“It's in my nature to volunteer my time and give back — whether it be in the banking industry, community, school or whatever, we need to make a difference,” Curt stated. When he is not working or volunteering, Curt enjoys spending time outdoors. Even there, Curt’s sense of community and connection shows. Curt served as president of the Bass Fishing Club — a semi-professional fishing club — which he is very proud of to this day. For almost 44 years — 18 of which have been with Community Point Bank — Curt has dedicated himself to the banking industry. For the past nine years, Curt has served as president of Community Point Bank, a position that he is both honored and humbled to hold. Looking back on his career, the most rewarding part has been helping people succeed. “Whether it's in their job or in their life, helping people achieve their dreams and goals is what banking is about. It’s making a difference in somebody's life,” Curt said. “I had one of my bigger customers who needed a little extra on a loan, and we got it done for him. He told me, ‘I don't know if I'm ever going to use all that, but you don't know how much it means to me that you guys got that done for me; it made my life a lot simpler.’ Feedback like that lets you know that you're doing the right thing.” As a long-time member of MIBA, Curt recently assumed the role of 2025-2026 president. “I've been on the MIBA board for several years, and Matt, Michelle, Jessica and Rebecca do a great job running the association,” Curt said. “I'm more than happy to do my part to help.” Similar to his predecessor, Doug Fish, Curt has two important goals that he’d like to focus on over the upcoming year. The first is to help membership grow. “Doug did a wonderful job during his term as president. I am very fortunate to follow him and build upon his momentum,” Curt said. He encourages MIBA members to reach out to their non-member friends and talk to them about the benefits of membership. The second focus is to increase the involvement of the younger generation of bankers. “As we get older and eventually retire, we need to make sure that we have a next generation of bankers involved in the industry and ready to take over,” Curt stated. In addition to that, Curt has his eye fixed on the ever-changing challenges in banking. Cybersecurity and fraud have become big issues, as have interest rates and regulations. It’s also important to provide customers with modern banking tools and meet their expectations. “I think banks have to be visionary and adapt to and address these challenges,” Curt said. “We've done a lot of things since I've been president of the bank, like instant issue debit cards, mobile deposits and QuickBooks integration, just to name a few. If we want to get customers and retain customers, we need to evolve.” When asked if he could share any advice for up-and-coming bankers, Curt stated, “You’ve got to trust your gut. I was given that advice a long time ago, and it has not failed me. In addition to trusting yourself, be grateful. I wake up every day and I'm grateful.” Curt continued, “Many think happiness is elusive, but I think that's because they look forward to the future, not focusing on the present.” The Show-Me Banker Magazine | 9
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