most banking-related processes remotely, they prefer to come to the branch and visit with their banker. These connections provide the bank with direct accounts of the current economic climate and help the bankers address customers’ concerns of tight or, in some cases, negative profit margins. Linville said some consumers are also facing limited discretionary income, as well as challenges related to funding mortgages. Between the increasing housing prices and higher interest rates, becoming a homeowner is more difficult. However, Linville’s role as a banker allows him to help people find solid financial footing. “It’s exciting making a dream come true or giving people the opportunity to have the capital to follow a dream. I love getting young people started, whether it be in farming, starting a small business, purchasing a house or buying their first car — that is without a doubt one of my favorite things,” Linville said. Advocacy As the head of a community bank, Linville has seen the impact that federal legislation has on both banks and customers. Federal banking regulators have implemented what Linville calls “useless, expensive and often foolish overregulation.” Such regulations affect banks of all sizes from both urban and rural areas across Nebraska. Federal regulations requiring increasingly stiffer procedures and rules can make it trickier to find a balance between focusing on the customer and making sure all of the boxes are checked for the regulators, no matter the size of the bank. “I don’t need a regulation to know I need to take care of our community. If we weren’t doing community reinvestment, our bank wouldn’t exist. We wouldn’t survive if we weren’t adequately taking care of CRA. It’s obvious: either you are or you aren’t,” Linville said. In March, Linville was among over 40 Nebraska bankers who traveled to Washington, D.C., to meet with Nebraska’s congressional delegation and discuss banking policy and the role banks play in supporting communities and driving our state’s economy. While there, he highlighted the unnecessary burden and cost of stricter banking regulations. “Banking needs to be about serving our customers and generating profit for our shareholders, not about being a political ping pong ball for politicians. Within the banking industry, there are some things that banks may not have in common with one another, but there are more similarities than differences, and we’re not necessarily on opposite sides,” Linville said. Engagement from across the industry is essential to shaping policy and pushing back against misguided regulation. A recent example is the Access to Credit for our Rural Economy (ACRE) Act, a modified version of which was included in the budget reconciliation legislation recently signed by President Trump. The banking industry had long advocated for the bill. “The ACRE Act is the most critical piece of legislation that I’ve seen in years. It’s huge for our community banks, our farmers and our ranchers because those savings will be passed along to them,” Linville said. He also stressed the importance of bankers becoming personally involved in government relations efforts. The NBA has a longstanding commitment to advocating for Nebraska banks. Bankers can participate in such efforts through the NBA Legislative Advocate Program or the NBA Government Relations Committee, or by donating to the NBA BankPAC to help support pro-business, pro-banking candidates and legislation at both the state and federal levels. “There’s a reason the NBA exists, and a lot of good things can happen from bankers having one voice. And the NBA can be that voice,” Linville said. Linville encourages Nebraska bankers to use their voice as political power. He said the most important thing, perhaps more so than visiting Washington, D.C., is reaching out to your federal representative or senator on a personal level. NBA Chair Mark Linville and his wife, Lisa, at the 2025 NBA Annual Convention NBA Chair Mark Linville (left), NBA Past Chair Brad Koehn (back) and NBA President & CEO Richard Baier (right) at Husker Harvest Days in 2024 9 NEBRASKA BANKER
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