“My great grandfather joined Central National Bank in 1914,” says Sara Girard, Chief Executive Officer of Central National Bank. “It’s extended from 1914 to today, 2025. Over a hundred and ten years now.” Girard represents the fourth generation of her family to work at the bank, alongside her brother who serves as Chief Risk Officer and General Counsel. Her two uncles remain active in the business, while her father served as bank president for 45 years in Junction City, the bank’s longtime headquarters. The transition to Girard’s leadership was a notable shift in tradition. “Before me, it had been Edward W. Rolfs, my great grandfather, Edward J. Rolfs, my grandfather, and Edward C. Rolfs, my uncle,” she explains.“My first hurdle in my new job was my name, as the leader of the bank had been Edward Rolfs for over 100 years.”The bank now serves 22 communities across Kansas, with Girard’s office located in Topeka, signifying the institution’s expansion while maintaining its foundational focus on community banking principles established generations ago. KEEPING LOCAL LEADERSHIP AT THE CORE Central National operates across two dozen communities, yet each branch functions with remarkable autonomy. Local bank presidents act as entrepreneurs within their markets, making lending decisions and community investments without layers of corporate approval.“Keeping our local community bank feel is absolutely critical to our bank success,” Girard says. “We really strive to make sure each of our community bankers, our presidents and our field managers in their own community knows that they’re empowered to make their decisions.” The model originated with Girard’s grandfather, who believed strongly in decentralizing authority. “He felt it was really important to let each local bank president be their own entrepreneur and grow their presence,” she notes. This approach bucks the consolidation trend reshaping American banking, where community banks have steadily declined in number while mega-banks absorb market share. Federal Reserve data shows community banks remain the predominant banking providers in rural areas, yet their national presence continues shrinking under competitive pressure. 105 BUSINESS VIEW MAGAZINE VOLUME 12, ISSUE 12 CENTRAL NATIONAL BANK
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