with less than $500,000 in gross annual income. Proposition A also does not apply to public sector employers, Guest Commentaryincluding municipalities and school districts, and employees covered by existing collective bargaining agreements will not be covered until the CBAs are renewed or modiﬁed. The key components of leave are “accrual” and “carryover.” Beginning May 1, covered employees will accrue one hour of paid sick leave for every 30 hours worked. This will add a burden to employers, who must now keep track of hours worked by all employees for purposes of managing paid sick leave time. Overtime exempt employees will be presumed to have worked 40 hours per week, unless their normal work schedule is less than 40 hours. Employers will need to closely monitor hours scheduled and worked to ensure employees are accruing the appropriate amount of paid sick leave hours, resulting in a signiﬁcant administrative burden for most employers. For example, if an employee is scheduled to work 40 hours but actually works 60 hours in a week because of overtime, the employer must carefully track those hours worked to ensure that the employee receives two hours of paid sick leave for that week rather than 1.3 hours of paid sick leave the employee would be entitled to based on the scheduled hours.The qualifying reasons for the use of leave are much broader than you might anticipate for “sick leave.” Employees may use paid sick leave for multiple reasons, including: • for their own physical or mental illness, injury or health conditionProposition A Creates Major Questions for Employers20 mobankers.com

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• to care for a family member experiencing physical or mental illness, injury or health condition• to remain at home during certain public health emergencies• to care for a child whose school or care facility has closed because of a public health emergency• to address domestic violence, sexual assault or stalkingIn addition, employers must allow employees to take their paid sick leave in the smaller of one-hour increments or the smallest increment allowed by the employer’s payroll system.The carryover requirements of Proposition A also will create an administrative burden and additional ﬁnancial expense for many employers. Employees are permitted to carry over up to 80 hours of paid leave per year. Depending on the size of the employer, employees are permitted to use up to either 40 hours or 56 hours of paid sick and safe leave per year. Many banks may already have some type of paid time off policy that may meet or exceed some of the requirements of this law. Even the most generous of those policies should be carefully checked to ensure compliance, and consideration should be given as to whether the expansion of existing PTO policies to cover Proposition A may create unforeseen issues. For example, some PTO policies require that the employee schedule leave in advance and do not permit leave to be taken without advance notice. Such a requirement may not be permitted under Proposition A in certain situations, and a blanket notice requirement likely will constitute interference or retaliation, for which employees will be empowered to bring a civil suit for within three years of the alleged violation. In addition, many PTO policies allow for the accrual of attendance points for certain types of absences even when covered by PTO. This also is an adverse action under Proposition A that may not be permitted. Further, many other state and federal laws could come into play when drafting and implementing a new paid leave policy. For example, the Family Medical Leave Act of 1993 could be invoked if an employee is using sick leave for an FMLA covered reason, which would limit the recourse an employer has for use of sick leave in excess of the amounts required by the new Missouri law. An employee may require additional time off as a reasonable accommodation for a disability under the Americans with Disabilities Act. Missouri also has a separate law that provides for protected leave for domestic or sexual violence, which could be invoked if the employee is taking paid safe leave for those reasons. As a result, and because of the complex issues and unknowns in implementing this new paid sick and safe leave, it is recommended that employers, including banks, contact their legal counsel to ensure their leave policies and procedures are both legally compliant and practical to implement. PENDING LEGAL CHALLENGE AND POSSIBLE LEGISLATIVE APPEALSeveral Missouri business groups ﬁled a petition Dec.6, 2024, with the Missouri Supreme Court to overturn Proposition A. The business groups argue that Proposition A violates the Missouri Constitution by including multiple subjects — wages plus sick leave — in a single ballot measure. They argue that the Missouri Constitution requires the title of the ballot measure to clearly express its single subject, and they argue that Proposition A did not. They also argue that the ballot measure’s summary statement and ﬁscal note summary are misleading and insufﬁcient. The Missouri Supreme Court has not yet issued any rulings on this legal challenge.In addition, Missouri state legislators have ﬁled three bills to restrict or repeal the provisions of Proposition A. The Missouri Chamber of Commerce has made Proposition A one of its ﬁve “critical needs” in its 2025 legislative agenda, requesting that the legislature clarify by statute business owners’ rights and responsibilities regarding the new law (if, as anticipated, they stop short of repealing Proposition A). TAKEAWAYSAs of the date of this publication, the new Missouri paid sick and safe leave law will take effect May 1, 2025. Keep an eye out for any legal updates, including rulings from the Missouri Supreme Court on the lawsuit challenging the new law and/or action from the Missouri legislature repealing Proposition A by statute or implementing rules or regulations designed to help with implementation of the law. Consult with your legal counsel to ensure your PTO or paid leave policies are compliant before the law takes effect May 1, and be sure to comply with Proposition A’s April 15, 2025, notice and posting requirements. Spencer Fane LLP represents ﬁnancial institutions of all sizes with legal, regulatory and compliance assistance. Attorneys help banks with mergers and acquisitions, holding company formation, regulatory affairs and enforcement actions, troubled institution assistance, internal policy preparation, consumer credit and deposits, and corporate bond trustee and ﬁduciary liability. Spencer Fane also provides an array of nonbanking services, including human resources counseling and training, employment litigation and employee beneﬁts counsel. Learn more at spencerfane.com. Spencer Fane is an MBA associate member. THE MISSOURI BANKER 21

