INSIDE THIS ISSUE PO Box 1765 Jefferson City, MO 65102 (573) 636-2751 | miba.net Editor: MATTHEW S. RUGE Executive Director ©2026 The Missouri Independent Bankers Association (MIBA) | MBR Connect DBA The newsLINK Group LLC. All rights reserved. The Show-Me Banker is published six times per year by The newsLINK Group LLC for MIBA and is the official publication for this association. The information contained in this publication is intended to provide general information for review, consideration and education. The contents do not constitute legal advice and should not be relied on as such. If you need legal advice or assistance, it is strongly recommended that you contact an attorney as to your circumstances. The statements and opinions expressed in this publication are those of the individual authors and do not necessarily represent the views of MIBA, its board of directors or the publisher. Likewise, the appearance of advertisements within this publication does not constitute an endorsement or recommendation of any product or service advertised. The Show-Me Banker is a collective work, and as such, some articles are submitted by authors who are independent of MIBA. While a first-print policy is encouraged, in cases where this is not possible, every effort has been made to comply with any known reprint guidelines or restrictions. Content may not be reproduced or reprinted without prior written permission. For further information, please contact the publisher at (855) 747-4003. Published for the Missouri Independent Bankers Association 4 PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE Neighbors Helping Neighbors 5 FROM THE TOP Your Work to Support the Future of Community Banking 6 FLOURISH Community Banking Strategy for Growth 7 Community Banking Month April 2026 8 LEGAL EAGLE SPOTLIGHT AI-Powered M&A What Bankers Need to Know Now 11 MIBA Lobbying Report 12 Leadership Division Day Out at the Blues February 26, 2026 14 Background On BCC A Conversation with Founders & Principals, Kathy Smith and Kelly Earls, JD, MBA, CPA 17 Agricultural Lenders School June 1-4, 2026, Columbia, MO 18 MEET YOUR MISSOURI BANKER Cynthia Ramsey Senior Vice President, Marketing & Business Development, Progressive Ozark Bank 21 News From You 23 2026 PAC Honor Roll 24 Staying Power Fed’s Balance Sheet Has Some Duration, for Better or Worse 26 ICBA LIVE State Reception March 6, 2026 — San Diego, CA 28 Financial Education Community Banking’s Quiet Advantage 30 Upcoming Events 2026 31 MIBA’s Endorsed Vendors Are Ready to Help You Go Further 32 MIBA Associate Members 34 Upcoming Webinar Schedule 36 49th Annual Convention & Exhibition September 14-16, 2026 18 26 12 8 The Show-Me Banker Magazine | 3
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy MTg3NDExNQ==