A Conversation With ... Mike Williamson & Russ Marquart

MW: Up until 1980, Empire was owned by a group of individual shareholders, and it changed control numerous times in the ‘60s and ‘70s. In 1980, the bank was acquired by Central Bancompany in Jefferson City, but it continues to have the same charter as it originally had, and (it) operates as a community bank. We have 14 branches in the Ozarks. We sell insurance. We have a trust department that is relatively new and an investments department, and we continue to provide the whole spectrum of commercial banking products. We have 32 employees who have over 25 years of service. We’ve trained a few people at other banks in town; not everybody has stayed.

RM: We have 234 employees, so about 15 percent of our work force has 25 years of experience. That’s pretty unusual in today’s banking market, when you see a lot of people moving around. Before the ink on their business cards gets dry, they move to another bank.

Let’s talk about your changing roles: Mr. Marquart was named president of Empire Bank April 20; and Mr. Williamson, you became chairman of the board of directors and retained your status as CEO. What does this change mean?

MW: This is part of a transition that I’d anticipated for quite some time. Russ has been here training for the past 19 years and basically, through his experiences here, has been learning all about the bank. But there are some things that he’s not been as directly involved in. I’m in the process now of trying to get him more involved in the areas of the bank where he has not had experience. I feel very fortunate that we have Russ that I can give additional responsibilities to as I admittedly get closer to retirement – but I am not retiring yet.

RM: And I’m glad for that.

Mr. Marquart, you’ve been with Empire since 1987. Tell me how your history has prepared you to be president.

RM: I started here as a part-time credit analyst while also attending (Missouri State University). I had the opportunity to work here, helping to spread financial statements and do basic credit analysis, which (complemented) my financial investments degree … The bank made an offer for me to stay here full time after I graduated, and I became a commercial lending officer. I have viewed, over the years, my loans as investments in my customers and their companies. Over the years, I’ve been able to become involved in other areas of the bank, but primarily have been in the lending side and the customer relationship management side of the bank. My career is a reflection of the success that my clients have enjoyed.

MW: He left one time, but he came back.

RM: For about six months when I first graduated from college. I found out that the grass is not always greener on the other side of the fence.

As president, will you have less one-on-one time with your customers?

RM: As Mike has told me, my customers will change in the fact that I’ll now have more internal customers. I’ll have responsibilities to support our staff and our managers in serving our clients at the bank. I will be transitioning some day-to-day responsibilities in my portfolio to other officers. We have a very qualified staff – a lot of experienced and capable loan officers who are able to serve customers. But I’m still accessible to all of my clients and all of my friends that I’ve made here in the area and will still be actively involved in the lending area, but I may not be involved in the final closings of some of those actions. My clients are largely my friends, and they will remain that way.

What can you tell me about the direction Empire Bank is headed? What do you see in the future for the bank?

MW: We’re very fortunate to be in southwest Missouri, because there are tremendous opportunities here for banks and other types of businesses, and we don’t anticipate that changing. It’s a very competitive market, but we want to continue to operate as a community bank, continue to provide a broad range of financial services to companies and individuals. We’re looking to open additional facilities. We’d be receptive to acquisitions.

Are there any particular markets that Empire Bank would like to enter?

RM: We just continue to look for opportunities as they come about. … We’ve recently added (automated teller machines) in four areas that we didn’t have them in before.

MW: We have a lot in Republic which is to be developed, though plans are not complete. We’re looking for a site in northwest Springfield. Russ has had an interest in expanding our facilities in east Springfield.

Is the bank planning any special activities to commemorate 50 years?

MW: We’re going to have a celebration – Empire Bank Day at (Hammons Field) on July 29. We’re going to have Empire Bank Day at the fair, which we’ve had for a number of years, which will be larger than it has been the past. We’ve increased our participation in the Price Cutter Charity Championship golf tournament. It’s not necessarily that we’re having a gala event, but we’re increasing some things we’re doing to help us celebrate.[[In-content Ad]]