Hoosier Banker Thank you for electing me as 2021 chairman of the Indiana Bankers Association. If serving last year as first vice chairman was supposed to train me for anything, it did! It was quite a year. But we got through it, and we did it together. It was teamwork at your bank that kept you serving your communities, and it’s teamwork in this industry that keeps Indiana banks united. At the center of our banking family stands the IBA. This past year has demonstrated how vital our Association is. Throughout 2020, the IBA kept up a steady level of communications. The Paycheck Protection Program is a perfect example. PPP changed almost daily, but the IBA kept us current. In the area of education, the IBA continued nonstop with quality offerings. My employees were able to participate in a number of educational offerings and events, thanks to IBA’s switch to a virtual format. IBA’s largest events of the year, the Mega Conference and Annual Convention, were successfully repurposed into the online Mega Reimagined event. The IBA Annual Washington Trip, too, was able to take place through a series of Zoom meetings. Which brings me to the topic of advocacy. First, kudos to the IBA Government Relations team for providing us with a voice that is heard both at the Statehouse and on the federal level. The IBA has earned a high level of respect among legislators and regulators alike. Second, if you haven’t been active in grassroots advocacy before, now is the time to jump in. We’ll be facing many issues this year for which a banking perspective is critical. The more voices that join in, the stronger the message. Topics we may be addressing in coming months include federal stimulus, PPP loans, updated social distancing criteria and the vaccination rollout. It’s good news that COVID-19 vaccines are available, but there may be as many questions as answers. Overall our biggest challenge is facing the unknown. How will another round of PPP loans function? When will we reach a new normal? What will a new normal look like? But the IBA was there for us in 2020 and remains with us now, keeping us united. We have strength in unity. We also have strength in an impressive history. Many of our banks, mine included, have been around long enough to have weathered the pandemic of 1918, two world wars, the Great Depression, several recessions and multiple other challenges. You are part of that history – whether your bank is a century old or a quarter-century old – because we share a collective institutional history. That history has brought us to the year 2021, working together to support the communities we serve. So thank you again for electing me to chair the IBA. I follow many capable leaders going back to 1897, each who left an imprint on this Association. One of those leaders is my father, Stephen E. Zahn, who served as 1996-97 chairman of the Indiana League of Savings Institutions, which later merged with the IBA. My father is my mentor, so it’s a double honor to follow in his footsteps. He in turn was inspired by his father, William E. Zahn, who was named president of First Federal Savings Bank in 1963. Those of you who are from banking families can understand that, for me, banking is more than a job or even a career. It’s a family legacy to uphold. I’d also like to thank my wonderful wife, Susan, and our three boys who make me proud every day. I’m a very lucky person at home and at work, surrounded by people I admire. I look forward to working with you in this new year. HB CHAIRMAN’S REPORT *MVWX 7EZMRKW &ERO • @JWFMRHMERE ŵ (IG Our Elizabeth branch is getting into the Christmas spirit, all while supporting a good cause! They have built a Christmas scene with their donations for the South Harrison Community 'IRXIV GSQTPIXI [MXL E XVII XVEMR ƤVITPEGI ERH GS^] GLEMV GSQQYRMX] [LIVI]SYVIEP[E]WƤVWX %PPMERGI &ERO • @%PPMERGI&EROC-2 ŵ 2SZ Today we are #Thankful for the staff at Jasper County Recovery House and all they do for their students. They are truly there JSV XLIQ HYVMRK XLI IEVPMIWX HE]W SJ XLIMV ƤKLX EKEMRWX addiction. #Rensselaer #JasperCounty #banklocally #communitybank #myalliancebank ,SSWMIV ,IEVXPERH 7XEXI &ERO • @Q],,7& ŵ 2SZ Despite the pandemic, the Roachdale Public Library has continued to provide story time to children with their Story Time “To Go” program books. Carlie & Sara presented a donation on behalf of HHSB to help them continue the program throughout the year. #hhsbgivesback #storytimetogo ,SQI &ERO ŵ $,SQI&EROC ŵ 2SZ As we celebrate our 130th anniversary with 13 weeks of giving, we surprised Interchurch Food Pantry of Johnson County with a $10k gift! Thank you, JC Food Pantry, for all you do to #MakeLivesBetter and #GatherGrowGive! 1IVGLERXW &ERO SJ -RHMERE ŵ $1IVGLERXW&ERO-2 ŵ 2SZ Merchants values and supports the mission of @JA_USA to educate and inspire young people with experiential learning opportunities. Our teams in Eastern Indiana recently presented a donation to Junior Achievement of Eastern Indiana for the Wayne Co Foundation Challenge Match. *SPPS[ -&% 8[MXXIV $MRHMEREFEROIVW NOTABLE QUOTES &ERO 'SQQYRMX] 7IVZMGI SR 8[MXXIV 1MGLEIP 7 >ELR Chairman Indiana Bankers Association President and CEO First Federal Savings Bank, Huntington
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