10 Hoosier Banker November 2015 COVER STORY As 2015 chairman of the Indiana Bankers Association, I set two major goals for this year: to increase the attendance at the IBA Annual Washington Trip to 80 participants, and to visit every Indiana-based bank president/CEO. I am pleased to report that both goals have been achieved. A few weeks ago, 88 representatives of the Indiana banking community traveled to Washington, D.C. The group consisted of 57 bankers, eight associate members, 19 guests and four staff members, representing the best turnout in IBA history. Just a few short years ago, it was difficult to assemble even a dozen individuals to meet with our legislators and regulators. Traveling to DC with a large number of bankers representing our communities and our industry had a significant, positive impact on the trip. Every legislator commented about the size of our group. For our bankers, participating in this trip helped them realize the importance of having their voices heard in Washington. I hope that next year we can have 100 bankers attend this event. For my other goal, visiting all 119 banks in the state was an interesting and fulfilling quest. My journey started in November of last year, with my first stop at Jackson County Bank to meet with David Geis. For the next few months after that visit, I concentrated my efforts in the southern part of the state. Those were easy visits to arrange, since the banks were located close by, and I already knew many of the bankers. If I had an open afternoon, I could usually schedule a couple of nearby calls. Visiting presidents in northern Indiana presented more of a challenge. I partnered with Rod Lasley, IBA’s vice president-products & services, in scheduling bank meetings north of Indianapolis. Typically I would complete a full day at the office, then drive to Indianapolis to meet Rod. From there we would drive another three hours or so to spend the night in the town we were visiting. The following morning, after enjoying the complimentary hotel breakfast, we would begin our series of five to six bank calls. We would often finish our meetings late in the afternoon before beginning our journey back to Indianapolis. Then I would travel a couple more hours south to Clarksville. On one trip, we finished our rounds with Kent Liechty at First Bank of Berne at 4:30 on a Friday afternoon. After being in the car for over five hours, I finally arrived home that night. Luckily my wife and children were traveling, so the only ones not happy with my late arrival were the dogs. It was fascinating to see the many different banks and cities throughout Chairman’s Reflections – Travels to DC and Throughout Indiana About the Chairman Larry W. Myers, 2015 chairman of the Indiana Bankers Association, is president and chief executive officer of First Savings Bank, Clarksville. He additionally serves on the bank’s board of directors and as president of the First Savings Charitable Foundation. Myers joined First Savings Bank in 2005 as chief operating officer and was named to his current position in 2006. He previously served since 1982 with National City Bank, most recently as area president of Southern Indiana. Myers is a member of the St. Louis Federal Reserve Community Depository Institutions Advisory Council and has served the American Bankers Association on the Community Bank Council and Mutual Council. He currently is chairman of the Lincoln Heritage Council of Boy Scouts of America and is active with the One Southern Indiana-Chamber of Commerce. A certified trust financial adviser, Myers earned bachelor’s and MBA degrees from the University of Kentucky, has completed the Graduate School of Banking of the South and the Cannon Trust School, and holds Series 7 and Series 66 licenses. He previously served the IBA as first vice chairman, second vice chairman and southeast region director. He will continue service to the IBA board of directors in 2016 in the capacity of immediate past chairman. Continued on page 12.
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