The Missouri Banker May June 2024 : simplebooklet.com

ContentsThe Missourifacebook.com/mobankersfacebook.com/monextgenbankers@mobankers@mobankersMissouri Bankers AssociationFrom our ChairmanGiving It All That You’ve Got. ................................................................ 2From our President and CEODoubling Down on Advocacy Key to Regulatory Relief ....................................... 5American Bankers Association PerspectiveCourts Pump the Brakes on CRA Overhaul ................................................... 6Department NewsGovernment Relations: The Power of Grassroots Advocacy ..................................... 8Legal: Regulatory Burden is Not Just for Banking ............................................. . 9Compliance: The Rise of AI in Banking Compliance ........................................... 10MBA VEBA: Prioritizing Mental Health Essential for Your Well-being ............................ 11Cover StoryExploring a New Realm .................................... 14AI opportunities accelerate in banking, creating new journeys for banksGuest Commentary5 Bank Marketing Trends to Consider ......................................................... 18Bytes and Boundaries: Why You Need an Employee AI Use Policy ............................. 20How Managed IT Services Simplify Compliance for Banks ..................................... 22Around the StateGohn, Kussman, Klebba Nominated for MBA Board Ofﬁces ................................... 132024 Target Banker ......................................................................... 24 Banking Leadership Missouri ................................................................ 26Learning With MBA ......................................................................... 26Seven Graduates Receive $1,000 MBA Foundation Scholarships ............................... 27MBA Foundation to Award InternConnect Scholarships This Fall .............................. 27Achievements .............................................................................. 28Jackson Hataway, PublisherLori Bruce, Editor573-636-8151The 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.MANAGED IT SUPPORTCYBERSECURITYCLOUD SERVICESIT OPERATIONS ASSESSMENTMANAGED IT SERVICES FORFINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS2 0 2 4ABOUTINTEGRISIntegris is a leading technologyservices company, renowned for itstailored IT solutions and support offinancial institutions. Committed toinnovation, security, and excellence,Integris is the trusted partner ofbanks seeking to enhance growthand operational efficiency throughtechnology.Lance LaBedelleJoin me at this year's upcoming MissouriBankers Association events! We'reexcited to stand alongside Missouribankers in their pursuit of security andpeace of mind.Contact me at: lance.labedelle@fid.integrisit.com(325) 947-5524IT CONSULTING THE MISSOURI BANKER 1

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Giving It All That You’ve GotAdrian Breen, MBA Chairman The Bank of Missouri, PerryvilleI have been a competitor my entire life. From pickup basketball or baseball games with my pals in the neighborhood to my playing days as quarterback for Morehead State and the Cincinnati Bengals, I’ve always given my best effort to put my team into a winning position. Sometimes my efforts didn’t equate to wins, but in those instances, especially close losses, I left the ﬁeld knowing I gave my all.As my time as MBA chairman comes to a close, please know that I gave it my all to represent our outstanding banking community here in Missouri. And I would be remiss if I didn’t take this opportunity to leave you with a pep talk.Explore and Innovate.This issue focuses on a new frontier for our industry, and our world for that matter. Artiﬁcial intelligence opens an entire new realm for banking, and it can be frightening when used by bad actors. However, we must understand what AI can do for our industry so we can improve our operation efﬁciencies, enhance services for our customers and protect them from perilous hazards.Change and innovation isn’t a new concept for our industry. What is new, however, is that change is happening more quickly at a rapid speed. We have to employ a more dynamic strategy and mindset than previously with investments to keep pace with the ever-evolving technology landscape. This also means we must be willing to spend money on products and services. If we want to remain a relevant, vibrant player in this environment, we must be willing to explore and innovate.Plan.Failing to plan is planning to fail — that’s been my mantra throughout my life, and it’s one I employ with my team and our customers. I mentioned spending more to invest in technology. As bankers, we know there are challenges and risks with any investment. Things may not go right with some of our technological endeavors. However, this shouldn’t stop us from pursuing these investments. If we want to remain in the game, we must be prepared to fail forward, endure and examine our loss and keep moving forward to tackle challenges. This is the only way to ensure our banks continue to thrive with the changes in our industry.From our ChairmanFailing to plan is planning to fail — that’s been my mantra throughout my life, and it’s one I employ with my team and our customers.“2 mobankers.com

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Giving It All That You’ve GotMBA’s podcast explores topics relevant and interesting to bankers. Our fun, engaging conversations help you stay ahead of what’s happening in banking. Our Two Cents with MBA is on MBA’s website, iTunes, Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts and Spotify.There’s unrest right now in our economy with interest rates and inﬂation. We’re operating in an interest rate environment that we haven’t experienced in two decades. What plans does your bank have in place to address the current situation? How are you advising your customers at this time? Having a plan prepares you for what lies ahead.The same can be said for the future of your bank and its success. The number of bank mergers continues to increase nationwide. How does this affect your bank? What is your succession plan? Do you have teams in place who can lead the bank in the future? These are questions you must ask of your board and executives to ensure the bank maintains its presence for years to come. Advocate. Advocate. Advocate.Many aspects contribute to our success, but advocacy may be the most crucial for our industry. To be honest, I never thought politics would come into play in my career as a banker. Many of you probably feel the same way. However, I ﬁnd I’m both a banker and advocate every single day. In looking out for the best interests of customers, we ﬁnd ourselves in Jefferson City and Washington, D.C., speaking with lawmakers and regulatory agencies. Legislation and regulations are game changers — they have the potential to be winning touchdowns, or they could upend our entire industry. In these instances, are you on the ﬁeld giving your all until the ﬁnal whistle blows, or are you a Monday morning quarterback critiquing those who actually invested their blood, sweat and tears in the game? We will not win every game, but I can guarantee we will accomplish nothing if we sit on the sidelines as bystanders. Make those calls, texts and emails to your elected ofﬁcials and regulators. Let them know where you stand on issues. You are the best advocate for your customers, your communities and your banks.My banking career has taken me to many parts of the Midwest, and I never imagined that it would lead me to a career milestone — leading an association committed to ensuring Missouri banks have the resources to be a preeminent banking state. Thank you to MBA President and CEO Jackson Hataway and to each of you for your support and guidance. It has truly been an honor to be your chairman, and I look forward to continuing our mission to ensure Missouri remains a vibrant, thriving banking state. Live Well. Stay Well. Bank Well! “Are you on the ﬁeld giving your all until the ﬁnal whistle blows, or are you a Monday morning quarterback critiquing those who actually invested their blood, sweat and tears in the game? THE MISSOURI BANKER 3

