Banking on the Future of Texas Communities
"The future ain't what it used to be."
So said Yogi Berra, the famed New York Yankee as well known for his unintentionally humorous quotes and thought-provoking malaprops as for his prowess on a baseball diamond. The longer I live, the more I understand what Yogi was trying to say in that quote, and this is certainly the case within my chosen profession -- community banking.
Note that I specifically referenced community banking rather than simply banking, because to me, at least, there is a significant difference. While big, money-center banks admittedly have their place and serve a purpose in our global economy, community banks play a different role and, frankly, abide by a different set of principles and priorities than their larger counterparts. On the surface, community banks are simply locally owned and operated financial institutions that take in local deposits and lend them out locally. But, in reality, they are so much more. Community banks typically have deep roots within their local communities, and community bankers share the values of their neighbors and neighborhoods. Furthermore, community bankers pride themselves on knowing their customers, understanding their customers' markets and needs, and providing flexible and customized services which best meet those needs. At their core, then, community banks are local banks that invest in local communities and flourish when their customers and communities do likewise.
