Ozarks Profile

Executive vice president, regional executive-southwest Missouri, for NationsBank, located at 117 Park Central Square in Springfield. NationsBank has 23 banking centers and 105 ATMs in southwest Missouri. Customers in southwest Missouri also have access to the more than 7,000 ATMs and 3,200 banking centers NationsBank operates across its franchise. NationsBank Corporation, with $315 billion in total assets, is the third largest U.S. bank, with full-service operations in 16 states and the District of Columbia. NationsBank provides financial products and services to more than 18 million households and 1 million businesses, as well as institutional investors and government agencies in 46 states and in major markets around the world. The company's shares are listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol NB.

Age: 50.

No. of years in Springfield/area: One year.

Education: Burch graduated from Arkansas State University in 1970. He has a bachelor of science degree in business administration from ASU and is a graduate of the Southwestern Graduate School of Banking at Southern Methodist University in Dallas. He also completed the Bank Executive Program at the University of North Carolina in Raleigh.

Early career: "My first job was with the state of Arkansas Division of Finance as a bank examiner," Burch said. After two years in that position, he moved to his first banking job in Cassville, with Barry County Bank, as operations officer. He stayed with the bank for 10 years and attained the vice president position. During that time, the bank was sold to Commerce Bancshares. In 1982, Burch accepted a position with CharterCorp in Kansas City as president of CharterBank in Richmond. During his time in Richmond, Boatmen's Bancshares purchased CharterCorp. In 1990, Burch returned to Cassville as president of Boatmen's Bank; and in 1992, he moved to Rolla as president of Boatmen's Bank of Rolla. In September 1996, NationsBank purchased Boatmen's, and Burch moved into his current position as regional executive for southwest Missouri with responsibility for 23 banking centers in this region.

Current projects: "Within the company, I am currently working on our conversion to 'Model Bank,' which is an automated system allowing our associates to provide faster, more convenient service to our customers," Burch said. Outside the bank, he is serving on the Missouri Citizens Commission on Compensation for Elected Officials. During the next four months, the group will be holding public hearings around the state to gather information before sending its recommendations to the legislature. "I also stay busy as a member of the board of directors for the Springfield Area Chamber of Commerce," Burch said.

Management philosophy: "Surround yourself with great people, give them room to grow, and be certain everyone has fun along the way."

Spare-time pursuits: Burch enjoys golf, float fishing, quail hunting, attending athletic events and spending time with his family.

Family data: He and his wife, Becky, have two daughters: Kristen, a pharmaceutical sales representative for Abbott Labs; and Lydia, who graduated in May from the University of Missouri and will begin teaching in Kansas City this fall.

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