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Doubling Down on Advocacy Key to Regulatory ReliefTwo years ago, Congressman Blaine Luetkemeyer told a group of Missouri bankers that “Congress can’t do enough on rogue regulators. You’re going to have to get the courts involved if you want relief.” His words were prescient. At the time, we were speciﬁcally worried about the planned rollout of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau’s ﬁnal rule for Section 1071. Little did we realize that only a few years later, our industry would be involved in major litigation related to Section 1071, CFPB funding, UDAAP manual changes and the Community Reinvestment Act, just to name a few.It is disturbing and disheartening to think that our best bet for regulatory relief is to challenge our regulators in court. The relationship between banks and regulatory agencies Jackson Hataway, President and CEO, Missouri Bankers Associationshould certainly be tense at times, but it should not be contentious. The two sides should work together to ensure that the banking industry is sound, that credit is available to communities across the country and that banks can operate proﬁtably. We should be collaborating on how to solve the de novo problem, not ﬁghting yet another regulation that will drive consolidation and reduce access to credit around the state.Instead, we have a relationship that is increasingly deﬁned by this question — “What will we have to sue over next?” Will it be Section 1033 of the Dodd-Frank Act? Will it be proposed interchange rule changes? Will it be yet another CFPB dictum related to so-called “junk fees” or arbitrary changes to supervision rules? The sad thing is none of these issues have anything to do with how our banks support customers and communities in Missouri every day. They ignore the balance between enabling banks to fuel economic growth and enacting appropriate supervision that was intended when the banking agencies were established. Luetkemeyer has been a great voice on this point for decades. As he departs Congress after this year, we must not forget this message.As your banking association, we know that we must be prepared to go to court for Missouri banks, and we have been engaged with national trade associations and peer states on when to become involved in current litigation. However, the long-term solution cannot come from the courts. They will always defer to Congress, and Congress must be informed by us. We must double down on our advocacy on both sides of the aisle and use the litany of cases at hand to show just how far beyond their intended scope that the federal agencies have gone. Litigation may be messy, but it also may be the motivator we need to drive congressional action. From our President and CEOThe long-term solution cannot come from the courts. They will always defer to Congress, and Congress must be informed by us.“ THE MISSOURI BANKER 5

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Courts Pump the Brakes on CRA OverhaulRob Nichols, President and CEO American Bankers AssociationWhile the banking industry has been battered about by the “regulatory tsunami” in recent months, bankers can now breathe a small sigh of relief. In a win for the industry, a Texas federal judge in late March issued a preliminary injunction in the American Bankers Association’s lawsuit challenging the Community Reinvestment Act ﬁnal rule. This injunction means that banks can put their compliance efforts on pause until the court decides the merits of the case. It also is the latest signal from the courts that they agree with our view that in a number of these recent regulatory actions, the agencies have gone too far. That has been our argument in several legal challenges that are currently pending in federal court. ABA has ﬁled four lawsuits over the past two years on behalf of our members, challenging a UDAAP examination manual update by the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, the CFPB’s Section 1071 ﬁnal rule, the CFPB’s late fee rule and, of course, the CRA ﬁnal rule. As I mentioned in my remarks at the ABA Washington Summit in March, suing federal regulators is never our ﬁrst or preferred course of action, and we remain committed to engaging constructively with the agencies wherever we can. But we’ve seen a disturbing pattern recently of regulators moving ahead with rulemakings that fall outside their regulatory authority and ignoring constructive feedback from banks and other stakeholders. When that happens, litigation is the only tool left in the toolbox. It’s one we’ve wielded reluctantly but one we’ll never shy away from using when it’s warranted. ABA and our members fully support the goals and principles underlying the CRA, and we agree that the 30-year-old regulations should be updated to reﬂect the realities of modern-day banking. However, the “updates” made in the ﬁnal rule exceed the lines drawn by Congress in the CRA statute by authorizing the evaluation of some banks outside of their physical deposit-taking footprint and on their deposit products, in addition to whether the bank meets the credit needs of the communities it serves.And as we reviewed this ﬁnal rule, we concluded that it fails to consider banks’ demonstrated commitment to all communities and instead creates a framework that risks undermining the very spirit of the original law by creating disincentives for banks to offer certain products or lend outside their branch networks. We were heartened to see the court agree that our arguments to that effect have merit. We share this CRA win with our counterparts at the ABA Perspective6 mobankers.com

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Courts Pump the Brakes on CRA OverhaulTexas Bankers Association, the Independent Community Bankers of America, the Independent Bankers of Texas, the Amarillo Chamber of Commerce, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and the Longview Chamber of Commerce. As the case moves forward, we will continue to speak with one uniﬁed voice to amplify the concerns we all share about what these rules would mean for bank customers and local communities. Serving communities is at the core of what banks do. We need to ensure that the regulations governing America’s banks are supporting that important work, not hindering it. Email Rob Nichols at rnichols@aba.com. 2024 MBA WASHINGTON VISITSept. 15-18Scan the QR code for details.Tentative ScheduleSunday, Sept. 15Travel DayMonday, Sept. 16Morning ABA Brieﬁng andRegulatory MeetingsAfternoon Capitol Hill VisitsEvening Group Reception and DinnerTuesday, Sept. 17Morning Regulatory MeetingsAfternoon Capitol Hill VisitsEvening Group Dine-Around DinnersWednesday, Sept. 18Morning Regulatory MeetingsBy Noon Visit AdjournsPossible meetings include OCC, FDIC, Federal Reserve, CFPB, FHFA, CSBS and Treasury. Registered participants will receive additional details at a later date.Outsourced Banking Solutions was formed in 2020 with the mission to bring high quality loan review and credit risk services to community nancial institutions. OBS brings high quality, experienced, local credit professionals who fully understand how loan production, loan administration, credit risk management, and regulatory compliance systems work together most eectively. Our team are experts in these areas, having served in capacities such as senior lenders and chief credit ocers in community banks. OBS is aordable and currently serving banks throughout the state of Missouri. For additional information, please check out our website at outsourcedbankingsolutions.com or contact Steve at Steve.middelkamp@outsourcedbankingsolutions.com. Steve MiddelkampDirector of Business DevelopmentQuade WoodPrincipalTerry VisinneDirector of Loan Review

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Department NewsGreat news from the Missouri State Capitol — an increase to MOBUCK$ funding was approved by the Missouri General Assembly! This legislation, which will take effect Aug. 28, provides an additional $400 million of cap space for the MOBUCK$ program. Banks use MOBUCK$ to offer reduced interest rate loans for commercial borrowers, such as small businesses and ag producers.We extend a huge thank you to our tremendous bill sponsors, Sen. Sandy Crawford, R-Buffalo, and Rep. Terry Thompson, R-Lexington, for their efforts in ushering this bill through a very difﬁcult legislative process. Both Crawford and Thompson spent their careers in banking before running for elected ofﬁce. Their knowledge and support of the industry is invaluable.We also thank our members who made Target Banker visits to the Capitol, called, emailed or connected with state representatives and senators in your districts. Your advocacy was critical to the success of this bill and illustrates the importance of making your voice heard.GOVERNMENTAL RELATIONSThe Power of Grassroots AdvocacyBy David Kent, Senior Vice PresidentSharing your views with lawmakers is key to MBA’s legislative success in Jefferson City. It’s important to have these conversations throughout the year, not just during session. To facilitate these discussions, MBA is launching a new initiative to bring local legislators and area bankers together for in-district meet-and-greets during the legislative interim (June through November). The goal of these events is very simple — to develop and strengthen relationships between the banking community and current and future lawmakers. With the upcoming elections and — perhaps more importantly — credit unions ﬁghting for ﬁeld-of-membership expansion on the state level, now is the perfect time to host these meet-and-greet events throughout the state.For these events to be successful, we need your involvement. Developing relationships with lawmakers now will pay dividends in the future. Perhaps these discussions will spur individuals to be champions for our industry in Jefferson City like Sandy Crawford or Terry Thompson. MBA is looking for banks to host meet-and-greets for legislators in their communities. Meetings could take place at banks, community centers or coffee shops. MBA staff will help develop the agenda and invite lawmakers. Contact David Kent or Emily Lewis at 573-636-8151 for more information.Meet-and-Greet HostsMOBUCK$, also known as the linked-deposit program, allows for the investment of state funds in Missouri banks at a reduced interest rate. That rate reduction is then passed on to commercial borrowers, like small businesses and ag producers, saving the borrower approximately 2-3% on their loan. House Bill 1803 passed by the Missouri General Assembly increases the amount the state treasurer may invest in MOBUCK$ from $800 million to $1.2 billion.Additional information is available at https://treasurer.mo.gov/content/low-interest-loans/.8 mobankers.com8 mobankers.com

