Pub. 8 2020 Issue 1

2 The Community Banker www.mibonline.org AndrewWest President’s Address A s I sit down to write this article, I am, like all of you, in the middle of working through the COVID-19 crisis. It is my sincerest hope that by the time this writing is pub- lished, we will be through the worst of it. Of course, there is no way to predict the depth and breadth of this pandem- ic or the resultant fallout. I am praying for all of the country, and Montana, and all of my banking friends, who are being tested like never before. These are unprecedented and dangerous times. Our economy is in free fall and there is no end in sight right now. Not to mention the health risks we all are facing. Trying to live my life as a “glass half full” person, I have pandemic will bring us all closer together in the end and help us appreciate one another a little more. I believe every tragedy comes with an opportunity. In this case, I believe the op- portunity is to reaffirm our commitments to one another as business partners as well as citizens. Citizenship is not discussed much these days, but helping others in their time of need is a hallmark of good citi- zenship. We are here to serve our custom- ers and also to exemplify good citizenship in our communities. So, the opportunity we have in front of us is to use our skills and resources to serve others, which is truly the highest calling. Now, more than ever before, our cus- tomers need us. We can and will step up and be there for them while we navigate these uncertain times. Our steadiness in the face of adversity will not only reassure our employees and our customers, but it will strengthen existing relationships and forge new ones. The opportunity to be better than we were before is right in front of us and with faith in the goodness of man-kind and kindness born from our mission, we will become better versions of ourselves. Banking, while a business for sure, is also a conduit for positive economic devel- opment for our customers and communi- ties. We have the solemn duty to look out for our customers and to help each other. This is what community banking is truly about. Helping our customers and helping each other. Maybe that’s a little bit of what life is about. One of my older customers asked me if I’d ever seen a hearse pulling a U-Haul. I thought it was a little funny at the time, but I see the point now. There’s no denying our bank’s financial performance is essential, but kindness performance is what really counts in the end. One interesting item I’ve noted in my career is, the higher your kindness perfor- mance, the more likely you are to expe- rience high financial performance. As I stated previously, I am hopeful by the time you read this message, we are through the worst of the COVID-19 crisis and life is somewhat back to normal. I also hope we use this opportunity to grow and expand our ties to our customers, employees and communities. Ultimately, our relationships with those we serve define us. We may or may not be remembered for how success- ful our banks are, but we will be remem- bered for how kind we were and how much we helped our friends and neighbors when they were in need. Nobody I know is more uniquely positioned to do just that than Montana’s community bankers. Thank you for doing what you do. I am grateful for all of you and for what you bring to the people across this wonderful state. contemplated the notion of what good may come from this, particularly concerning our banks and the communities in which we live and serve. With the SBA offering several emergency programs, community banks are again at the forefront of helping our customers in their time of need. Again, we are showing our met- tle and our willingness to serve the people whom we call our customers and friends. We have always been there for our communities, and now more than ever, we have the oppor- tunity to make a difference in our customer’s lives. So, if there’s anything positive to come of this, it is the resounding demonstration of the important role community banks play across Montana in keeping our economy rolling and helping people when they need it most. This is why I am grateful to be a com- munity banker and proud to be a member of the MIB. Hopefully, when this is all over, we can look back with satisfaction knowing we rose up during one of our nation’s most difficult times and supported those who have supported us for so long. We are all in this together, and I know all of you understand this implicitly. Business is business, but we are more than just business associates with our customers. We are neighbors and friends and all have a common goal of making our communities better places to live and do business. Maybe going through something like the COVID-19