It’s great to get a comment from an expert on the banking industry. I had no idea that FirstBank was a client of yours – but that just makes it better. And, yes, the banks that are closer to their communities seem also to be closer to the core values of decency, integrity and responsibility.

I love the four C’s of Credit. We could all strive to live by that first one – character.

You rightly picked up on the strong character of the FirstBank lender. They are a client of mine and the culture of responsibility is company-wide.

Thanks for highlighting a banker who did, and is doing, things right. As is often the case, the ones doing the right thing don’t get mentioned nearly as often as those who made loans that were questionable.

I am happy to report that in community banks and credit unions across America, lenders with character are in the vast majority.

Thanks for your post.
Linda

We’re always struck by how much technology is sold as the solution – not as another tool that helps us build upon our own best skills, experience, wisdom and better instincts. I think it’s because people are so easily convinced by the abra-cadabra of technology.

Thanks to both of you – very wise. We’re ready for a conference that covers what Professor Connolly over at the University of Denver calls “the unintended consequences of technology.”

Your question is a lot more serious than even you might appreciate. The daily set of beliefs about how one should do business these days in principle assumes that we can digitize all sorts of personal things.

Think about all the measure-reward-incent programs that have built around the idea of “loyalty.” Just 15 years ago, that word was synonymous with “semper fi” or “’til death do us part.” Now, it’s the name of a bunch of data-driven price-shopping behavioral programs.

Or “customer focus.” It’s also sliced, diced, digitized.

How about “human capital.” Yup, it’s getting measured. (And note which word is the adjective).

We behave way too much as if you can digitize important issues of the heart. As you so eloquently note, it ain’t necessarily so.

It’s easy to become detached from the things that really matter when you have to stare at a computer screen and manipulate data all day long. And I’m here to tell you that being continually sucked up into the techie ‘echo-chamber’ can really…well, suck.

Maybe we need a conference next called “Unplug”? Hey, I’d be all over that.

cheers,
Graeme