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Since his presidential candidacy in 2020, President Biden has repeatedly promised a “whole of government” approach to remaking the United States. The administration has executed this approach in various means — executive orders, memoranda of understanding, interagency task forces and councils, reports, agency rulemaking, targeted federal funding (or defunding), focused enforcement actions, settlement of civil cases with advocacy groups sharing the administration’s agenda and intervention as a party or amicus in court cases.The president and ofﬁcials throughout the administration often cast their policies and actions in a partisan manner. The president and the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau indiscriminately cast all fees as “junk” fees, no matter long-standing practices and the purposes and context of business and ﬁnance practices. When the CFPB ﬁnalized its rule to cap credit card late fees, the release was timed to coincide with the president’s 2024 State of the Union address to Congress. There is an ebb and ﬂow to the politics that shape and determine the policies that are eventually reﬂected in the rules and laws under which banks operate. These policies, combined with federal tax, debt and spending, have a powerful inﬂuence on our economy and our country. MBA and its members focus on the policies, laws and regulations that directly affect banking. However, every bank also is a business. As businesses, banks shoulder and share the regulatory burden of more general regulations and laws affecting customers. Two recent actions have a profound impact on all businesses, as well as employees and customers. Noncompete AgreementsThe Federal Trade Commission voted to ﬁnalize its rule banning noncompete agreements nationally, preempting the laws in all 50 states. The proposed rule is effective going forward and bans enforcement of existing agreements. The FTC allows for “appropriately tailored” nondisclosure and training (recovery of costs) agreements but warns that such agreements cannot be used to evade the ban. Lawsuits have LEGALRegulatory Burden is Not Just for Banking By Keith Thornburg, Vice President and General Counselbeen ﬁled in federal courts in Texas challenging the ban, including one from the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. The FTC does not have jurisdiction to apply or enforce the ban against banks. However, it is possible that the Federal Reserve, the Ofﬁce of the Comptroller of the Currency and the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation will apply the rule to banks. Employee Overtime The U.S. Department of Labor ﬁnalized its proposed rule expanding coverage of overtime pay to millions of workers. Effective July 1, the earnings threshold will increase from $35,568 to $43,888. Beginning July 1, 2025, the earnings threshold will increase to $58,656. Starting July 1, 2027, the earnings threshold will be adjusted and increased for inﬂation every three years.When similar changes for overtime pay were proposed in 2016, the rule was challenged by 21 states, and the DOL withdrew the proposal. It is likely that business groups and states will again challenge the rule. It also is possible that Congress could intervene, although a consensus would be difﬁcult. DOL’s overtime rule, along with the FTC’s ban on noncompete agreements, harms both employers and employees. Forcing one-size-ﬁts-all business and employment practices destroys the ability for individuals to achieve their personal work-life balances and ﬁnancial goals.Banking has always been a regulated and supervised ﬁnancial service in the United States, focusing on safety and soundness. Today, our banking regulators appear to have other priorities and banks suffer as unnecessary regulatory burden hampers banks in their missions to strengthen economic growth and prosperity for their customers and communities. This latest onslaught from the regulators threatens not just the banking industry, but any industry focused on growth and prosperity. THE MISSOURI BANKER 9

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Department NewsCOMPLIANCEThe Rise of AI in Banking ComplianceBy Gina Jolly, CRCM, Vice President of Compliance ServicesArtiﬁcial intelligence is catalyzing a seismic shift in the landscape of banking compliance, revolutionizing traditional approaches with its unparalleled capabilities. In an era deﬁned by stringent regulatory mandates, AI emerges as a transformative force, empowering ﬁnancial institutions to navigate compliance complexities with precision and agility.At the heart of AI’s impact lies its capacity to automate and streamline labor-intensive compliance processes. Tasks such as data analysis, risk assessment and regulatory monitoring, once reliant on manual intervention, are now executed with unprecedented efﬁciency through AI-driven algorithms. By harnessing machine learning and natural language processing, AI systems can swiftly parse through vast datasets, identify patterns and extract actionable insights, signiﬁcantly reducing the burden on compliance ofﬁcers.Moreover, AI augments the efﬁcacy of compliance efforts by bolstering risk management capabilities. By continuously analyzing transactional data and detecting anomalies in real-time, AI-powered systems enhance fraud detection and anti-money laundering efforts, mitigating ﬁnancial risks and safeguarding the integrity of banking operations.Furthermore, AI enables proactive compliance through predictive analytics. By leveraging historical data and market trends, AI algorithms can forecast potential regulatory breaches, empowering banks to preemptively address compliance challenges and mitigate risks before they escalate.However, the integration of AI in banking compliance also presents challenges, including concerns related to data privacy, algorithmic biases and regulatory oversight. Financial institutions must navigate these complexities with a balanced approach in prioritizing transparency, accountability and ethical considerations in the deployment of AI-powered solutions.In essence, the rise of AI in banking compliance heralds a new era of efﬁciency and effectiveness, redeﬁning industry standards and paving the way for a more secure and resilient ﬁnancial ecosystem. Embracing AI-driven innovations is not merely a choice but a strategic imperative for banks seeking to thrive in an increasingly complex regulatory landscape.This is the ﬁrst MBA compliance article written by AI for The Missouri Banker. To complete this task, I requested the OpenAI ChatGPT platform to generate a 300-word article on “The Rise of Artiﬁcial Intelligence in Banking Compliance.” I received the ﬁnished product in less than three seconds. In response to President Biden’s executive order on the Safe, Secure and Trustworthy Development and Use of Artiﬁcial Intelligence, the U.S. Treasury Department released a report in March on managing AI-speciﬁc cybersecurity risks in the ﬁnancial services industry. The 51-page report includes an overview of current uses cases, best practices recommendations, challenges and opportunities given the current environment. As recent technologies such as AI continue to evolve and regulators begin to address this evolution, it is critical that banks continually seek out and implement systems that will improve efﬁciency and performance while also ensuring AI threats are addressed. By effectively combining AI technology with your bank’s compliance staff’s knowledge of regulatory requirements, the modernization of banking compliance will evolve to further enhance efﬁciency, reduce risk and strengthen your bank’s compliance program. 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 VEBAPrioritizing Mental Health Essential for Your Well-beingBy Lesley Weaver, Director of Business Development, Insurance ServicesMental health is an essential aspect of overall well-being and should be given the same attention and care as physical health. It has a deep impact and signiﬁcantly inﬂuences your day-to-day existence.Well-Being and Functioning: Mental health signiﬁcantly affects your psychological, emotional and social functioning. It drives how you manage stress, relate to others and make decisions. Being aware of your mental health allows you to take steps to support your mental well-being and boost your overall well-being.Risk Factors and Signs: Awareness helps recognize risk factors and signs of mental distress. These risk factors include biological, psychological and social aspects. Biological factors are an individual’s physical health, genetics, diet, sleep and age. Psychological factors include a person’s beliefs, mental health diagnoses, perception and addictions. Social factors encompass relationships, family, culture, work, money and housing. Identifying these various risk factors early allows for timely intervention and support.Reducing Stigma: One of the biggest barriers preventing people from seeking help is stigma. Awareness ﬁghts stigma and is key in breaking the barrier on misconceptions associated with mental health issues. Recognizing, understanding and reducing stigma is a combined effort. Understanding, compassion and acceptance develops a supportive environment for everyone affected by mental health challenges.Support and Advocacy: Advocacy plays a crucial role in raising awareness and promoting positive change. It increases access to mental health services at the local, state and national levels, ensuring individuals receive appropriate care and access to resources.Recognizing Others and Peer Support: Understanding mental health distress allows you to recognize those who may have anxiety, depression or other conditions. Compassion, kindness and support can make a signiﬁcant difference in their lives. Overall Health: Mental health and physical health are deeply connected. Maintaining good mental health affects physical health, and prioritizing both is vital for a person’s overall well-being.How can you reduce mental stress?1. Incorporate regular exercise. Strive to get daily exercise — walking, jogging, yoga, gardening or even stretching every hour. This relieves stress, lifts your mood and helps with sleep.2. Get restful sleep. Quality sleep is an essential role in mental health. To improve your sleep, avoid caffeine after 3 p.m., wake up and go to sleep at the same time every day, sleep in a quiet and relaxing room and keep the temperature at 65°F.3. Connect with friends. Make friendships a priority. Schedule lunch or dinner plans, go shopping, take a walk or just talk on the phone. 4. Improve your daily diet. Food can affect your mental health. Foods high in mood-boosting nutrients such as bananas, beans, whole grains and fatty ﬁsh like salmon support improved mental health. Drink plenty of water and try to avoid caffeine, reﬁned carbs and added sugars.5. Get some sun. Vitamin D improves attitude and mood. Take a quick walk, sit in the backyard or stand outside to get a breath of fresh air!Acknowledging the impact of mental health and seeking professional support when needed are essential steps toward an individual’s overall well-being. The Anthem health insurance offered by VEBA incorporates Wellbeing Solutions for employees to access resources to help incorporate healthy physical and mental lifestyles, including a virtual behavioral health program and an Employee Assistance Program that offers podcasts and online seminars. VEBA also offers a long-term disability policy with Unum that incorporates an Employee Assistance Program in which you have access to a licensed professional counselor. All these programs give employees the help they need when they need it most. MBA VEBA can help you with your group employee beneﬁt needs — medical, dental, vision, life, additional life, short- and long-term disability, as well as voluntary worksite beneﬁts. Visit mobankers.com or call 573-636-8151 to learn more. THE MISSOURI BANKER 11

