A Conversation With ... Larry Skouby

Old Missouri National Bank opened its doors in 1999. Locally owned and operated, we have two locations: the main bank at 3570 S. National Ave. and our original office at 1535 W. Sunshine St. We offer business and personal checking, savings and other traditional deposit accounts, including individual retirement accounts.

Our loan products are fairly diversified and include in-house commercial, residential, consumer, agricultural, construction and land development loans as well as long-term, fixed-rate residential loans. Recently, we began to offer online banking at www.bankwiseonline.com.

What is your job?

My primary duties are as the bank’s compliance officer. There are many rules, regulations and public laws a bank must adhere to, and it’s impossible for every employee to remember the do’s and don’ts of each one.

I monitor compliance with the regulations under my purview and point out whatever’s necessary to help keep the bank on track with the rules. Since many such regulations are for the benefit of the consumer and customer and, because we take the welfare of our customers very seriously, we take consumer compliance very seriously, too. So far so good, because our compliance program has received good marks.

What are some of the challenges facing OMNB and the banking industry?

We’re still relatively new, so sometimes we still feel like a small fish in a big pond. Competing effectively while still maintaining the close, personal, one-on-one customer relationships banks like us are famous for is a daily challenge.

Another challenge is the extreme regulatory burden on the banking industry that requires much time and devotion to maintain. Even government agrees that the regulations are a millstone and is asking for suggestions how to lighten them.

What is your role in meeting those challenges?

My role in meeting challenges is pretty simple and is the same as any bank employee – to perform duties and sustain a work ethic that protects the company, the customer and the transaction.

What’s on the horizon for OMNB?

Senior management and our board of directors are exploring new options, products and services. Although we’ve not yet decided on specifics, we’re integrating potential options into our strategic planning to lay groundwork that allows us to take advantage of options that better serve customers and the community.

You joined OMNB in 2002, correct? Tell us about your career.

Yes. I have a broad and disciplined career base that was formed in banking, mortgage banking and savings banking, supervising and training others in arenas such as servicing and litigations, underwriting and credit examination, appraisal and valuation. I was even a branch troubleshooter once. And before joining OMNB, I spent 12 years as an independent consultant and contract service provider to agencies and financial institutions throughout the United States.

Did you always want to go into banking? What other avenues did you explore?

When I was discharged from military service, I discovered there wasn’t much of a demand for a machine gunner or jungle warfare specialist, so I decided to try the next best thing – banking. I began as a collector for a mortgage banking firm, and when my boss quit and I was left holding the bag, I memorized all the Housing and Urban Development, Veterans Administration and investor servicing regulations, assumed his duties, and things snowballed.

What do you do in your spare time?

I’ve always liked the out-of-doors, so when my time is my own, which isn’t often, fishing and camping consume a good part of it.

Also, I write. I’ve written two books. One of them, “Cooking Rats,” is nonfiction and under publisher consideration. And the other, “The Second Dog,” is fiction and is ready to query. I’ve contributed articles to professional trade publications off and on for years. In fact, when I took a few years off to care for my invalid mother, I paid the bills writing articles and stories. [[In-content Ad]]