All my life I have been fascinated by Compasses. The magnetic needle pointing true north. As a young lad traversing the mountains with my cousins, we would venture far. Yet we were not frightened or concerned as we used the sun as our compass to make it home safely. Per usual, a venture always turned into an adventure for us.
Being a semi-avid gardener knowing directions is as important as well. Finding that perfect plant that will grow in the North by Northeast corner of your home is a challenge. The summer solstice spot provides lots of hot sun for one day but so little light through most of the year. So that perfect plant needs to be hearty enough to stand the blistering sun yet strong enough to survive the bitter winds of a cold winter day.
During periods like these, there are many folks who wish they had a banking compass to guide them during changing and chaotic times. After all, we definitely are in a different banking world. More customers use the virtual bank (online banking) than the physical bank. They can move money literally at the speed of light from one place to another instantly. Folks call the bank to have their debit card limits increased not to order checks.
But wait, we do have a banking compass.
- It is our experienced board that charts our strategic mission including adapting to the changing banking world.
- It is our hardworking and talented officers and employees who add value to every customer interaction.
- It is our shareholders who value consistent long-term growth.
You can spin a compass all you want and it will still point north. You may move the directions around the face of the compass and pretend that east is north, yet you know that is not true. What is true is what always was and will be, people matter the most, especially in hard times.
That is my banking compass during these times.
Stay Safe.
– Leton
____________________________________________________________________
“Letters From Leton” is a blog series comprised of the weekly updates that Leton Harding – President, Chairman, and CEO of Powell Valley National Bank, shares with the Bank’s team members. These newsletters are full of uplifting anecdotes and intriguing insights that are applicable beyond the Bank, so we want to share them with you.