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The Missouri Bankers Association is pleased to announce the nominations of David Gohn, Patrick Kussman and Tom Klebba to serve as chairman, chairman-elect and treasurer, respectively, of the MBA Board of Directors. They were selected by MBA’s Nominating Committee and will stand for election in June at MBA’s 134th Annual Convention and Trade Show in Branson. If elected, their terms begin in June.Gohn, Kussman, Klebba Nominated for MBA Board Ofﬁces David Gohn President/CEO West Plains Bank and Trust CompanyDavid Gohn has served as president/CEO of West Plains Bank and Trust Company since 2017. A fourth-generation banker, he joined the bank in 2005 after serving as an associate attorney with Husch and Eppenberger LLC (now Husch Blackwell) in Springﬁeld. In 2009, Gohn was named the bank’s president and chief operating ofﬁcer. Gohn is completing a term as chairman-elect on MBA’s Board of Directors and previously served as MBA treasurer in 2021. He has chaired MBA’s Budget and Audit Committee, the Young Bankers Leadership Board of Directors and the VEBA Board of Trustees. He also served a three-year term on the American Bankers Association’s Community Bankers Council.Patrick Kussman President and CEO Regional Missouri Bank, Marceline Patrick Kussman currently serves as treasurer on MBA’s Board of Directors and has served as a director since June 2020. Kussman joined Regional Missouri Bank in 2002, and his responsibilities have expanded tremendously with promotions and his involvement with the conversion, acquisition, merger and start-up of six branches. A member of the bank’s board of directors since 2008, Kussman was named bank president and chief operating ofﬁcer in 2010 and CEO in 2017. He has served on MBA’s Budget and Audit Committee, Bankers Service Corporation Board and VEBA Board of Trustees. Tom Klebba President Legends Bank, Linn Tom Klebba currently represents Region 2 on MBA’s Board of Directors and has served as regional director since June 2023. A third-generation banker, he joined Legends Bank in 2002 as chief ﬁnancial ofﬁcer and was named president in 2018. In his banking career spanning more than 20 years, Klebba is a graduate of MBA’s Banking Leadership Missouri and was chairman of the MBA Young Bankers Leadership Board of Directors. He also chaired MBA’s Executive Management Committee and served on the VEBA Board of Trustees and Capitol Region PAC, as well as committees for the American Bankers Association. Around the State THE MISSOURI BANKER 13

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Artiﬁcial intelligence generates a range of emotions among individuals. Some are fascinated by its capabilities, often imagining the next possibilities. Others take a more skeptical approach, wary of the risks.It’s no surprise, then, to know that bankers share similar sentiments. As AI dramatically changes the landscape of every industry, bankers must ﬁnd their path in navigating this dynamic evolution with both an innovative and reserved mindset.Where are you going?Although AI may be a new term for bankers, AI is not new to banking. Tim Dively, digital director of ﬁnancial services for CLA, said most banks already use AI. “Do you have fraud alerts on your debit cards for your customers?” Dively asked. “If so, that’s artiﬁcial intelligence.”Fraud alerts are just one service that customers expect when banking. Dively said AI is moving the needle in terms of customer preference and behaviors, and bankers need to understand their customers’ banking practices and how to meet those expectations. In fact, bankers need to take a step back from AI and focus on their strategy.“What are you trying to solve with the goals that you’re trying to achieve? What key performance indicators are you monitoring? This is where AI comes into play,” Dively said.Asking these questions helps bankers to start looking incrementally at their operations and having conversations internally that lead to scalable solutions for their customers, Dively said. He advises banks to deﬁne what AI means at their institutions, how the bank currently uses AI and how the bank may want to consider AI for the future. “AI is just another tool that you need to start vetting the same way that you historically vet vendors or anyone who has your customer data,” Dively said. “Look at AI through your vendor management program that you already have in place to understand its risks and use cases to vet it against your controls and other considerations. It’s no different than how you engage with any other vendor.”Where are the risks and opportunities?The opportunities that AI brings to banking also brings huge risks, said John Carlson, senior vice president of cybersecurity regulation and resilience with the American Bankers Association.“Generative AI, such as large language models like ChatGPT, opens up a whole new set of risks in terms of how those tools can be used nefariously and maliciously,” Carlson said. Large language models are AI systems capable of understanding and generating human language by processing EXPLORING A NEW REALMAI opportunities accelerate in banking, creating new journeys for banksDeﬁne what AI means at your bank, how the bank currently use AI and how the bank may want to consider AI for the future. “ THE MISSOURI BANKER 15

