A Background On Casey Hopkins President of Bank of Old Monroe He continued working at Edward Jones after graduation, moving into sales training. Although there was a huge upside to financial advising, he realized his heart was rooted in developing partnerships with customers in an environment where there was more control over the market and the future of their investments. In 2005, he transitioned to Enterprise Bank and Trust and worked in both the wealth management and banking sides of the business. While there, he met invaluable mentors who took the time to explain banking operations. Casey had found his niche. Serving customers and being part of helping them own their own home, start a new business or grow an existing one created a passion that led to him finding true purpose. In 2005, Casey and his wife, Holly, made the decision to establish roots of their own and build a home in Troy, where he was raised. Although Casey wasn’t working in Troy at that time, he and his family made the move. Ironically, a position opened at the Bank of Old Monroe shortly after they moved back, and Casey wasted no time applying for the job. Casey was hired to work as a lender at the Bank of Old Monroe Moscow Mills branch. “I finally felt like I was helping people with some of the most imperative financial decisions they would make in life. It was so rewarding to help a customer buy their first home or start their first business,” Casey said. Little did he know that the real estate crash of 2008 was looming. “I figured out what a true banker’s role should be when working alongside customers through the real estate crash of 2008.” Casey continued, “For the first five years of my career, I learned how to work with customers, meet their loan obligations and still be able to put food on the table for their families. I had to have some really tough conversations with customers, and it was a humbling season of my professional career.” Casey Hopkins was born in St. Charles, Missouri, and raised in Troy, a small town about 30 miles north of St. Charles. Growing up in a rural town where everyone knows one another fostered a strong sense of commitment and community. Both of his parents were lifelong educators — his mother was a kindergarten teacher, and his father taught high school and coached basketball. They instilled in him a strong work ethic, a commitment to family and community, and a love of sports and learning. Upon graduating from high school, Casey attended Maryville University, where he played golf. Maryville offered excellent internship opportunities for students, and Casey took full advantage. In his junior year, he was selected to interview for a position with Edward Jones and was hired. “That’s where my financial career started,” Casey said. “I worked there part-time my junior year on the front lines in the call center where I learned about customer service, developing relationships and many financial products.” During his senior year of college, Casey was offered a full-time position with Edward Jones, which he accepted while taking a full course load. “It was a great experience, and I met a lot of talented people there. That experience laid a strong financial foundation for me,” Casey said. 8 | The Show-Me Banker Magazine
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy MTg3NDExNQ==