Independent Banker - June 2022 - 43

" It's incumbent upon
the banker to be
educated, both about
prudent financial decisionmaking
but also to
understand the customer
situation and be able to
speak knowledgeably
about that. "
-JORDAN SOWERS, SHAMROCK BANK N.A.
Athina Thornton, 36
Vice president, BSA/AML/OFAC off icer
∠ Flagship Bank Minnesota | Wayzata, Minn.
Athina Thornton believes in the importance
of closing the financial knowledge gap
between banks and their customers.
Through open communication and personal
finance walk-throughs, she provides all
clients with the tools to confidently make
financial decisions.
Club, which is a program for women
to network and grow their businesses
through free events and courses
provided by the bank.
Kahn believes banks should
prioritize education within the
community-before profi t and before
gaining new business. " When we
do the right thing through the lens
of trying to help people, educate
the community and bring greater
fi nancial literacy, other stuff comes as
a result, " she says. " And I think that's
a great way to approach it, rather
than 'we're all about sales, and then
everything else is just gravy.' I think
that prioritization is really important
and much more rewarding, too. "
Opportunities for growth
Athina Thornton of $330 millionasset
Flagship Bank in Wayzata,
Minn., knows all about steep learning
curves, having moved to the United
States from France in 2005. " You
don't know what you don't know, "
says Thornton, the community
bank's BSA/AML/OFAC offi cer.
" And fi nancial literacy isn't really
something that is taught in school or
at home, but it is very important. "
In 2021, Thornton created an
educational newsletter for staff at
Flagship Bank to spotlight fraud
Kyle Williams, 35
Credit analyst
∠ Bank of George | Las Vegas, Nev.
From creating trainings for his branch to
consistently volunteering to help his colleagues,
Kyle Williams' service mindset has been a boon
to both his bank and his community. He recently
jumped in to teach an elementary school class
for Junior Achievement Day when they had a
lack of volunteers. The class was a success, and
he's now developing a new high school program
on the principles of credit.
schemes, risk-related practices and
other products and services. At
monthly team meetings, she leads
a newsletter review identifying new
fraud risks, and her work has been so
well received, it's now being shared
outside of the bank as well.
Thornton advocates using
knowledge gaps as opportunities
to challenge yourself and expand
your knowledge of the industry.
" Become your colleagues' and clients'
resource, " she suggests. " If somebody
(Continued on page 44)
TAKE THE NEXT STEP
The ICBA LEAD FWD Summit, Sept. 12-13,
2022, is the premier educational event for
emerging community bank leaders. Visit
icba.org/leadfwd
Sponsored by
FIS is committed to the future of community
banking and is proud to support this year's
emerging community bank leaders!
independentbanker.org Q 43
http://www.icba.org/leadfwd http://www.independentbanker.org
Independent Banker - June 2022

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