Independent Banker - April 2022 - 21

" You can put your head in the sand and
try to ignore [that workers have changing
expectations], or you can embrace it, and
that's what we've decided to do. "
-ADRIAN BREEN, THE BANK OF MISSOURI
NOW ON DEMAND
How Community
Banks Can Thrive
Even in Today's
to deliver cash or demonstrate how
they could pay their bills online. She
also notes that during the pandemic,
many bankers didn't close loans in
person. Rather, they relied on virtual
meetings and DocuSign. " Personal
service is initiated by the banker, " she
says. " It's not location driven. "
Likewise, Community West Bank
in Goleta, Calif., has long encouraged
its commercial lenders, which it
calls relationship managers, to
be out meeting with existing and
potential customers.
" [My] motto is 'no dents in seats,' "
says Bill Filippin, president of
the $1.1 billion-asset commercial
business bank. " There's no reason at
all why a good relationship manager
couldn't work from home and then go
to their clients. "
Filippin wants these employees
to be based in their markets. " Our
relationship managers need to be part
of the community, " he says. " They
should be involved in the chamber
[of commerce], they should know the
mayor, they should know the local
politics to know what kind of loans we
want to do and in which areas. "
Community West Bank is, however,
open to hiring remote workers outside
its footprint for back-office functions
like credit administration and finance.
Filippin sees that approach as a
recruiting opportunity, since the high
cost of living in its coastal region can
repel some top talent.
Still, candidates must generally live
within California. Filippin says that as
a small community bank, Community
West Bank is not currently exploring
tax laws and human resources laws in
every single state.
There are many ways to meet
the needs of employees
Of course, working remotely or hybrid
isn't for everyone. Filippin says some
employees who started the year
working outside the office will choose
to return to it to network with their
team members.
He also predicts that after
COVID-19 has faded, 25% to 30%
of his workforce will work from
home, at least part of the week. It's
a development he wouldn't have
believed even five years ago.
" Being in banking for 30 years,
I wanted everyone around me, "
Filippin says. " But I learned quickly.
Change is important, and evolving is
important, and to get the best talent
around, you've got to be able to have
your mind open to new ideas and
new methods. I have fully embraced
hybrid and remote work. " 
Mindy Charski is a writer in Texas.
Economic Uncertainty
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Chuck McBrayer
Managing Director
IntraFi Network
Speaker:
Chris Ely
Managing Director
IntraFi Network
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Independent Banker - April 2022

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