JANUARY / FEBRUARY 2021 As the song says, “It’s the most wonderful time of the year.” As we closed out 2020, our communities, customers and employees were likely looking forward to the holiday season more than ever. After a very challenging 2020, my encouragement to others was to end the year strong and fill up with hope for what 2021 may bring. While that’s a tall order, I have no doubt that community bankers came through in bringing needed joy and inspiration in December and into this new year. That may be because, as a third-generation banker, some of my best childhood memories involve being with my community bank family and the many traditions associated with this special time of year. From delivering Thanksgiving boxes to those in need to lighting farolitos – paper bags filled with sand and a candle that are a tradition in New Mexico – our community bank brought people together during the season. It always felt like an honor to be at the center of that community spirit and see the happiness that it brought to everyone involved. But I expect I’m not alone in these merry musings; community bankers nationwide give similar accounts of their holiday histories. While each story offers a FEATURE 0SSOMRK %LIEH XS E Happy New Year window into the unique traditions of the community, at their core, these reminiscences are about bringing people together to create positive moments. This sense of collective community experience defines who we are as community bankers. Employees, large and small business customers, and consumer clients all become our bank family, and when you have that perspective, decisions are made for the right reasons. Year-round, community banking is more than a job; it’s who we are. That mindset makes community banks beautiful and purposeful places to work. We contribute to a mission that’s bigger than a bottom line: We serve our communities. We all embody a culture of community – something that sets us apart as employers and as an industry. So, as you reflect on your resolutions for the year ahead, I hope one of them is to continue bringing your community together in new ways, even if that means being distanced or virtual. Now more than ever, the world needs more of what community banks have to offer. I, for one, am looking forward to seeing all that you will bring to your communities throughout 2021. Wishing you and yours a very happy new year! HB 6IFIGE 6SQIVS 6EMRI] President and CEO Independent Community Bankers of America @romerorainey
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