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2025’S SECOND MOST SIGNIFICANT CHALLENGE: INTEREST RATESInterest rates surged in 2022 and 2023 because of the Federal Reserve’s efforts to curb inﬂation, creating a challenging environment for community banks. Bankers’ concern for interest rates has lowered since 2023, potentially because of stabilizing rates and anticipated future rate changes from the Fed. Nevertheless, it ranked second highest on their list of concerns.This economic uncertainty is prompting a prioritization of digital account opening and related technologies, emphasizing gaining new accounts and low-interest deposits. Institutions also should evaluate opportunities within their existing market and portfolio. Diversifying portfolios through resources like lending marketplaces is another avenue institutions are exploring to weather the effect of high interest rates.BANKERS’ TOP TECHNOLOGY INVESTMENTSFinancial institutions are doubling down on digital-ﬁrst technology investments to meet the evolving needs of a convenience-driven, tech-savvy clientele.2025’s Leading Investment: Efﬁciency Drivers Like Automation or AIAt the forefront of technology investments lies efﬁciency drivers like automation or AI, with 43% of bankers acknowledging its importance. Most banks are seeking By Allison Maddock, CSI Guest CommentaryContinued adoption of open banking, enhanced cybersecurity and evolving regulatory concerns shape what ﬁnancial institutions must consider when developing their strategies. However, these areas also represent a tremendous opportunity for those who adapt.CSI asked a cross-section of community bankers nationwide about their 2025 strategies and priorities. Its survey explored both, taking the industry’s pulse and plans for the year.2025’S FOREMOST CHALLENGE: CYBERSECURITY/DATA PRIVACYDespite advances in cybersecurity monitoring technology, cyberattacks continue making headlines and concern institutions of all sizes. The average cost of a data breach rose from $5.9 million in 2023 to $6.08 million in 2024. A successful cyberattack also can expose an institution to reputational and legal consequences. For all these reasons, paired with regulatory scrutiny, 28% listed cybersecurity/data privacy as the most pressing issue, surpassing all other concerns.To stay ahead of cyber threats, institutions need around-the-clock monitoring and response. A managed cybersecurity monitoring platform helps institutions identify anomalies and send alerts for investigation to ensure the threat doesn’t spread. Solutions like data loss prevention help institutions protect their data and control how it’s shared. Implementing cyber hygiene is another effective strategy to improve security and keep employees and consumers safe.2025’s Top Challenges and Opportunities for Community Banks22 mobankers.com

