Independent Banker - December 2017 - 29

PHOTO: SARA STATHAS
Proudly sponsored by
Across the nation, community bankers wake up every day to kick-start families' dreams,
bolster local economies and serve as the backbone of small-business lending in
America. It's a job that takes guts, vision, steadfast integrity and a love of people. The
four people recognized as ICBA's 2017 Community Bankers of the Year represent
the best of the industry. Read on for a peek into each winner's unique-and uniquely
eff ective-style of leadership.
SALES
FORCE
Joe Fazio's sales-driven approach, entrepreneurial drive
and community spirit has led 12-year-old Commerce
State Bank to more than half a billion dollars in assets.
By Karen Epper Hoff man
J
oseph Fazio III will be the fi rst to tell you that he
doesn't have the " typical " bank CEO background.
He did not start his career as a teller or a loan
analyst. But ICBA's 2017 National Community
Banker of the Year has managed to take the road
less traveled in building a community bank worth noticing.
It has been more than 12 years since Fazio and his
cofounders launched Commerce State Bank in West Bend,
Wis., building it up to $560 million in assets. But the former
serial entrepreneur and stalwart salesman-who put in
a dozen years at IBM and spent time at Northwestern
Mutual, Marshall & Ilsley Corp. and fi nancial technology
provider Metavante Technologies, Inc.-started by dipping a
toe in the water of community banking, investing in a " small
community bank in Wisconsin with a friend of mine. "
When that experience ended abruptly but profi tably,
Fazio engaged in a couple of other startup efforts before
being asked to help cofound Commerce State Bank due to
his management, leadership and entrepreneurial experience.
" Large companies didn't interest me as much, " Fazio
says. " I wanted to have that experience again of leading a
small community bank. Once you get a taste of community
banking, you like it. "
With Fazio as CEO and chairman, Commerce State
Bank has a distinctly commercial focus and sales-focused
culture, which has shaped its presence in the market. Commerce
State Bank was one of the fi rst community banks
of its size " out in the marketplace, promoting the bank
through television commercials, " says Fazio. " Many other
community banks were just not as focused on growth. "
In addition, Fazio says his bank has been " very opportunistic "
in playing to the small to midsized businesses in
the communities it serves-offering a rapid response to
loan requests, in particular. " We'll give you a fast answer, "
independentbanker.org
ICBA Independent Banker 29

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Independent Banker - December 2017

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Independent Banker - December 2017

Table of Contents
Independent Banker - December 2017 - Intro
Independent Banker - December 2017 - Cover1
Independent Banker - December 2017 - Cover2
Independent Banker - December 2017 - Table of Contents
Independent Banker - December 2017 - 2
Independent Banker - December 2017 - 3
Independent Banker - December 2017 - 4
Independent Banker - December 2017 - 5
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Independent Banker - December 2017 - Cover3
Independent Banker - December 2017 - Cover4
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