I recently made a career switch from working at Wells Fargo to American State Bank. I spent the last seven years enjoying my work at Wells Fargo, but I really did not realize how many amazing benefits come with working and banking with a hometown bank. I work in the loan department within American State Bank, but I also help at the teller line from time to time. So, I really get an intimate view of the day‐ to‐day operations of our bank. One of the biggest benefits you will find is the level of customer service. We do our very best to learn about as many of our customers as possible. It is standard practice to thank each customer by name. While that sounds like such a small thing, it’s really the most important thing. Dale Carnegie is famous for saying “A person's name is to him or her the sweetest and most important sound in any language.” It is really a magical thing to walk into the bank and have the teller know who you are, know your children’s names, and how work is going for you. It is truly incredible the relationships that our veteran tellers have with our customers.

The second very unexpected benefit of working and banking with American State Bank is the community impact. At Wells Fargo, we would do community outreach, but it is nothing like what I have witnessed in the last few months of working at American State Bank. Every single person I work with cares so much about our town and the surrounding communities. We have many employees on different boards and clubs around town. The staff all gets very excited for the county fairs, the parades, and the community celebrations. Nearly everyone I work with attends the football games on Friday nights and then Monday morning its chatter about how well the boys did Friday night. Its truly so encouraging and makes me so proud to work and bank for a company that is so community focused.

Another amazing benefit in our loan department is how much they want to help people. We really strive to find solutions for our customers. I have witnessed our loan officer’s drop everything to go do farm visits, meet up with customers to sign loan documents, brainstorm solutions to help someone and even just take the time out of their day to sit and chat with someone passing though the bank lobby. The way we do loans is so much more hospitable than what I have seen in the past seven years at Wells Fargo.

Lastly is the benefit of having a small staff. We don’t have a web of departments to call to get a simple answer to an important issue that you many have We have small teams of people that will work to figure it out on the spot. I can answer teller questions and loan questions, and if I don’t have the answer, I know exactly who I can ask to help me get the right answer. It really is “all hands on deck” to help each other. This is not only a benefit to you our customer, but it also empowers us as staff learn as much as we can to problem solve.

Thus, small town banking is the way to go. I have witnessed a big bank operate and while they do a great job at somethings, it does not compare to the level of service, community impact, the hospitality or the benefits that having a small staff brings. I truly hope you find a banking home at American State Bank; it really is what a bank should be!

Katie Smith
Loan Coordinator
American State Bank