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vast amounts of text data. Carlson said the challenge with AI, especially with banking, is the source of data.“You know the adage of garbage in garbage out — you could have a lot of garbage out there,” Carlson said. “How do you rely on that data? Do you have conﬁdence in that data?”He added most banks are cautious in their use of AI, noting the regulatory requirements concerning model risk management and compliance-related issues. However, banks need to address how they can use AI to handle threats from bad actors.“Even if your bank is not leveraging AI, you need to think about it from a purely defensive perspective,” Carlson said. “As AI gains more widespread use by adversaries, it’s going to have an impact on your customers and banks.”Many of the systems that banks have begun building to manage the risk can be used as a starting point to help them understand and identify, assess and mitigate the risk associated with generative AI, said Ryan Miller, vice president and senior counsel for innovation policy at ABA. “Think about how your bank has traditionally deployed AI — how can you use that framework to effectively place controls around this new generation of the technology?” Miller said.Identifying all the risks posed by AI is one of the challenging issues for banks. “This is really too big for anyone, person, group or type of role to do,” Miller said. “We emphasize the importance of cross functional collaboration among bank departments and building an interdisciplinary team with representatives from the ﬁrst line, second line and third line to think through all the ramiﬁcations.”As a highly regulated industry, banks can help shape policy discussions in Washington, D.C., as lawmakers and agencies discuss AI regulation. “The risk management framework that banks have been using consistently for decades is a model for other industries to potentially follow,” Miller said. “Many of the big tech companies responsible for building AI are now thinking about AI governance, and governance is somewhat new terrain for them. Banks are leaders in this space, and that expertise can then pollinate the entire ecosystem for AI governance in a way that is really beneﬁcial for everyone.”Where do you want to be?AI encompasses many forms and species, and generative AI is just one form, said Lee Wetherington, senior director of corporate strategy at Jack Henry. What banks can do with generative AI is a function of two things — how much quality data you have to train or tune a generative AI model and how much processing power you apply to ﬁnd more patterns among the data on which that model is being trained.Recent advances in transfer learning and the performance of small language models, which are faster to train, cheaper to tune and easier to secure, bode well for smaller and mid-tier banks with less data and lower budgets for cloud compute.“The good news is that banks don’t need enough data to train a large language model — no single bank has enough data to do that — but they do need their own customers’ data. The bad news is that banks don’t have most of their customers’ ﬁnancial data,” Wetherington said.According to Wetherington, average bank customers have 14 ﬁnancial apps on their smartphones. They have relationships Think about AI from a purely defensive perspective. As AI gains more widespread use by adversaries, it will have an impact on customers and banks.“16 mobankers.com

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with between 15 and 20 ﬁnancial service providers, meaning their ﬁnancial data is scattered across all of those disparate apps and providers.Banks need a preponderance of their own customers’ ﬁnancial data to do the most meaningful and powerful things with generative AI.“How can you plug those data deﬁcits on your own customers and get the full picture of their money lives and ﬁnancial situations?” Wetherington asked.The answer, he said, is open banking.“Open banking is the means by which ﬁnancial data gets exchanged and shared between accounts,” Wetherington said. “By plumbing into open banking with secure and standardized APIs, your customers can consolidate their fragmented ﬁnancial data back to your bank, giving them a better view of their money and giving you the data needed to drive new efﬁciency, relevance and performance using modern data tools.”Providing customers with a cohesive, comprehensive picture of their ﬁnancial lives opens possibilities for banks to train generative AI models to make recommendations to customers based on their complete ﬁnancial picture. “If you can solve fragmentation by bringing all that data back to the bank, your customers are going to be two to three times more likely to act on your next best product or service recommendation,” Wetherington said. “You’re giving your customers a single pane of glass into their entire ﬁnancial life, and they don’t have to log in to 14 ﬁnancial apps to try to ﬁgure it out on their own.”“To capitalize on AI, you must ﬁrst get serious and smart about data strategy,” he said. Providing customers with a cohesive, comprehensive picture of their ﬁnancial lives opens possibilities for banks to train generative AI models to make recommendations to customers.“Additional AI ResoucesWhite House Executive Orders Blueprint for an AI Bill of Rights Executive Order on the Safe, Secure and Trustworthy Development and Use of Artiﬁcial IntelligenceAgency Guidance & Statements Supervisory and Regulation Letter SR 11–7: Guidance on Model Risk Management Bank Secrecy Act: Agencies Address Model Risk Management for Bank Models and Systems Supporting Bank Secrecy Act/Anti-Money Laundering and Ofﬁce of Foreign Assets Control Compliance Joint Statement on Enforcement Efforts Against Discrimination and Bias in Automated Systems Advisory: Chatbots in Consumer Finance Guidance on Third-Party Relationships: Risk Management Circular 2023-03: Adverse Action Notiﬁcation Requirements and Proper Use of the CFPB’s Sample Forms Provided in Regulation BOther Government Agency National Institute of Standards and Technology: AI Risk Management Framework THE MISSOURI BANKER 17

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By Neal Reynolds, BankMarketingCenter.com5 Bank Marketing Trends to ConsiderGuest CommentaryWhat will community bank marketing look like this year? For many, it means taking advantage of the technologies, such as artiﬁcial intelligence and machine learning, that can enhance their business. They’ll also continue to leverage social media as its role in the overall marketing mix continues to grow. And they’ll make sustainable business practices a core component of their growth strategy. So, what should C-level leadership be considering?1. Embrace the hyper-personalized digital experience. In our increasingly digital world with customer expectations of convenient, seamless service, personalization is key. Leverage data insights to personalize online interactions — especially mobile — that tailor content to match individual customer needs and preferences. Use AI-driven tools to create personalized experiences across digital platforms to enhance customer engagement and satisfaction. For their mobile experience, customers want 24/7 access, features that track expenses and make it easier to save, easy person-to-person payment options and enhanced security, to name a few. “Generative AI, epitomized by the release of ChatGPT, empowers banks to provide hyper-personalized customer experiences like never before. By analyzing vast amounts of data and understanding individual preferences, banks can craft tailored ﬁnancial solutions, recommend investment opportunities and offer real-time assistance that resonates with each customer’s unique needs.”1 This is critical when considering that 70% of people rate personalization as “highly important” to their banking experience.2 2. Implement and market sustainable banking practices. To most, “going green” connotes choosing paper over plastic, recycling or driving fewer miles. For ﬁnancial institutions, that notion of sustainability barely scratches the surface as banks now address the “triple bottom line” — people, planet and proﬁt. They incorporate sustainable banking practices into their lending, operations, human resources and management of physical assets. In their marketing strategy, they highlight eco-friendly initiatives, such as paperless options, green ﬁnancing or community sustainability projects, that demonstrate a commitment to environmental responsibility. Those banks that do will ultimately have a competitive advantage. 18 mobankers.com

