CONNECTIONS LISTEN UP Winning the talent war In episode 13 of the Independent Banker podcast, host Charles Potts speaks with community bankers Steve Farbstein and Renee Peterson about the banking industry's employment practices following the pandemic. WHO'S IN CONVERSATION? EXCERPTS FROM Steve Farbstein Chief revenue and development officer of Blue Ridge Bank Renee Peterson Vice president of Horicon Bank HOSTED BY Charles Potts ICBA's executive vice president and chief innovation officer and host of the Independent Banker podcast " We are not a large bank ... For those personalities and folks that want to grow in that direction [for quality of life], it's a great selling point ... It's recognition of the competition and recognition of being self-aware. " -Steve Farbstein SCAN ME " We changed our mindset from proactive to reactive, so we started focusing on our employees on what they need as much as what we need ... We joined a program where it's focused on employee wellness, on what to do after hours to take care of their diet, exercise, family life- personal things that they want to do. " -Steve Farbstein 76 // ICBA Independent Banker // November 2023 Next up Episode 14 of the Independent Banker podcast brings on ICBA president Rebeca Romero Rainey and chairman Derek Williams to discuss the Silicon Valley Bank fallout. " People have grossly underestimated how fascinating banking is, and I think it's really cool to talk somebody through all the different positions that we have and all the things it takes. " -Renee Peterson Listen to Independent Banker: A Community Banking Podcast from ICBA wherever you get your podcasts or at icba.org/podcast. You can also scan the code below.http://www.icba.org/podcast