Have you had important mentors during your career so far? Who were they, and what was the most important lesson you learned from them? I would have to start with my father; he taught me not just the skills part of our business but how to make customers happy. There have been many others as well. Some have passed on, and I fondly remember them, while others remain my very dear friends to this day. What three recommendations would you have for someone if you were mentoring them? 1. Create good customer relationships and always do a little more than is expected. 2. Learn patience. 3. Work hard and don’t quit. Do you have any last words summarizing your thoughts for anyone reading your article? My 40th year with BSI is this March. My son, Mark Jr., likes to say, “One year in bank equipment is like dog years, so it’s actually like 280 years.” BSI has pretty much defined my life, professionally speaking. I love this industry, and I care about the clients we serve. I truly enjoy helping customers solve their needs through typical solutions or by different and creative means. Mark Thatcher Sr. Mark is the President and CEO of BSI. His day-to-day responsibilities include company operations, working with office staff, and, his favorite, entertaining clients. Mark owns a boat and enjoys taking his clients out on The Lake of the Ozarks, a place he has frequently enjoyed over the past 21 years. Do you have any hobbies? Besides boating, I love designing. Right now, I am designing a home made out of shipping containers. Over the past few years, I have designed and built temporary and mobile banks, and ATM enclosures from shipping containers. This hobby provides me with a great creative outlet that is multidimensional and allows my work and play to blend. What are some of your company’s strengths from your perspective? My father started this company with an excellent service mentality. We have tried to maintain that throughout the years. Along with service, we have also been able to “think outside the box,” which has been very successful in finding solutions to our customer’s needs. Do you have a favorite client success story? In the very early years, it was just my father and me. The company was struggling to make it. BSI, at the time, had a silent, unlisted number; somehow, a banker found us and called us for some lock work. That one job put us over the hump, and we never looked back. That customer is still with us today and is one of our biggest accounts. How long have you been a member of MIBA, and what do you see as the benefits of membership? We have been a member of MIBA since the mid-80s. We were one of the first to join and exhibit at the conventions. Our membership has been a huge part of our growth, along with establishing strong and close business relationships. ATM Enclosure, designed by Mark Thatcher Sr. Mobile Bank, designed by Mark Thatcher Sr. Temporary Bank, designed by Mark Thatcher Sr. 18 | The Show-Me Banker Magazine
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