Why Central Bank?

Hi and welcome to my Blog. This is a first for me . . . the whole Blog thing. I have never created a blog but thought I'd give it a shot and see where I could go with this.



I've been a Corporate Banker my entire career (about 14 years now) and spent most of my career at the largest Commercial Bank in the State of Kentucky for the past 13.5 years until I recently departed to pursue what I believe is a "chance of a lifetime opportunity" with Central Bank.



Central Bank is the dominant bank in the market they started in (Central Kentucky/Lexington area) as rated by Greenwich Associates. The bank has been around for about 65 years and takes great pride in the fact that it is a locally owned bank having the size that allows it to compete and actually have lead market share in its original market even against the superregional banks of National City, PNC, Fifth Third, BB&T, etc.



In the past couple years, Central Bank has expanded its markets into Northern Kentucky and Louisville. My goal is take all the great things I've learned and experienced and couple these with all the positives of our Lexington based bank, and create a dynamic, client-centric commercial bank for the Greater Louisville Business Community. I am confident that the Louisville Business Community desperately wants a Bank that is focused on them and their business rather than on what products and services can be sold to improve the Bank's bottom line.



So many of the local banks have shareholders they must report to that it seems their only focus is to grow the top line while cutting out as many expenses (aka service) as they can to ultimately improve the bottom line. I have witnessed banks making cut after cut after cut to the point you think they can cut no more until you realize that instead of cutting one or two more people from each department, they move on to cut entire departments.



This is going on in every market and it seems to be in every bank. One of the most refreshing things I heard when I came to Central was that the Kincaid sisters (who own the majority of the shares of Central Bank) treat the employees and clients of Central Bank like family. (YES, I did say "employees and CLIENTS".) I also was told that while the Bank obviously is in business to make profits (and does), the Kincaids also manage the Bank (or advise the Bank management) in a way that benefits the Bank for the long term while benefiting both the clients and employees of Central Bank.



I remember sitting through a Product Knowledge training class shortly after I started with Central and saying, "You've got to be kidding me." over and over as we reviewed the pricing on various products and services. The prices were so much cheaper than what I have been accustomed to. I think this is demonstrative of my comments above.



I believe if we can get our message out to as many Businesses in the area as we can and continue to deliver the Central Bank service that our current clients have become so appreciative of, we can build the Louisville market into market who predominantly chooses to do their business with Central Bank.

Have I peeked your interest in learning more about Central Bank service?