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efﬁciencies in back-ofﬁce processes, with some beginning to use AI and automation to remove manual steps and add new functionality.The rise of generative AI tools, noted further below, offers the potential for heightened efﬁciency in the banking sector. Automation enables banks to streamline processes, improve customer interactions and strengthen fraud detection.2025’s Second Highest Ranking Investment: Data Analytics and ReportingGarnering 42% of the vote, data analytics and reporting are transforming banking and customer experience. Data analytics and reporting provide banks with insight to understand customer behavior and to identify areas to better serve them, including customizing offerings and promoting them via the digital experience. Using data analytics and reporting to personalize throughout the digital experience is the core of digital engagement. To improve digital engagement, banks should strive to provide unique solutions to best serve customers and increase the adoption of those services. The more personalization banks build into their products and experiences, the more they will drive engagement, adoption and loyalty. BANKERS’ TOP OPPORTUNITIES FOR 2025Bankers are strategically engaging with consumers and embracing transformative trends that promise to redeﬁne banking operations and customer service in the years to come.2025’S GREATEST OPPORTUNITY: HARNESSING THE POWER OF AIOf those surveyed, 33% named AI 2025’s top technology trend. Generative AI applications promise hyper-personalized, around-the-clock service. If deployed well, this could enable community banks to level the playing ﬁeld. From virtual assistants to content creation tools, the applications of generative AI are vast, offering banks newfound agility and efﬁciency in meeting customer needs.By embracing these deep learning technologies, institutions can position themselves as leaders in innovation and customer-centricity, driving sustained growth and proﬁtability in an ever-evolving landscape. However, time will tell how regulations and successful use cases permeate the industry.2025’s Second-Greatest Opportunity: Real-Time Fraud DetectionAs fraud continues to skyrocket, 17% of bankers selected real-time fraud detection as the top technology trend poised to affect the industry in 2025. Federal Trade Commission data showed consumers reported fraud losses totaling more than $10 billion in 2023, particularly in areas like check fraud.Real-time fraud detection presents a valuable opportunity for community banks in 2025.From synthetic identity fraud to check fraud, AI-powered solutions that analyze copious amounts of data stand to help institutions ﬁght these evolving threats. Institutions should inform customers about these evolving fraud tactics. NAVIGATING THE ROAD AHEADFrom digital banking to AI and open banking, bankers are strategically engaging consumers and capitalizing on emerging trends, demonstrating measured conﬁdence in navigating the ever-changing ﬁnancial landscape. Allison Maddock serves as senior vice president and chief product ofﬁcer, a role in which she leads CSI’s product management team to deliver solutions aligned with CSI’s vision and strategy. As a member of the executive leadership team, she uses her product management, strategy, operations and technology expertise to advance CSI’s products and services.CSI helps community and regional banks solve their customers’ needs through open and ﬂexible technologies. In addition to CSI's award-winning core banking platform, this includes the latest in lending, digital banking, payments, ﬁnancial crime prevention and cybersecurity. Learn more at csiweb.com. CSI is an MBA associate member. THE MISSOURI BANKER 23

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Around the StateBeyond Banking: Kristen Ziegler, Chief Human Resources Ofﬁcer The Bank of Missouri, PerryvilleBy Lori Bruce, Director of CommunicationsSometimes, there’s no explanation of how events transpire in our lives. Kristen Ziegler chatted with her daughter about their normal routine — college, work, friends — a typical conversation in catching up with one another. During the conversation, Ziegler told her daughter that she felt compelled to write a book. Both laughed at the idea.“It was the most random thought that popped up out of nowhere,” said Ziegler, chief human resources ofﬁcer for The Bank of Missouri in Perryville.Yet, the thought lingered for Ziegler. Over the following weeks, she would mention to her daughter again about this “strange pull” to write a book.That feeling became reality a few days later when an acquaintance asked Ziegler to share her story for an anthology she was publishing.Ziegler became a published author in December 2024 with the release of Living Well With GRIT. Compiled by G.R.I.T. founder Jennifer Bardot, the anthology is collection of stories from women across the nation sharing their wins, losses and mistakes along their personal journeys.“It’s a glimpse of walking in each other’s shoes,” Ziegler said. “Each author bravely shares her story of resilience, self-discovery and fulﬁllment.”Ziegler met Bardot through a St. Louis organization in which both are members. Bardot has previously overseen other anthologies for G.R.I.T. — GROWTH, RESILIENCE, INTENTION, TENACITY. As she began to develop the idea for Living Well With GRIT, Bardot approached Ziegler about sharing her story for the book.“I had to really think about this, and I had a lot of questions,” Ziegler said. “Is someone going to help me? What if people don’t like what I write? Does my story even deserve to be told?” Despite her reservations, Ziegler committed herself to the project.“Ultimately, if it’s something that makes me a little uncomfortable, I’ve learned over the years to embrace the discomfort in order to continue growing,” she said. Ziegler was assigned a team of writing coaches and editors who worked closely with her to ensure her story was prepared for publishing. For Ziegler, the challenge was ﬁguring out what she wanted to share and make it ﬁt into one chapter. She credits her writing coach for helping her.“She reminded me that all of our journeys are very personal and that it was very important not to write about anything that I was not comfortable in speaking to a stranger about because once your words are out there for the world to see, you do open yourself up to many questions,” Ziegler said. “That really helped shape my chapter and provided me with some emotional guardrails in writing my chapter.”24 mobankers.com

