the NOTO Arts District represents one of Topeka’s most successful reuses of historic space. KVB helped catalyze the district’s rise by building a riverside park and stage that carry the bank’s name, and by hosting an annual First Friday summer block party. Now in its tenth year, the event draws thousands to the bank’s lot before they spill into NOTO’s galleries, restaurants, and shops. It’s a simple mechanism for economic development: invite the community in, then send them down the street. The bank also backs the institutions that give Topeka its magnetic pull. Washburn University is one of them. KVB funds scholarships, supports campus events, and champions the school’s role in recruiting students who often stay to build careers and families in the city. Another is the Greater Topeka Partnership, a consolidation of the region’s business, downtown, and tourism engines. Heideman lends time to the Riverfront Advisory Task Force there, helping set a long-horizon vision for thoughtful development before making long-term commitments. DIGITAL THAT’S SAFE AND SIMPLE The bank has invested heavily in technology over the last two years, with a blunt priority: protect customer data while keeping everyday banking easy. A new managed service provider has helped KVB harden its cybersecurity, strengthen identity verification, and modernize infrastructure so clients can bank at any hour without sacrificing safety. Artificial intelligence is part of the plan, not as a novelty but as a countermeasure. “Bad actors are using AI; we need to use it to defend our customers,” Heideman says. Early efforts focus on fraud detection and anomaly spotting—quiet tools that keep digital convenience from becoming digital risk. TOPEKA, ON PURPOSE Kaw Valley Bank’s community footprint is visible and intentional. Just down the street from the main office, 112 BUSINESS VIEW MAGAZINE VOLUME 12, ISSUE 11
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