Community Corner

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Community Bank employees give back to their communities
in a variety of ways. Take a look at a few of their recent efforts.
Sam Bell, market president of the
what I wanted to do.” He decided
Columbus Junction office, retired
Clyde’s offer sounded interesting, so
April 30 after 41 years with
he started out in Community Bank’s
Community Bank. “It’s been a very
bookkeeping department on March
interesting occupation,” he said.
1, 1971. “Back then, everyone
“I have close friendships with
started in bookkeeping then moved
the people I work with and our
to the teller window to learn the
customers. I like banking because
basics of banking,” he explained.
Sam Bell canceled an interview for a teaching job to join
Community Bank’s staff. Four decades later, he is happy with
his decision.
it’s always changing and keeps you
“We did the general ledger for every
that have occurred during his ca-
“She is a hard worker,” he said.
on your toes.”
account by hand every single day.”
reer, Sam noted technology as the
Sam is looking forward to spending
After eight years at the bank, Sam
biggest. “Every aspect of banking
a lot of time at their home on the
Sam graduated from Simpson
transitioned to full-time lending,
has become fast-paced,” he said.
Mississippi River in Emily’s home-
College in May 1970 with a teaching
with a focus on agriculture loans.
“Our young customers want solu-
town of Lancing, Iowa. “Now that
degree and an emphasis in political
Over the past four decades, Sam
tions and answers right now. If we
I’m retired we’ll be together all day,
science. He spent the next six
has cultivated strong relationships
don’t keep current, they will go
every day,” he laughed. “I love the
months in the U.S. Army Reserves,
with his customers. “I am proud of
elsewhere.” (One way Community
river and I love to fish, mostly Wall-
training at Ft. Polk, Louisiana.
my customers and I believe they’re
Bank stays current is with mobile
eye and pan fish,” said Sam. “Emily
Upon returning to his hometown
proud of me.”
banking. See the article on page 4)
loves decorating and antiquing.
Sam’s wife Emily retired last year
All of our lives, we got up and went
looking for a teaching job. He had
Gary Slight, president of Commu-
after teaching 1st and 2nd graders
to work because that’s what people
an interview lined up when Clyde
nity Bank, credits Sam with being
for 39 years. “She is the best
did. That was the work ethic.”
Crawford from Community Bank
very good at his job. “He is excel-
teacher in the world. She really
Now Mr. and Mrs. Bell are looking
approached him and said, “Why
lent with people and does his best
worries about her kids.” Emily has
forward to their new jobs:
don’t you work at the bank.”
to take care of their needs.”
been spending her retirement
enjoying retirement.
“I was 23,” said Sam. “I wasn’t sure
Of the many changes in banking
subbing full time.
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Our Staff Longevity is a Customer Benefit
ployee is knowledgeable about their
You can teach banking, but teach-
all employees, including myself,
duties, about banking procedures
ing people skills is more difficult. I
participate.
and about customer needs and
believe this commitment to finding
preferences. Think how frustrating
the right match is partly responsible
Community Bank also places an em-
it would be if every time you had a
for our strong roster of tenured
phasis on family, which sometimes
haircut, someone different did the
employees.
means allowing an employee to
cutting. That would require starting
over in your relationship each visit.
game or school event. I think the
reducing turnover. We promote from
focus on family plays a large part in
At Community Bank, we offer
within whenever possible, provid-
why employees stay with Commu-
Community Bank has 15 employees
consistent, knowledgeable, per-
ing an environment where people
nity Bank. We strive to be a good
who’ve been with the bank for 10
sonalized service. We strive to hire
can grow in their jobs. Ongoing
employer. Happy employees who
or more years and 22 employees
people who embody our tag line,
learning opportunities are provided
feel appreciated are productive,
who’ve been with the bank 20 or
“We put people first.” We look for
through an in-house online train-
take pride in their work and stay
more years. That’s good news for
people who can interact with others
ing program. Each quarter, training
with their employer. That is a huge
our customers. A long-term em-
and have an outgoing personality.
is offered on a different topic and
benefit to our customers.
12-223-095 The Teller Issue 6.indd 1-2
Muscatine employees formed three
teams to raise money during Bowling for Kids Sake. Community Bank
donated $300 and its employees
raised $655 for a total contribution
of $955 to Big Brothers Big Sisters
of Muscatine County.
Left to right are Sydney
Bartenhagen, Gary Slight, Ellen
Abney and young bowling friends.
Wilton employees spoofed
“Petticoat Junction” and “Green
Acres” during the Wilton Founders
Day Parade. In the tub are Debbi
McQuillen, Emily Rose and Kathy
Hartman; standing are Lora Knouse
and Ben Brown. Not seen are Kyle
Holz and Haden Rose.
