Tag Archives: Karl Metcalf

Karl Metcalf Graduates From Graduate School of Banking at Colorado

BOULDER, COLO. – Karl Metcalf, Vice President of Iowa State Bank & Trust, recently graduated from the Graduate School of Banking at Colorado (GSBC), a 25-month banking school which provides management and leadership training for community-banking professionals. Metcalf finished among the top 10% of 164 graduates during the 68th Annual School Session, hosted July 15-27 on the campus of the University of Colorado in Boulder, Colorado.

GSBC students are recognized as rising stars in their organizations and, as graduates, often become senior leaders in their respective organizations. A diploma in banking is widely recognized by the banking industry at large, and is a marker of advanced education which hundreds of bank-industry professionals from around the country accomplish each year.

“Completing the coursework and projects associated with the Graduate School of Banking at Colorado is a great accomplishment for community bankers around the country,” said GSBC President Tim Koch, “Sponsoring organizations and communities should be very proud of the time and effort our graduates expend during their time in the program.”

Graduates receive a diploma upon successfully completing six weeks of classroom training which focuses on the areas of general management and technology, lending, leadership and human-resource management and financial management in banks. Requirements for graduation also include comprehensive examinations, intersession research projects and participation in a bank-management simulation course designed to provide students with experience managing a bank.

Aaron Kness, President and CEO of Iowa State Bank & Trust, commented “We are obviously very proud of Karl and view this accomplishment as yet another step in his development as a banking executive.  Considering we have grown 60% in size over the past 5 years, and continue to grow rapidly, it’s imperative that the organization invest in talented leaders like Karl to ensure success for many years to come.”

The Graduate School of Banking at Colorado is one of America’s premier community banking schools, and is located on the campus of the University of Colorado in Boulder, Colorado. GSBC offers an annual school session each July, and offers a variety of seminars and continuing education workshops throughout the year. GSBC will host its 69th Annual School Session July 14-26, 2019. To learn more, call 800-272-5138 or visit www.GSBColorado.org.

Answers from Aaron

There’s a bit of pressure to deliver when your Marketing Department creates a blog entitled “Answers From Aaron”.  The title suggests that I possess a modicum of wisdom and credibility.  However, I cannot convince an eight year old boy that “murder clowns” do not actually exist, nor would they live in his closet if they did.  Thus the dilemma; what value can I possibly offer to readers, understanding the scope of my expertise is limited and may not encompass their specific areas of interest (such as “murder clowns”, which I obviously know nothing about).

If there’s one thing I do know about, its community banking, and hopefully anyone who takes time to read our blog shares an interest in it. Community banking should not be confused with investment banking on Wall Street, or other types of high finance. Community banking is much less glamorous, and much more honest. If you work the Google on an internet machine you’ll find a definition of community banking that is similar to this, “a locally owned and operated financial institution which tends to focus on the needs of individuals, small businesses and farmers. Lending decisions are made by people who live in the areas they serve and who understand the needs of their customers.” That accurately describes Iowa State Bank, but there’s certainly more to add.

I am frequently asked “What makes Iowa State Bank different than other banks?” Larger financial institutions, those with tens of billions of dollars in assets, often train their officers to provide a canned answer to that question. Typically those answers speak to the bank’s strength and size. As a community banker, my response varies slightly depending on how, when and why I’m asked. In general though, I respond by talking about the quality of people I work with and how much we care. That may seem cliché but I assure you it’s sincere. My colleagues and I are far from perfect, but we care deeply about our customers and the communities we serve. That caring translates to countless hours of volunteerism (thank you to Karl and Morae Metcalf for working at the Rotary Auction last night). It means we’ll take as much time as a business owner needs to work through a difficult situation or review a new business plan. Caring is also why you’ll hear us cheering loudly at high school sporting events (as Dena and Shawn Morrissey demonstrated yesterday by vocally supporting the FHS soccer team). It’s why we’re involved in economic development, support the fine arts, help those less fortunate… I’m sure you get the point. The difference is that we care a lot, and come to work every day ready to show it. If there ever comes a time that we don’t, I’ve failed and we’ll no longer be considered a “community bank”.

In closing, if you happen to run into Rowan Kness this spring, please assure him that there’s no such thing as “murder clowns”. Chances are you have more credibility on that subject than I do.

– Aaron Kness, President/CEO