Independent Banker - August 2021 - 7

FROM THE TOP
" This is our moment to
communicate just what it means
to be a community bank. "
Robert M. Fisher
Chairman, ICBA
Robert Fisher is president, CEO
and chairman of Tioga State Bank
in Spencer, N.Y.
or community banks, " go local "
extends far beyond a movement
into a way of life. We are the backbone
of the community, supporting our
friends and neighbors in good times
and in bad, because it's the right
thing to do.
We need look no further than
our efforts around the Paycheck
Protection Program, where we
became the heroes of the day, funding
60% of all loans. At my bank, about
45% of PPP loans were not to existing
customers on the first round. They
were the product of us stepping up
where megabanks wouldn't, while
most credit unions stayed on the
sidelines. And I know my bank was
not alone in that; it's the story from
community banks across the country.
Coming off those successes, we
have the opportunity to remind
our communities that we serve
them not only in difficult times,
but all the time. Community banks
are the fabric of our communities,
F
working tirelessly to improve them.
From economic investments to
volunteering, community banks and
their employees make a difference
in the communities we serve. For
example, many of my senior leaders
are in leadership positions with
community-based nonprofits. We also
started a charitable foundation and
donate 5% of our net income to the
foundation annually.
Our missions lie in personal
relationships; customers have a
banker who truly knows them. For
example, when my daughter's friend's
debit card wasn't working during
a vacation, she messaged me to
help solve the problem. When my
father was in line at the grocery
store and the customer in front of
him couldn't find her wallet, he
paid her bill. That's what we do
as community bankers; we help
people. It means something to have
that connection with someone, to
have a personal relationship with
your banker.
My Top Three
Tioga County,
N.Y., has a rich
history, including these
famous residents:
1. Belva Ann Lockwood, the
first woman to officially
appear on the U.S.
presidential ballot
2. Brig. Gen. Henry Martyn
Robert, author of Robert's
Rules of Order
3. John D. Rockefeller, who
was born here
Connect with Robert @RobertMFisher
I know I'm preaching to the
choir, but we all need reminders
of the positive impact we make.
Community bankers are typically
humble people, and we're reluctant
to tell our stories. But we have to
get more comfortable sharing our
success stories and showcasing what
we do and why we do it.
As you peruse this month's
Independent Banker, which focuses
on budgeting and profitability, know
that proactively sharing what you do
for your community could support
your bottom line, too. People are
realizing banking locally is a good
thing for everybody, and this is our
moment to communicate just what
it means to be a community bank. 
independentbanker.org Q 7
Photo by Heather Esposito
http://www.independentbanker.org
Independent Banker - August 2021

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Independent Banker - August 2021
