Five Questions: Floyd Tucker

Floyd Tucker has seen the growth and changes at Empire Bank firsthand – he’s been with the Springfield-based bank for 51 years, since it was a single location at Sunshine Street and Glenstone Avenue. The bank, which was purchased by Central Bancompany in 1980, has 14 locations in four counties. The Missouri Bankers Association recognized Tucker for his 50 years of banking service at its annual convention June 13–15 at Tan-Tar-A Resort in Osage Beach.

Q: What has kept you at Empire Bank for more than 50 years?

A: The bank was in a growing area of Springfield, and I enjoyed working with the customers who had banking needs. Those are people who have day-to-day banking needs, or something comes up every so often and they come back to somebody who has helped them previously. Now, I enjoy customers coming in and saying, “Thirty years ago, you helped me, and now I need something else.”

Q: How has the banking industry changed since you started?

A: When I first came here, the banking regulations allowed you to only have one location. Then, they passed a regulation that you could go (less than) 1,000 yards from your main location and have another location – that’s when we opened the Glen Isle location, which I was vice president of in 1964. It got where you could go anywhere in the city limits and expand your banking services. Then, it got to where you could go anywhere in the state, and then, it went to where you could go to any adjoining state. Now, it’s anywhere in the United States where you can get approval and put your money down.

Q: With more than 100 bank branches in Greene County, do you worry about overcrowding?

A: I don’t. The banks that expand do a survey, and if there’s a banking need, they have to apply for approval and justify it. It’s not like the private sector, where you can build a building and do whatever you want. Banking companies have state and federal regulations they have to adhere to, and surveys have to justify the need for a new branch or location.

Q: What advice would you offer to someone entering the banking industry?

A: People need to review all the products that banks have to offer and figure out if they’ll be comfortable making them available. There are all kinds of loans, checking accounts, interest-bearing accounts (and individual retirement accounts). We have specialists that work in certain areas, but you should be able to take the time to learn all the products and explain and sell them to the customer.

Q: How long do you think you’ll continue to work with the bank?

A: I’m partially retired – I just work part time – but there are some things I have a lot of experience in. I know I won’t be working forever, but as long as I’m healthy and productive, I’ll continue to work.