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As she wrote, Ziegler began reliving her experiences on paper and discovered there were some things that she was still navigating emotionally. Writing about those experiences was a healing process because it helped her “make sense of some of those moments that maybe didn't make complete sense to me at the time it was happening in my life.”Ziegler’s chapter — “The Transformative Power of Curiosity and Courage” — and offers insights into her journey of overcoming personal and professional obstacles. Her career has taken many turns — 10 years in law enforcement and 11 years with Anheuser Busch — as she approaches seven years in banking. She points out that when most individuals are asked about their careers, most usually share their highlights and shy away from the self-doubt and struggles they face along their way.“Sharing these types of things makes you feel vulnerable, and that’s exactly how I felt when writing,” Ziegler said. “We all have to ﬁght personal battles along the way, and I believe that the more we can normalize sharing those experiences, the more helpful we can be in inspiring others to keep pushing through those hard times.”No matter how many times one gets knocked down in life, one does not stop getting up, Ziegler said. Instead, “use those hardships to fuel your next step and to fuel your future. It’s up to each of us to decide how we do that.”When facing hardships in her own life, Ziegler turns to someone who has been a constant in her life.“My father believed in me and made it clear to me that I could be whatever I wanted to be. There was really nothing holding me back in this world other than myself,” she said. “When I feel like sometimes challenges get to be too much, I always think back to those words that he used to say to me, and that gives me the fuel to keep on going.”Living Well With GRIT is currently available online at Amazon and Barnes & Noble. Know a great individual MBA should recognize?WHO SHOULD WE FEATURE?MBA is looking to share the stories of bankers from across our state. If you know someone we should recognize, let us know! Nominee: _________________________________Bank: _____________________________________ City:_______________________________________Share why this individual should be recognized._________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________Beyond Banking is a new series in The Missouri Banker from MBA showcases bankers and their passions outside of banking. In highlighting their stories, we hope to share an inside look into the lives of the thousands of bankers dedicated to their customers and communities.Scan the QR code for bankers featured in Beyond Banking.FOR MORE INFORMATIONContact MBA Communications Director Lori Bruce at mba@mobankers.com or call 573-636-8151.Nominator: ________________________________Bank: _____________________________________ City:______________________________________ THE MISSOURI BANKER 25

