Old Town entertainment district, where comfortable couches replace teller lines and business owners discuss financing over beverages in a relaxed setting. SUPPORTING EVERY FINANCIAL JOURNEY The bank’s slogan highlights a comprehensive approach to customer relationships that spans decades rather than transactions. “When we take that to heart, we want to be there for every step of a person’s financial journey from when they’re a teenager opening their first checking account to when they’re buying a house or buying a business to retirement,” Girard explains. Central National introduced its second chance checking program roughly 20 years ago after recognizing a gap in the market for people rebuilding their financial lives. “There are times when people get into a difficult situation in their life, maybe the economy changes, their business changes, they’re suddenly no longer able to open a checking account at most banks because they’ve had a credit issue in the past,” she says. “We’ve developed a second chance checking program to allow those folks to have an account with us, rebuild their credit and rebuild their financial footing, and then step into all of traditional bank products again.” The bank also offers trust services that encompass money management and estate planning. Agricultural lending forms part of Central National’s foundation. Operating in farm communities throughout Kansas, the bank provides relationshipbased lending. “We work with our farmers to help them with all aspects of their business, including strategic planning, succession planning, annual updates of their financial statements and things like that,” Girard notes. “We really want to be a true partner.”The bank hosts educational seminars where farmers learn about banking programs and federal resources, creating value beyond the loan itself. COMMUNITY IMPACT BEYOND BANKING Central National’s influence extends through a deliberate strategy of keeping municipal deposits local. “When we take on those deposits that then gives us the capital to turn around and lend funds back into the community,” Girard explains.“It’s really Member FDIC www.centralnational.com E.W. Rolfs started a family legacy in 1915 when he became the President of Central National Bank in Junction City, KS. Today, four generations of Rolfs bankers provide leadership over the full-service bank. Photo by John Burns 108 BUSINESS VIEW MAGAZINE VOLUME 12, ISSUE 12
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