KEEPING BANKING PERSONAL As banking grows increasingly automated,The Bank of Tescott continues to prioritize personal relationships. “We recognize that most of our ag borrowers don’t have accountant-prepared documents,” Fief explains. “We deal with them year after year, through good and bad times. We know their operations, and they know we’re here for the long haul.” Schwerdtfager agrees that empathy and trust are essential. “We have to follow all the rules and regulations, of course,” she says. “But it’s not always just about the numbers. If a customer has a bad year, we don’t pull the rug out from under them. We look long-term, because if they succeed, we succeed.” The bank’s staff reinforces that sense of continuity. Many of its loan officers have been with the bank for 20 to 30 years, creating relationships that span generations.“People trust familiar faces,” Fief notes. “It’s those human connections that make all the difference.” BUILDING FINANCIAL LITERACY AND FUTURE LEADERS For The Bank of Tescott, investing in education is investing in the future. “We’ve sponsored the Dave Ramsey financial literacy curriculum in local schools and offered Ramsey budgeting classes to customers,” Fief says. “We also host fraud prevention seminars, especially for seniors, and help our younger clients understand financial basics.” 120 BUSINESS VIEW MAGAZINE VOLUME 12, ISSUE 11
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