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3. Enhance customer service with AI and machine learning. By automating the capture and analysis of customer interactions across various channels, such as chatbots, call logs, emails and social media, AI and machine learning can assist banks in gauging customer satisfaction levels and pain points, as well as responding more promptly to customer questions and concerns. AI can power robust customer experience functions such as chatbots, as well as help with processes such as gathering, storing and validating customer data. Machine learning can sift through emails, reviews and other customer interactions to understand the sentiments behind them, thereby helping to predict customer behavior, enhance their experience, drive loyalty and improve retention rates, all while adding greater efﬁciency and accuracy to manual, labor-intensive and error-prone “human-in-the-loop” processes. 4. Leverage social media platforms and messaging. Social media platforms are the ideal messaging platforms for community banks because social media is community. Community banks are in the business of participating in their communities and, importantly, helping people through relationships. Community banking, at its core, is about connecting with customers on a personal level. According to the American Bankers Association’s 2023 State of Social Media in Banking, “three out of four (76%) banking executives agree or strongly agree that social media is important to their banks.” And why not? Social platforms connect with your customers, build relationships and trust, increase awareness about your brand and boost your leads and sales. Forward-thinking banks use these powerful engagement tools to introduce new products, cross sell, gain valuable insights into customer preferences and market trends, improve their customer service support, offer ﬁnancial management guidance, celebrate their employees and community involvement, attract new talent … the list goes on. 5. Leverage data for better decision-making. Unstructured data, or “big data,” is associated with data sources that include social media, image and video ﬁles, document scans, webpages, blog posts, call center recordings, emails, analytics, metadata and more. This data lacks a deﬁned organization or pre-set pattern, ranges in size from a few bytes to very large documents and represents the lion’s share of the data that banks process daily. It’s estimated that 80-90% of data generated daily is unstructured, and the growth of unstructured data is climbing at 55-65% each year.3 This is where automation can play a key role. Leverage data analytics to make informed marketing decisions. Analyze customer behavior, preferences and engagement patterns to reﬁne marketing strategies. Use these insights to create targeted campaigns that resonate with speciﬁc customer segments and maximize marketing ROI.Community bank marketing is rich with opportunity. Forward-thinking banks will take steps toward integrating sustainable business practices, making the most of digital innovations, engaging the community via social media and offering a seamless, customer-centric experience from in-branch to “in-hand.” The future of banking lies in embracing automation and harnessing the power of data to unlock new avenues of growth and success. And that future is now. 1 forbes.com/sites/forbesbusinesscouncil/2023/09/07/enabling-next-generation-customer-experiences-through-banking-innovation2 capco.com/intelligence/capco-intelligence/insights-for-investments-to-modernize-digital-banking3 cioinsight.com/it-strategy/bi-unstructured-data/BankMarketingCenter.com helps banks with topical, compelling customer communication that builds trust, relationships, and revenue. Its partnership with ChatGPT makes customizing layouts faster and easier. With the addition of AI-assisted content development, banks can quickly generate articles for newsletters and blogs and any other content for their marketing efforts. For more information, visit BankMarketingCenter.com or contact Neal Reynolds at at 678-528-6688 or nreynolds@bankmarketingcenter.com. BankMarketingCenter.com is an MBA endorses partner. THE MISSOURI BANKER 19

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By Laura Malugade and Erick Locker, Husch BlackwellBytes and Boundaries: Why You Need an Employee AI Use PolicyEmployers know that artiﬁcial intelligence is here to stay, but so many are grappling with the initial question: where do we even begin? Recognizing the beneﬁts of AI, many companies have decided that allowing employees to use generative AI in some capacity is the path forward. Some argue that resisting the use of AI in the workplace will result in an organization becoming a casualty of the “AI revolution.”Although there is certainly value in embracing AI innovation, it must be balanced with potential legal and reputational risks. Recent studies have shown that the majority of workplaces did not have an AI use policy or were still developing one. Regardless of whether your company has an AI use policy, there’s a chance some employees are using generative AI (ChatGPT, Gemini, etc.) to enhance productivity and performance for business-related purposes. It is important that they are doing so in a way that mitigates legal risks while protecting conﬁdential and propriety business information.The following are several preliminary issues an AI use policy should address. 1. Acceptable and Prohibited Uses — An AI use policy needs to address when and how employees may use generative AI, when they are prohibited from using AI technology and which AI tools are allowed to perform speciﬁc types of work. 2. Transparency and Disclosure — Consideration also should be given to whether employees will be required to disclose AI use and when approvals are needed. For example, a company may want stricter controls when dealing with customer/client or publicly-facing work product. Are employees required to let their supervisors or managers know if they use AI for any part of their job duties, or only in speciﬁc situations? Guest Commentary20 mobankers.com

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3. Protection of Trade Secrets and Conﬁdential Information — Perhaps the most discussed legal issue surrounding AI concerns intellectual property. As a rule of thumb, anything that is inputted into a generative AI program is retained and used to train the technology. Although companies can contract with AI companies to keep their information conﬁdential, this is not the default position for free and publicly available generative AI programs such as ChatGPT. Even some of the most technologically advanced companies have experienced employees putting their trade secrets in jeopardy. An AI use policy helps remedy these concerns by advising employees of the risk of inadvertent disclosure and prohibiting input of conﬁdential and proprietary information. 4. Accountability for ‘Hallucinations’ — Generative AI is notorious for so-called “hallucinations” — incorrect or entirely fabricated information generated by AI. Use policies should require employees to verify all AI-generated information before relying on it and provide for discipline in the event of noncompliance. 5. Accountability for Bias and Discrimination —Accountability requirements in an AI use policy also can help mitigate bias and discrimination risks. Generative AI programs are only as valuable as the data they are trained on. If data used in the technology has historical biases, generative AI will perpetuate those (think: garbage in, garbage out). Even unintentional biases that have a disproportionate impact on members of a protected class can violate Title VII, and the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission has taken special interest in these situations. AI use policies should require regular auditing and human review of AI output, as well as mandatory reporting obligations in the event a user discovers discrimination or bias resulting from use of the tool. 6. Content Ownership — Employee use of publicly available generative AI programs is still subject to that program’s terms and conditions, which may vary widely from one program to another. It’s unlikely that employees read the terms at all, much less with a critical eye. This can create issues for the company if the terms do not grant ownership rights or do not permit commercial use. 7. Stakeholder Trust — Although often overlooked, AI use policies also can serve as a signal and emblem of a company’s commitment to ethical innovation. While there are many supporters of AI adoption, there also are many who fear its adoption and negative effects on the job market. AI use policies can assuage these fears and build trust with stakeholders.Adopting an AI use policy shows employees that the company is aware of AI concerns and, by emphasizing the employee’s role in verifying AI-generated information, it shows that job augmentation — not job elimination — is the company’s goal. Further, the AI use policy can outline employee AI-training options to further comfort fears of employees being “left behind.” For customers, an AI use policy can signal an outward commitment to both innovation and responsible use. Partner Laura Malugade provides practical and strategic advice to employers on all aspects of the employment life cycle. Associate Erick Locker understands the interplay between a business’ employees and its bottom line and ensures that both clients and employees share a common goal — success. Both Malugade and Locker are based in the ﬁrm’s Milwaukee ofﬁce. By organizing more than 1,000 attorneys into multidisciplinary teams that collaborate from ofﬁces (including a virtual ofﬁce, The Link) across more than 40 states, Husch Blackwell delivers unparalleled service and industry-speciﬁc solutions to banking clients nationwide. As the industry faces rapid technological, regulatory, and operational change, Husch Blackwell has worked with banks of all sizes on a range of challenges. Its comprehensive approach to counseling banks provides a customized, scalable resource that delivers timely, mission-critical legal advice in any area of law relevant to their clients’ businesses. Learn more at huschblackwell.com. Husch Blackwell is an MBA associate member. “Adopting an AI use policy shows employees the company is aware of AI concerns and that job augmentation — not job elimination — is the company’s goal. THE MISSOURI BANKER 21

