62 JULY / AUGUST 2021 IBA Board Review Jessica Carroll South Region Director Indiana Bankers Association CEO and Director The New Washington State Bank, Charlestown HB Digital: Click to view a biography of Jessica Carroll, or visit Indiana.bank/ about. Hoosier Banker recently interviewed IBA board member Jessica Carroll, who among other honors was named IBA Woman of the Year in 2018, the inaugural year of the award. What was your first job, and what did you learn from it? “In high school I worked part-time in a Hometown Video Store. That was my first experience in a retail setting, and I learned quickly that there are some nice, respectful people in this world, and there are some people that aren’t very kind. “That lesson has applied to everything that I have done since that time, because I’ve always been in some form of retail.” What drew you to banking? “I was a junior at Hanover College, planning to become a CPA when my mother, Cathy Tinsley, was working at The New Washington State Bank. They needed help in the bookkeeping department stuffing statements, so I jumped in. “I enjoyed it and shifted gears into banking. I’m proud to say my mother recently retired from the bank after nearly 40 years.” What advice do you have for those starting careers in banking? “I would recommend patience, because there is so much to learn. You have to learn from a base perspective, like tellering, bookkeeping and generating loan applications. You have to be exposed to all the different areas to truly be successful. “If you’re willing to do that, this is such a fulfilling career. It is something that you can be proud of every day.” What do you do for fun when not working? “I live on a farm, so a lot of my time outside of the bank is spent farming with my family. We raise cattle and grain crops. It’s very rewarding – it’s an escape, but you’re still being productive. “I also love to bake and craft, but most of my time is spent with my family on the farm.” The Carrolls on their family farm: Aaron, Gracen and Jessica. If you weren’t a banker, what would you be? “I would be a florist. One of my pie-in-the-sky dreams was to own a flower shop. Most of the time, you’re making someone’s day brighter.” What’s one item on your bucket list? “I would like to own a second home on Florida’s Emerald Coast. I’ve spent a lot of fun times with my family in that area, so it would be great to have a second home there.” Reflecting on your career, what accomplishments are you most proud of? “Obviously, becoming the bank CEO was a huge thing to be proud of. Secondly, when I was named the IBA Woman of the Year, I thought it was great to be nominated and then chosen. “I’m also proud of supporting other females in banking. I try hard each day to help someone who was like me 15 or 20 years ago – wanting to grow and be successful.” Please share a bit about family/home life. “I’ve been married to Aaron, my high school sweetheart, for 20 years. Aaron works off the farm, too, selling ag inputs – fertilizer, chemicals and seed. “We have a daughter, Gracen, who will be a freshman next year. “Gracen is one of those kiddos who always has this great big smile. She just has one of those personalities. We adopted her at birth, and it was the best decision we ever made.”
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