Tag Archives: community

Konnecting with Karl

I’ve had the pleasure to work with customers at Iowa State Bank now for almost 4 years in my capacity as the commercial lender. However, even many of my friends don’t really know what that means and still ask me what I really do.

Sure, I make loans for business owners and commercial endeavors, but that isn’t what I think is most descriptive of my role. Every industry has its own unique set of challenges and each business its own set of strengths and weaknesses. What I do is help our business customers understand the risks they face and properly manage those risks for the best possible financial outcome for their future.

How I go about this reminded me a little like how my wife, Morae, and I decided upon having children. We sat down and talked out all the risks, pros and cons, and what-ifs we might face. After becoming completely terrified of this prospect, we decided to start our family anyway.

In reality, we felt comfortable with all the risks because we understood how we would deal with them if/when they arise. It is similar when making large decisions in business such as making an investment in technology, inventory, or growing employees. What I enjoy most about my job is sitting down with my customers to discuss the decisions they face to help them better understand the benefits and risks associated with those decisions.

From there, my job is to apply that risk to a competitive financing plan that provides that customer the capital needed to grow their business, and therefore our local economy, one step in a positive direction. Over and over, this model keeps lending decisions local, risks local, and profits local. This is the value of banking with a locally owned bank, we grow together.

Nearly two years ago when Morae and I decided to start our family, we never fully realized how truly amazing it would be to have our son. In fact, often is the case when a developing business excels beyond what was expected. We are so elated that we decided to take the risk that we wish we had done it sooner. That’s why in September, we are expecting the second edition to our family!

I believe building a business is a part of building a community and I’m proud to build my family in the community where I was raised, helping other business owners achieve their success.

– Karl Metcalf, VP Commercial Lending

10 Ways to Shop Local

Shop Local

Supporting our community is one of the most impactful ways we can help it grow. By shopping with local vendors and utilizing area service providers you and your family can help ensure that our community prospers and grows each year. If you want to shop local, but don’t know where to start, our team at Iowa State Bank has come up with some creative ideas you may not have considered yet.

  1. Get produce at your local farmers market.
  2. Purchase floral arrangements from your neighborhood florist instead of online vendors.
  3. Work with local providers for your insurance and wealth management.
  4. Venture out for the night and tour area dining and entertainment establishments.
  5. Bank with a community bank.
  6. Buy groceries from a regional company compared to the large national chains.
  7. Like your favorite area businesses on Facebook and other social media.
  8. Shop for birthdays and holidays at your community’s downtown storefront.
  9. If you have received great service or products from a local business, recommend them to a friend or relative.
  10. Stay local when planning weddings or other milestone events and avoid online alternatives.

Owning and managing a small business may be more difficult than you think. We believe that opportunity is everywhere. Whether you’d like to open a business of your own, or simply want to support the ones you enjoy, it’s great to learn what small businesses are all about. That’s why Iowa State Bank is excited to share some compelling and surprising facts surrounding the small businesses in our neck of the woods.

  • A company is considered a small business if they have less than 500 employees according to the Small Business Administration.
  • 99.7 percent of all active companies in the United States are classified as small businesses.
  • If your favorite retailer has been in business over ten years, they have officially beat the odds. According to the Bureau of Labor, two out of three small businesses are still operating after two years in business, and only half of small businesses have survived after being open for five years.  Approximately one-third of small businesses last ten years or longer.
  • Cash flow is cited as the more common issue regarding a business’s failure. Associated tasks such as invoicing, timed billing, and record keeping are often the most commonly linked culprits.

If your business needs to gain capital for an expansion or start-up, Iowa State Bank is here to help. Our experienced commercial lenders can help you determine your ideal capital amount while also setting up valuable cash flow services Send us your information or stop in today to learn more about this convenient and affordable service.

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