34 NOVEMBER / DECEMBER 2020 Because digital selling cuts travel time to the farm, following up on questions the farmer has can be almost instantaneous. It is critically important that the banker use the time that would have been spent on the farm building the relationship with the farmer, bringing value in some other way. Will there be a place for the traditional methods of selling to the agricultural indus20+ YEAR PARTNERSHIP WITH INDIANA BANKERS ASSOCIATION Years But Who’s Counting? © 2020 Krieg DeVault LLP. This constitutes attorney advertising. Krieg DeVault LLP, Indianapolis, IN, is responsible for this content. Brett J. Ashton Kay Dee Baird John B. Baxter Julia A. Carpenter Maria M. Vladimirova Michael J. Messaglia Charles O. Richert C. Daniel Motsinger Nicole R. Finelli Michael E. Williams PARTNER PARTNER PARTNER PARTNER PARTNER ASSOCIATE PARTNER ASSOCIATE PARTNER PARTNER 317.238.6291 bashton@kdlegal.com 317.238.6306 kbaird@kdlegal.com 317.238.6311 jbaxter@kdlegal.com 317.238.6273 jcarpenter@kdlegal.com 317.238.6374 nfinelli@kdlegal.com 317.238.6268 mvladimirova@kdlegal.com 317.238.6249 mmessaglia@kdlegal.com 317.238.6251 crichert@kdlegal.com 317.238.6237 cmotsinger@kdlegal.com 317.238.6220 mwilliams@kdlegal.com OVER 20 Financial Services Team Krieg DeVault LLP has been involved in every major event that has shaped the evolution of Indiana’s financial institutions. In addition to leading commercial and investment banks, our clients include specialty finance companies, insurance carriers and agents, broker-dealers, and investment advisers. www.kriegdevault.com try? The answer is yes, there will be farmers who still want to meet face-to-face and carry on with business as usual. But there will also be a significant number of farmers this year who renew their production loans without stepping foot in their banks or meeting their bank representatives face-to-face, which will more than likely be the first time this has happened. Agricultural banks need to be prepared to build that relationship with their farmer customers in a digital world. Understanding their pain points, having a plan to communicate your value proposition, and helping the farmer ease into this digital world will be key factors in garnering their business. HB Michael C. Rechin, president and CEO of First Merchants Bank, Muncie, has announced plans to retire effective Dec. 31. He is to remain a director of the bank and an adviser. Rechin joined First Merchants in 2005 as executive vice president and chief operating officer and was promoted to president and CEO in 2007. He began his career in 1983 with BancOhio National Bank as a corporate banking trainee and joined National City Bank upon its acquisition of BancOhio in 1984. Rechin served National City in various positions and was named executive vice president for corporate banking in 1995. He currently serves on the Indiana Bankers Association Board of Directors and is a director of Lynx Capital Corp., OneZone, The Center for the Performing Arts, Connor Prairie and the Sheehan Family Foundation. Previously, Rechin was a director of the United Way of Central Indiana, the Arts Council of Indianapolis, Junior Achievement of Central Indiana, Indiana Chamber of Commerce, the Minnetrista board of trustees and Indy Partnership. Rechin earned bachelor’s and MBA degrees from Miami University of Ohio and has completed numerous banking schools. Lupka Baloski, human resource director, First Federal Savings Bank, Huntington, has retired after 17 years with the bank and over 40 years in the industry. HB TAKING IT EASY
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