2015 Men of the Year Honoree: Mark Harrington

Meeting Mark Harrington altered Angela Smith’s image of a banker.

She counts the president and CEO of Old Missouri Bank and Jamesmark Bancshares Inc. as her banker, client and friend.

“His sense of humor has ... changed my perception of the stereotypical banker,” says Smith, founder and president of ADsmith Marketing and Advertising, who has known Harrington for 16 years.

“Mark is not afraid to roll up his sleeves and do the heavy lifting. He has built great relationships with OMB’s business customers by being hands-on and learning everything he can about their operations.”

Harrington spent his career in banking, landing at OMB in 1999.

“My proudest accomplishment is building a successful, growing financial institution from the ground up, beginning in 1999,” Harrington says. “Old Missouri Bank has gone from being an idea and a few sheets of paper back then to a $265 million bank with four locations and 59 employees. It takes leadership to attract the right people, to attract capital and to navigate through the brutal times our industry endured during the financial crisis and its aftermath.”

OMB began with six employees, and Harrington has always tackled whatever job needed to be done.

“It became clear that that’s a great way to earn everyone’s respect, build relationships and influence the attitudes and work traits that build a successful organization,” Harrington says.

Seeking input from employees, taking action based on feedback and keeping people informed is how Harrington operates.

“Having their ideas heard and being in the know is important to people and keeps them excited about doing the best job they can,” he says. “They deserve it, and it leads to great discussions and some pretty innovative ideas.

“It has certainly helped us develop and retain a great team.”

Harrington supports employees continuing their education and getting involved outside work.

“I strongly encourage all of our people to be active in the community. Our bank is represented in many organizations,” he says.

“Beyond the official civic and charitable organizations, I may be even more proud of the way our people take on the cause of specific individuals or families they know of who have experienced a tragedy, whether a house fire, serious illness or something else.”

Helping customers succeed is one of Harrington’s favorite things about banking.

People trust OMB with their deposits, which are loaned to new businesses and home buyers.

“When it works like it should, and it usually does, it’s great for everyone,” Harrington says. “Successful banks are great for the entire community, and it’s satisfying to be a part of that. It’s also satisfying as we see this happen on the individual level. We’ve helped a lot of local businesses and farmers put their plans into action by helping them find the right structure for their financing, giving them the right advice and putting them in touch with the right people.

“In banking, more than most businesses, our success is tied to the success of our customers.”

Harrington recently finished serving six years on the Miller School Board, and he is a member of the Springfield City Board of the National Multiple Sclerosis Society.