“I was hired as an ag loan officer. That was in 1980 when the prime rate was at or over 20%, and many farmers were having financial hardships.” It was a tough time to be starting out as an ag banker. Kim was working out of the Conway branch and was able to build a good customer base. “It helped that I grew up in a neighboring community and knew many of the farmers,” Kim said. “They grabbed a hold of the kid who didn’t know anything about banking at all and took me under their wings.” Kim spent seven years at the Conway branch. “It was one of the biggest highlights of my banking career,” Kim recalled. In 1987, he moved to the Lebanon location, the home office of Central Bank, and continued to move up in the company, eventually becoming president and then CEO. In 2011, Kim had the opportunity to move over to Heritage Bank of the Ozarks. He was hired as the bank president and eventually held the position of CEO as well. Since 2011, the bank has grown from about $40 million in assets to $360 million in assets. “Being the only locally managed bank in Lebanon has been a huge competitive advantage for us,” Kim said. As part of the bank’s succession plan, Kim relinquished the president’s title to a young, up-and-coming officer this past spring, but he is still actively leading as the CEO. As Kim looks back over his career, there are certain experiences that stand out as a reminder that his choice to be a banker was a good one. “One of the first ag customers I ever had is still my customer today — he is 80 years old now. He, his children, and his grandchildren have all been my customers. That is three generations of customers from one family. He and I are friends and although he is my customer, he has been my ag mentor as well. He knows more about farming than I could ever dream,” Kim said. “We got together a couple of weeks ago and rode around in a side-by-side out on my farm and reminisced on the past. It was one of the coolest experiences that I have ever had.” Kim continued, “My daughter, Ashton, who works at the bank with me, was along on the ride, and she just took it all in. The wisdom he shared with us was priceless.” Kim shared another experience that happened a couple of years ago. “I was sitting in a restaurant in Lebanon when a couple walked up to the table, and frankly, I did not recognize them.
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