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By JMARK Guest CommentaryAs an executive, few things induce more stress than an impending IT audit or examination. The mountain of documentation requests, endless logs to compile and scramble to demonstrate compliance can quickly become overwhelming. Take a deep breath — there’s a better way to sail through audits without disrupting daily operations or your peace of mind.Partner with a professional managed service provider focused on banking IT compliance. These experts live and breathe frameworks like FFIEC, CIS and NIST,* becoming an extension of your internal team throughout the year. During audit crunches, they provide invaluable support to ensure a smooth, rigorous process.Here’s how an MSP can streamline audits while fortifying your security posture.Automated Monthly Documentation Aligned with FFIEC GuidelinesWhen auditors arrive, one of the ﬁrst requests is evidence that your bank adheres to Federal Financial Institutions Examination Council information security standards. Say goodbye to manually compiling reports like:• antivirus health and endpoint protection logs• software and hardware asset inventory summaries• patch deployment audit trails• remote access usage logs• and moreYour MSP leverages enterprise tools to automatically generate comprehensive documentation packets each month. Auditors receive a complete picture of your IT security controls and compliance posture.Thorough Quarterly Access Reviews and Vulnerability AssessmentsEvery quarter, you must demonstrate remediation steps for excessive user permissions and identiﬁed vulnerabilities. The MSP conducts an in-depth assessment, including:• active directory review to identify inactive accounts or unneeded elevated accessHow Managed IT Services Simplify Compliance for Banks22 mobankers.com

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• comprehensive vulnerability scans using leading tools like Nessus and Qualys• detailed report with prioritized risks and a clear remediation plan based on your bank’s policiesOngoing Firewall and IPS MonitoringFirewalls and intrusion prevention systems serve as critical frontline defenses against cyber threats. However, they require continuous tuning far beyond the capabilities of most in-house teams. Your MSP performs a weekly ﬁrewall and IPS review to:• optimize rule sets based on your dynamic network• update signatures for maximum threat prevention• ensure these core security controls operate effectivelyPre-Built, Auditor-Ready Compliance DeliverablesDoes it feel like you’re reinventing the wheel each audit, scrambling to collect the same documentation and reports? A seasoned MSP develops a standardized pre-audit packet with all supporting evidence auditors need, tailored for your bank’s speciﬁc requirements across:• Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act • FFIEC IT examination handbooks• state regulations and mandates• remediation assistance for audit ﬁndingsEven the most diligent IT teams receive audit ﬁndings requiring remediation and process improvements. Often, banks struggle with properly implementing recommendations because of resource constraints. The MSP’s compliance specialist takes ownership, developing a comprehensive remediation plan, including:• detailed project work plan and timelines• allocation of technical resources and subject matter experts• regular progress reporting and auditor communications• hands-on assistance until all ﬁndings are resolvedFFIEC Cybersecurity Assessment Tool ExpertiseThe FFIEC Cybersecurity Assessment Tool provides a repeatable, metrics-driven process for evaluating your cyber readiness across domains like risk management, auditing and incident response. It’s a rigorous undertaking requiring cybersecurity professionals well-versed in frameworks like NIST, CERT-RMM and CIS controls.Your MSP’s compliance specialist guides this self-assessment, ensuring an accurate, honest representation of your security maturity. The resulting data serves as a powerful tool for prioritizing enhancements to strengthen your cyber defenses.Enterprise Patch Management and Vulnerability RemediationMissing patches and unresolved vulnerabilities provide easy entry points for threat actors. Your MSP’s automated patch management processes systematically keep Microsoft, third-party applications and systems up-to-date across:• servers and endpoints• network infrastructure• cloud and on-premises workloadsLeveraging the same enterprise-grade tools, they conduct recurring vulnerability scans. You receive a clear remediation roadmap to methodically address security gaps based on risk and priority.By partnering with a professional MSP, you’ll rest easy knowing your IT environment operates securely and compliantly year-round. Audits transform from frantic ﬁre drills into well-orchestrated processes, providing your board with assurance that IT risks are properly managed. You’re free to focus on strategic priorities, serving customers and enjoying life’s passions and spending time with family. * Federal Financial Institutions Examination Council, Center for Internet Security and National Institute of Standards and TechnologyIf you’re ready to get time back and reduce your stress around audits and exams, visit JMARK.com for more information or talk to one of our team members at 844-44-JMARK. Step into a brighter future today. JMARK is an MBA associate member. THE MISSOURI BANKER 23

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Around the StateMBA welcomed several bankers to Jefferson City on Wednesday, April 10, for a Target Banker visit to discuss banking legislation with their state senators and representatives — Ben Polen, CEO of Carroll County Trust Company, Carrollton; Tina Woehr, employee beneﬁts account executive, MBA VEBA, Jefferson City; Haddi Dampier, information technology specialist, and Lauren Barnett, compliance specialist, Heritage Bank of the Ozarks, Lebanon.Sen. Ben Brown, R-Washington, met with Missouri bankers Wednesday, March 27, to discuss banking legislation during an MBA Target Banker visit — Dan Rettke, vice president of retail operations for United Bank of Union; Tim Tobben, vice president of commercial lending for Bank of Washington; and Jake Wolfe, vice president for Legends Bank in Linn. Scan the QR codes to view more photos of Target Banker visits.24 mobankers.com

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MBA welcomedCentral Bank of Boone County to Jefferson City on Wednesday, April 24, for a Target Banker visit.The bankersdiscuss banking legislationwith their state representatives and Missouri Senate President Pro Tem Caleb Rowden, R-Columbia. Pictured are Chris Widmer, Sen. Rowden, DJ Daller, Melody Marks, Dean McCullar, Brooke Berkey, Justina Dial, Christine Orey, CO Scheffer, Bob Hull, Carmen Randall, Lynn Limback, Theresa Swisher and Angie Gentry. Dawn Shellabarger also participated in the visit.A nice selﬁe to mark a Target Banker visit! MacKenzie Smith, treasury solutions sales specialist, Josh Blackman, commercial loan ofﬁcer, and Geoff Karr, regional treasury sales ofﬁcer, with The Bank of Missouri in Columbia discussed banking legislation with their state lawmakers during their Target Banker visit Tuesday, April 2.MBA welcomed First State Bank of Purdy to Jefferson City on Tuesday, March 26, for a Target Banker visit with their state lawmakers — Trey Rose, assistant vice president; Kevin Jones, executive vice president; and Randy Henderson, president. MBA welcomed several bankers to Jefferson City on Wednesday, April 3, for a Target Banker visit — Kent Shikles, loan ofﬁcer, and Curt Brumley, president/CEO, with Community Point Bank in Russellville and Lance Boyer, executive vice president/chief ﬁnancial ofﬁcer, and Kevin Waterman, senior credit analyst, with Heritage Bank of the Ozarks in Lebanon. The bankers met with their state senators and representatives to discuss banking legislation. THE MISSOURI BANKER 25

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Around the StateMBA’s Executive Committee joined the Banking Leadership Missouri class for its April 24-25 session at Whiteman Air Force Base. They met with base leadership, toured the base and presented their capstone projects. Cheryl Bonnaffons Bella with FICRAS lead MBA’s appraisal and evaluation compliance seminar April 18 in Columbia. Bankers learned the latest trends concerning appraisals and evaluations.Bankers gathered great resources during MBA’s 2024 Operations, Security, Technology Conference held April 10-12 in Osage Beach. The knowledge that attendees gained from the conference enhances their services and operations for their customers. Matthew Dickinson lead IRA Basics seminars throughout Missouri the week of April 12 to help bankers build a solid IRA foundation to assist their customers with their ﬁnancial needs. Banking Leadership MissouriLearning With MBA26 mobankers.com