Columbus Junction’s Sam Bell
(back row, second from left) and
Craig Helmick (to his left) donated
$25,000 towards the campaign to
build a youth center at the Louisa
County Fairgrounds.
Left to right are Britt Jameson,
Meagan Jameson, Torey Simons,
Jane Martin and Isabel Saldana.
Muscatine employees presented
a check for $135 to Loaves and
Fishes last November. Pictured
from left to right are Community
Bank employees Mike Kellor, Vickie
Hilton, Heather Lamp, Mary Louise
Caponetee representing Loaves
and Fishes, and bank employee
Wendy Marolf.
As part of “Newspapers in
Education Week,” Wilton sixth
graders created ads for local businesses, which in turn chose the
best ads. Deb McQuillen, left, and
Annette Steffens present a coin set
and copy of the winning ads to the
students who created them, Tyler
Hartman and Kolton Armey.
Muscatine employees collected over
1,000 items with a clothing drive last
fall for Jessica’s Closet, an organization
that collects clothing for needy
families. From left to right are Michelle
McCullough, Sydney Bartenhagen,
Gary Slight, Torey Simons, Rachel
Vrchoticky, Tom Spread, Betsy Baker,
Mike Kellor and Dorina Budea.
Laura Knouse acted as tour guide
for the Tiger Cubs “Go See It” event
last February when they visited the
Wilton office.
Left to right are Maryja Longtin,
Jennaca Buster, Michelle
McCullough, Mike Kellor,
Vickie Hilton and Heather Lamp.
leave early for their child’s baseball
Our policies also play a part in
By Gary Slight
President
3
Community Corner
Sam Bell’s Gone Fishin’
after 41 Years
of Columbus Junction, he began
summer2012
T
Annette Steffens took part in the
April 27 Partners in Education (PIE)
Business Day at Wilton Elementary
School. The event showcased
members of the business community,
who asked students trivia questions
related to their industry. PIE
sponsors a variety of programs
throughout the year.
7/26/12 5:04 PM
summer2012
4
summer
2012
Technology upgrades
expand services
A total upgrade of Community
that login has been simplified and
Bank’s computer system means
the site is fast and easy to navigate.
News, views & tips you can use
from your friends at Community Bank
better service for customers:
An improved Internet banking
Internet banking is available to
experience, availability of mobile
all customers. When a Community
banking (the only Muscatine
Bank customer signs up for Internet
bank offering this service) and
banking, online statements replace
Internet customers have the added
Internet customers call the book-
greater convenience.
printed statements. A monthly
bonus of access to mobile banking.
keeping department because they’ve
e-mail lets the customer know their
“This service appeals to a younger
forgotten their password and need
According to Tom Spread, execu-
e-statement is available. “Financial
group of customers, from teenagers
to reset it, the new computer
tive vice president, the magnitude
information is never e-mailed,” says
up to 40 years of age,” says Spread.
system enables staff to help
of the project and the extensive
Spread. “The customer logs into the
“Mobile banking allows them to use
customers more quickly and
details involved required a year of
bank’s secure server to view their
their Smart Phone to manage their
efficiently. Another benefit to
planning followed by a trial period,
financial statement. The e-statement
bank accounts on-the-go.”
staff—and Mother Nature—is that
with everything fully functional by
is a great tool because it enhances
last August. Customers soon began
availability, ensures security and
Community Bank’s technology
of statements printed, stuffed
enjoying the benefits and reported
eliminates clutter.”
updates also benefit staff. When
and mailed.
Community Bank
Travel Club
You can use the Community Bank mobile site on smart phones
e-statements reduce the amount
News Notes
Terry Swailes (far left), author
and meteorologist for WQAD
TV, held a book signing last
October in conjunction with
the Wapello office’s third
anniversary celebration. He
is on tour for his latest book,
“All I Want for Christmas is to
See a Tornado.” His daughter Eden and wife Carolyn
Wettstone accompanied him.
September Mystery Trip
Hawaiian Cruise
Details to come.
Late February 2013
A Tennessee Christmas
November 26-30
We’ll spend two nights in Memphis
and two nights in Nashville, where
we will stay at the Opryland Hotel.
We will tour Graceland and enjoy
holiday shows that will put us in
the spirit of the season.
We are in the planning stages for
this adventure. We will fly to
Honolulu and cruise the islands.
Stay tuned for more details.
To sign up or for more information,
contact Carol Ann at 319-728-2226.
