Thursday, April 26, 2012

What is your story?

Did you know April 27th is National Tell a Story Day?

For many years my niece and nephew have asked me to tell them stories at bedtime.  It's always so hard to think of a good one. I have a hard time making up stories, so often I try to think of something funny and suspenseful from my childhood. Macie and Madden love to hear about me and their mom as little kids.  Macie's favorite though, is one I told about this enormous gray grasshopper invading my dressing room one time at the mall.  I'm not sure why, kids are funny.
Do you know the story of National Bank of Arkansas? NBA is locally owned and started with humble beginnings, but our future is brighter than ever. The bank is 30 years old this year (if walls could talk).  We actually have a few bankers who have been at the bank for nearly that long. Yes, through the years they have married, started families, continued education, moved to different departments within the bank, volunteered in the community and helped a lot of customers do the same. Yes we have several who have been with the bank 20 plus years. Now there is a really neat story about how Mr. Bob acquired the bank a little at a time, by accident but we'll finish that story another day. There is also the story about how we started in the trailer branch and how years later we finally jumped the river.  All of those are neat to hear, but my point is that the real story of NBA is in the people who work here and the people we have helped. Each of us have experienced weddings, birthdays, babies and retirement celebrations, the things that truly make life worth living...the things that make the story of you. As I mention these, I know you are thinking these celebrations are between co-workers, but we also celebrate these same life changing events with our customers.  You see providing financial security and helping some one's hard earned money grow, is what we do.  This gives our customers peace of mind to conquer the world as part of their story.
We are so thankful to our customers because they are the real story of NBA.

Kimberly


Tuesday, April 10, 2012

Saying Goodbye

You may have heard that one of our dearest co-workers is leaving us.  In fact, it's my boss, Bryan Hill.  I knew this day would come. We are all estatic about his new opportunity, but at the same time we are very sad for what it means for those of us left behind.  Bryan is leaving to become a full time associate pastor at a wonderful church in Florida. We love that he has been blessed with this opportunity. Bryan is very involved with his church. He is a great leader and demonstrator of the Christian faith. He's the Tim Tebow of the banking world.  Several of us are taking on new tasks, meeting, and learning.  Even though it's exciting to learn more about the bank and how and why it runs, it's still hard for us.  We've all been teary eyed for weeks now.
The fact is, we are like a big family here at NBA and it's hard when someone leaves. I have spoken to Bryan almost everyday for 10 years. I have spent more time with him (and some others) in the last few years, than I have spent with my own blood relatives.  We are like other families, we fuss and disagree sometimes, but we would do anything for each other.  I know Bryan feels the same. He has done countless things to help me and others and we will miss him.  
I encourage you to come by NBA to see him this week. His last day is Friday.  It will be hard but we wish him the best!

Kimberly