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AchievementsCentral Bank in Springﬁeld promoted Karen Neff to retail ofﬁcer, banking center. Neff, who began her career as a teller and previously served as an assistant branch manager, focuses on building customer relationships while guiding her team. Jessica Simmons was named manager of loan operations. She has more than eight years of experience in the ﬁnance industry.Central Trust Company, a division of The Central Trust Bank, promoted John Stringer to vice president and market executive for Columbia. He has more than a decade of experience in the ﬁnancial services industry, working in both banking and investments. Central Trust Company also announced several new team members. Megan Crocker joined the Columbia team as assistant vice president and wealth management advisor. She began her career in 2012 and previously served as a commercial lender at Central Bank of Boone County. Daniel Side joined the St. Louis team as a ﬁnancial planning ofﬁcer. He has more than 10 years of experience in retirement planning, income tax planning and risk management. Nicholas Hinkebein joined the St. Louis team as a portfolio manager. He has more than 10 years of experience in the ﬁnancial services industry, including roles in education, analytics and portfolio management. Collin Stosberg joined the Jefferson City team as a wealth management advisor. He focuses on fostering relationships with prospective clients and tailoring investment portfolios and ﬁnancial plans.Around the StateKaren Neff Jessica SimmonsJohn StringerMegan CrockerDaniel Side Nicholas HinkebeinCollin StosbergSend achievements, news and announcements to Lori Bruce, MBA communications director, at mba@mobankers.comfor possible inclusion in The Missouri Banker.Submit Your News! Becky Scorse was named president of Guaranty Bank in Springﬁeld. She joined the bank in 2014 as chief lending ofﬁcer. Under her leadership, the bank experienced signiﬁcant growth, increasing its assets from $500 million to more than $2 billion. As president, Scorse will continue her responsibilities as chief lending ofﬁcer, overseeing the commercial lending, consumer lending and treasury management teams. She has more than 25 years of commercial banking experience in the Springﬁeld market. The bank promoted Devin Custer to commercial banking ofﬁcer. Custer previously served as an associate relationship manager and has been with the bank for more than four years. OMB Bank in Springﬁeld announced a realignment of roles for two members of its executive team. Joey Orr was named executive vice president and chief operations ofﬁcer. He previously served as executive vice president of community banking. As COO, Orr takes over direction of the bank’s treasury services group, retail banking, deposit operations and lender support services. With more than two decades of banking experience, Orr joined OMB in 2017 as senior vice president and community bank president serving the Mount Vernon market. He was promoted to his former executive leadership position in 2020. Steve Bishop was named executive vice president and chief innovation ofﬁcer and president of OMBX, a newly-launched wholly-owned brand supporting OMB’s integrated banking efforts. In his new role for OMB, Bishop focuses his efforts on identifying and developing new revenue streams through OMBX, where he also serves as president. Bishop joined OMB in 2020 as executive vice president and chief operating ofﬁcer and will continue to lead the bank’s IT and organizational development teams while also growing its integrated banking partnerships under the OMBX brand. Deziree Ives joined the bank’s treasury services team as a treasury services ofﬁcer. Ives works closely with businesses to provide customized cash management and treasury solutions tailored to their unique ﬁnancial needs. She has two years of banking experience. Becky Scorse Devin CusterJoey OrrSteve BishopDeziree Ives28 mobankers.com

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Joyce Kennedy Manager, Insurance Servicesjkennedy@mobankers.comLesley WeaverDirector, Business Developmentlweaver@mobankers.comTina WoehrEmployee Beneﬁts Account Executivetwoehr@mobankers.comMedicalDentalVisionLife & Additional LifeLong-Term & Short-Term Disability Felonious AssaultGroup AccidentWorksite ProductsPet Insurance800-234-4939 mobankers.comMBA Foundation Awards Five InternConnect ScholarshipsThe Missouri Bankers Foundation awarded ﬁve $1,000 MBA InternConnect scholarships to college students who interned at Missouri banks in 2024. MBA’s InternConnect program encourages students majoring in a banking-related discipline to explore careers in the Missouri banking industry. 2025 InternConnect scholarship applications will be available this summer. Jayden Gegg was an intern at MRV Bank in Ste. Genevieve. His supervisor was Gregory Lauer, chief ﬁnancial ofﬁcer. Gegg is studying accounting at Southeast Missouri State University in Cape Girardeau and will graduate in May 2025.Alexis Kossmann was an intern at Parkside Financial Bank & Trust in St. Louis. Her supervisor MBA Welcomes InternsCaleb McDairmant and Emma Slaughter from the University of Missouri-Columbia have joined MBA’s government relations team as interns for the 2025 session of the Missouri General Assembly. McDairmant received his bachelor’s of journalism in strategic communication in December 2024. He is currently pursuing a master’s degree. Slaughter is studying political science and communications. She is expected to graduate in May. We welcome Caleb and Emma to our government relations team! was Samantha Peterson, human resources generalist. Kossmann is studying ﬁnance at the University of Kansas in Lawrence and will graduate in December 2025. Alexa Lamb was an intern at Central Bank in Jefferson City. Her supervisor was Jayne Dunkmann, vice president, director of communications. Lamb is studying marketing and management at Benedictine College in Atchinson, Kansas, and will graduate in May 2026.Lexie Meyer was an intern at Bank of Washing-ton. Her supervisor was Angela Masterson, retail banking coordinator. Meyer is studying accounting at the University of Missouri-Columbia and will graduate in May 2027. Ashton Willis was an intern at Indepen-dent Farmers Bank in Maysville. Her supervisor was Jill Niece, president and CEO. Willis is studying corporate ﬁnance at Northwest Missouri State University in Maryville and will graduate in December 2025. The 50 Year Club honors bankers who have dedicated 50 years of service to banking. MBA is accepting nominations for 2025 inductees until Friday, April 25. Visit mobankers.com for details. MBA 50 Year Club Around the State

The Missouri Banker January February 2025

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