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Jeanne Mott (center), of the
Louisa County Regional Trail
Council, spoke on the future
plans for a trail system during the April 4 meeting of the
Wapello Kiwanis Club. Also
shown are Steve Bloomquist,
Community Bank vice
president and Kiwanis Club
president, and Pastor
Pam Kranzler.
Enter to Win a
Kindle Fire !
Get
™
!
Here’s your chance to Get Fired Up! Community Bank
will give away one Kindle Fire™ (tablet computer)
per month at each of its four locations for two consecutive months. Watch for the contest form in your
bank statement or ask for one at the drive-up or
teller window. You can use your new Kindle Fire™
to access our convenient mobile banking, online
bill-pay and e-statements. Be sure and enter today
for your chance to win.
™ Kindle Fire is a trademark of Amazon.com, Inc. or its affiliates.
No purchase necessary. You must be a current Community Bank customer.
Member FDIC
A Success Story
You Can Bite Into
Dentist builds practice & friendships
When Keith Stanley was a senior
Keith practices general family
at the University of Iowa College
dentistry, offering a full spectrum
of Dentistry, he attended a
of services that includes everything
supper sponsored by a dental
from fillings to root canals and
products distributor at a local
dentures. He remembers his first
hotel. The company held recruit-
patient on July 25, 1977. “It was
ment events in several areas of Iowa
Rod Burnett from the bank.” He
with the purpose of helping senior
had one employee, Gloria Smith,
The bank has financed 10 vehicles
they put me through,” he says.
dental students identify communi-
who answered the phone and
for Keith and his kids and two
He lives in an apartment conve-
ties that were in need of dentists.
assisted him chair-side. “Everyone
houses. “They always give me a
niently located above his practice.
When Keith learned that Wilton’s
in town knew her,” he remembers.
good rate,” he says. He takes
It was originally an office so he
only dentist, 70-year-old Dr. Pierce,
Two months later he hired a second
out a loan for new dentistry
took out a loan to convert it into
was retiring, he decided to look into
employee to be his assistant,
equipment every three to five years.
living space. “I just walk across the
the opportunity.
leaving Gloria free to focus on
“It’s important to stay up-to-date.
alley to get to the bank,” he says.
phone calls and setting appoint-
I’m 60 and when I’m ready to retire
“I know all of the tellers. Half of
He visited Wilton and enjoyed the
ments. Today his staff includes two
and sell the practice, I want it to
them are patients of mine.”
hospitality of Rod Burnett and
hygienists, a chair-side assistant
appeal to someone coming out of
Wayne Carpenter from Community
and four chairs. There are three
college who has learned about the
Keith says he enjoys his relation-
Bank. The two men talked about
office employees—one handles
latest techniques in dentistry.”
ship with Community Bank and has
life in Wilton and took Keith on a
insurance, one is the office manager
tour of the commercial buildings
and the third person handles collec-
When Keith calls Community Bank
else. “They’re a home town bank,”
and homes available in the area.
tions part-time. “Most of my people
with a question, he usually talks
he says. “You can tell they care
During his second visit to Wilton
have been here over 20 years,” he
to Kathy Hartman, vice president.
about their customers.”
the following weekend, he brought
says. “We all know each other. Our
“Everyone knows who I am and
his wife. Both were from small Iowa
kids grew up together.” During his
towns and felt Wilton would be a
first year of operation, Keith saw
good place to raise kids. Keith also
1,000 patients. Today his practice
liked the fact that it was within an
has grown to over 3,000 patients.
hour’s drive of Iowa City, where he
planned to attend Hawkeye games.
The relationship between Keith
Once Keith decided he wanted to
and Community Bank that took root
become Wilton’s next dentist, he
36 years ago has grown steadily.
discussed commercial loan options
“I know the people at Community
with Community Bank. “I took out a
Bank,” he says. “If I need a loan,
Small Business Administration Loan
it’s a smooth process. I use
for $45,000,” he remembers. “I’m
Community Bank for everything
still in the same building today.”
I need, personal and business.”
Dr. Keith Stanley uses leading-edge technology at his Wilton
dental practice.
never considered banking any place
T
Deanna
Connolly
Retires
Deanna Connolly retired May
15 after 30+ years in the
banking profession. In 2008,
Community Bank acquired
the current Wapello location,
where she completed her
banking career as a customer
service/loan processor.
615 Cedar Street, Muscatine • 2506 Park Avenue, Muscatine • 229 Main Street, Columbus Junction • 210 West 4th Street, Wilton • 206 Highway 61 North, Wapello
12-223-095 The Teller Issue 6.indd 3-4
7/26/12 5:05 PM