Where is your main bank and branches located? What is the market like?
Our main bank is located in Carrollton. We have three other branches located in Marshall, Sedalia and Blue Springs. I work at the main branch in Carrollton. We specialize in ag, commercial and secondary markets.
What is something unique about your bank?
Our bank is 121 years old and has been family-run for all 121 years.
How did you get started in the banking business?
I have always been interested in the banking business. At a young age, I showed a bottle calf that won grand champion. I received a sum of money as the prize. My parents brought me into Bank 21 to open my first savings account that grew interest. I always wanted to learn more about the different accounts and ways you can build money through the bank. When I went to college, I focused on business classes such as accounting and marketing. From there, I was able to find a job with installment loans, but I knew that I wanted to transition to the banking business. When Bank 21 had an opening, I applied and got hired as a bookkeeping specialist.
What is the most important thing you have learned from this career so far?
The most important thing that I have learned from my bank career so far is how real fraud is and how important it is to monitor your accounts. Before I started working at the bank, I didn’t really believe it was that easy for fraud to occur. Working at Bank 21 has really opened my eyes to this.
What prompted you to want to begin a career in banking?
What made me really want to transition to banking is the diversity of the career. I am currently a bookkeeping specialist learning IT, but there are so many career options through banking, such as loans, management, accounts and so much more. I also really like how our bank is so involved with our community and customers.
What is the most interesting thing you have learned from this transition to the banking industry?
I think the most interesting thing I have learned from this transition to the banking industry is how much the bank really looks after your accounts and money.
Tell us about the bank’s community investment efforts.
Each of our branches participates in all of our community events. For example, the Carrollton branch participates in many fundraisers for community charities. In our community, we have a foundation called Help Services that sells used products at a remarkably low price for all personnel in our community. Each year, Help Services has a fundraiser that Bank 21 donates and participates in. We also donate and participate in the fundraiser for a club in our community called Women’s Club.
What is the bank’s biggest challenge in the area of internet banking/mobile banking?
I would say that the bank’s biggest challenge with internet banking/mobile banking would be fraud and stolen credentials. When setting up online banking and bringing in mobile deposits, it is so important to watch for suspicious endorsements and mismatching information.
What’s your favorite thing about your bank/banking in general?
My favorite thing about my bank is how we are always involved with our community, whether it’s through donations, volunteering or having our customer appreciation days. The thing I like about banking in general is how we’re always evolving. Banking is always coming up with new ways to help make things more accessible and secure.
If you didn’t have a career in banking, what other career would you choose?
When I first went to college, I wanted to major in communications/journalism. I quickly learned that there was not much opportunity with that major around where I lived. That is why I changed my major to business. Journalism would be a career I would pick if I wasn’t in banking.