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Jonah BettendorfThe Missouri Bankers Foundation established the MBA InternConnect Scholarship Program in 2018 to encourage college students majoring in a banking-related discipline to explore careers in the Missouri banking industry. The scholarship selection committee for the Missouri Bankers Foundation reviewed 78 applications from Missouri high school seniors. The committee members were amazed by the achievements of these exceptional students and awarded a $1,000 scholarship to the following students.• Tenley Weller, a 2024 graduate of South Harrison High School in Bethany, will attend Northwest Missouri State University in Maryville to study agriculture business. BTC Bank in Bethany presented the scholarship to Weller.• Ashley Bode, a 2024 graduate of Palmyra High School, will attend the University of Missouri- Columbia to study business — ﬁnance. HomeBank in Palmyra presented the scholarship to Bode.• Blake Sullivan, a 2024 graduate of Odessa High School, will attend the University of Central Missouri in Warrensburg to study big data and business analytics. Lead Bank in Lee’s Summit presented the scholarship to Sullivan.• Katie Bernicky, a 2024 graduate of North Callaway High School in Kingdom City, will attend the University of Missouri-Columbia to study agribusiness management. Central Bank in Fulton presented the scholarship to Bernicky.• Olivia Zastrow, a 2024 graduate of Washington High School, will attend Westminister College in Fulton to study business ﬁnance. The Bank of Franklin County in Washington presented the scholarship to Zastrow.• Jonah Bettendorf, a 2024 graduate of Hartville High School, will attend Evangel University in Springﬁeld to study accounting. OMB Bank in Springﬁeld presented the scholarship to Bettendorf.• Elyssa Schatz, a 2024 graduate of Campbell High School, will attend Arkansas Northeastern College in Blytheville to study business administration/ﬁnancing. FM Bank in Kennett presented the scholarship to Schatz. Seven Graduates Receive $1,000 MBA Foundation ScholarshipsTenley WellerBlake SullivanOlivia ZastrowElyssa SchatzAshley BodeKatie BernickyMBA Foundation to Award InternConnect Scholarships This FallSince then, the foundation has awarded scholarships to college students completing an internship with an MBA-member bank. Up to ﬁve $1,000 MBA InternConnect scholarships will be awarded to individuals interning at MBA-member banks in 2024. Applicants must be a Missouri resident or attend a Missouri state accredited college or university and must have at least college sophomore standing. Seniors may apply if they are pursuing graduate studies.The application deadline for 2024 InternConnect scholarships is Friday, Oct. 4. Visit mobankers.com for more details. THE MISSOURI BANKER 27

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AchievementsRhonda SorensenArvest Bank in Springﬁeld promoted staff and named new branch sales managers. Rhonda Sorensen was promoted to private banking manager, senior vice president for the Springﬁeld region. She develops and administers strategies and operational plans to grow private banking across the region. Sorensen brings 27 years of banking industry experience to her role and was previously a private banking advisor, senior vice president. Catherine Luikart was promoted to private banking advisor for the Springﬁeld region. She manages a consumer and commercial loan portfolio and assesses other ﬁnancial products to serve private banking clients’ ﬁnancial needs. Catherine LuikartAround the StateParker Davis Jen EldridgeShelby MonnigJamie HuntAmy Deitch Amanda DuncanCourtanie WoodsLance BoyerLuikart has seven years of industry experience and was previously an executive assistant at the bank. Parker Davis was promoted to branch sales manager at the Republic Road branch. An Arvest associate for the past three years, he was previously a relationship banker. Jen Eldridge is branch sales manager at the National location. She has eight years of banking experience and has a certiﬁcate in business and commercial lending from the American Bankers Association. Shelby Monnig is the branch sales manager at the Sunshine branch. She has 10 years of industry experience.Jamie Hunt was promoted to vice president — human resource ofﬁcer at Branson Bank. In addition to supporting more than 75 bank associates, Hunt spearheads strategic initiatives that support recruitment and retention of associates, succession planning and the overall preservation and strengthening of Branson Bank culture. She joined the bank in 2008.Community Bank of Missouri in Richmond promoted several team members. Amy Deitch was promoted to senior vice president. She has been with the bank since its inception in 2001. Her 27 years of banking experience are invaluable to the bank and its customers. Amanda Duncan was promoted to vice president. She joined the bank in 2023 as a loan ofﬁcer. She has 20 years of banking experience and assists customers with their lending needs. Courtanie Woods was promoted to assistant cashier/compliance ofﬁcer. She joined the bank in 2021 and has nine years of banking experience.Lance Boyer was named president of Heritage Bank of the Ozarks in Lebanon. As president, Boyer oversees the day-to-day operations of the bank and will work closely with CEO Kim Light. Boyer, who previously served as executive vice president, chief ﬁnancial ofﬁcer and chief operations ofﬁcer, will remain CFO. Before moving into community banking, Boyer began his career with the Federal Reserve Bank in Kansas City.BANCMACCOMMUNITY BANC MORTGAGE CORP.YOUR COMMUNITY BANK MORTGAGE PARTNERbancmac.commortgages@bancmac.com888.821.7729|NMLS# 571147BancMac provides correspondent and wholesale lending and is your Community Bank Mortgage Partner to help your financial institution originate fixed-rate secondary market loans including:PROGRAMS• Conventional Loans• USDA Rural Development Loans• Rural Living (Hobby Farm) Loans• VA Loans• Jumbo Loans• FHA LoansOUR PARTNERS RECEIVE:• Superior Service & Competitive Pricing• No Minimum Volumes• Signiﬁcant, Non-Interest Fee Income• Non-Solicit Protections & More28 mobankers.com

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Jackie Koetting Kelli WolfeMichael Boyce Jr. Tyler LuebbertNathan MaberryMitch BridgesMid America Bank in Jefferson City promoted several team members. As vice president/regional retail manager, Jackie Koetting is responsible for the effective performance of branches, including operations, customer service and training. She has held various roles throughout her banking career spanning more than 25 years. As vice president/deposit operations manager, Kelli Wolfe plans, directs and coordinates the bank’s deposit operations center. She has more than 15 years of banking experience. Michael Boyce Jr. was promoted to assistant vice president, loan ofﬁcer. A banker for more than 15 years, he enjoys being part of customers’ ﬁnancial futures. Tyler Luebbert was promoted to assistant vice president, loan ofﬁcer. He has more than 10 years of banking experience and joined the bank in 2019. GAME ON!2024COMMUNITY BANKING CONFERENCELEVEL UP YOUR KNOWLEDGEMEMBER FDICFEATURED SPEAKERSIN MISSOURI How to Work With & Lead People Not Like YouKelly McDonaldMcDonald MarketingBuilding Trust in the Digital World: The Community Banker’s Guide to Personal BrandingEric Cook, MBAWSI ConsultingArtiﬁcial Intelligence in Banking: Opportunities & ChallengesTim Dively, MBA CLAWhat’s Next for Banks and How Are RegulatorsThinking About Potential RisksAllen NorthFederal Reserve Bank of St. LouisGet all the details and REGISTER today!WWW.MIBANC.COM/EVENTSAUGUST, 21-23, 2024ST CHARLES, MO • AMERISTAR CASINO Mitch Bridges was promoted to executive vice president – chief credit ofﬁcer for Midwest BankCentre in St. Louis. He leads the bank’s credit culture for all signiﬁcant lending units, including commercial, consumer, mortgage and economic development. His oversight ensures the bank’s asset quality objectives are met while supporting the growth and diversiﬁcation of the bank’s loan portfolio. Before joining the bank in 2001, Bridges was a bank examiner with the Missouri Division of Finance and the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis.Nathan Maberry has joined the residential lending team at OMB Bank in Springﬁeld as a mortgage loan ofﬁcer serving Joplin and its surrounding communities. He has more than 15 years of mortgage lending experience.

The Missouri Banker May June 2024

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