Independent Banker - July 2023 - 7

FROM THE TOP
" By supporting the people
and businesses we know and
understand, we are supporting our
employees and our shareholders,
and making our communities
better places to live. "
Derek Williams
Chairman, ICBA
Derek Williams is president and
CEO of Century Bank & Trust in
Milledgeville, Ga.
ommunity bankers are so much
more than financial providers;
we are leaders who strive to use our
strength to do what's right for our
customers and communities. To
them, we are advisors, partners and
friends, and sometimes that means
our actions need to be as much about
what we don't do as what we do.
Take lending, for example.
While we certainly always consider
the underwriting principles that
been proven over the years, we
are committed to providing our
customers with the best chance of
success. In some cases, that means
helping them consider alternatives,
sharing financial education and
offering more options.
For instance, I've had to turn down
customers for loans they thought
they wanted, only to have them come
back later and thank me for saying
no. They realized that they would
have struggled with that burden, and
they appreciated that I had their best
C
interests at heart. It isn't always a
perfect science, but I do my best to
give my customers the help they need
when they need it.
I'm not alone in this. As community
bankers, we share these common
values. We don't want to see a
business or a customer fail, not only
because of our relationship with them
but also because we want the best for
our communities. I'm sure we can all
share stories about those borrowers
we've supported who came to us
Quote of the month
seeking refinancing for an online loan
that wasn't right for them at all. Yet,
that's why we do what we do: shore
up the best chance for success for
those we serve and help them realize
their dreams, not get buried under the
weight of them.
We do this because for community
banks, lending is so much more
than a profit center. By helping our
customers grow and thrive, we help
our communities do the same. These
are the same communities in which
we live, work, worship, play and
raise our families. By supporting the
people and businesses we know and
understand, we are supporting our
employees and our shareholders,
and making our communities better
places to live.
" A good leader is a
person who takes a
little more than his
share of the blame
and a little less than
his share of the
credit. "
-ARNOLD GLASOW,
HUMORIST AND BUSINESSMAN
Connect with Derek @DerekBWilliams
As you read this month's lending
issue, I hope you'll think about the
times you've made a difference in
your customers' lives, both when
you've made loans and when you've
encouraged other approaches. It
speaks to the heart of what we do
as bankers: We provide the counsel
that helps our customers continue to
thrive. And that's the hallmark of a
true leader.
independentbanker.org // 7
Photo by Chris Williams
http://www.independentbanker.org
Independent Banker - July 2023

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