LONGTIME CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER EMBRACING NEW LEADERSHIP ROLE
UNION GROVE – Community State Bank President/Chief Financial Officer Bob Findysz grew up admiring the classic film “It’s a Wonderful Life.”
“I always wanted to be George Bailey,” Findysz said.
Bailey was a small-town banker who demonstrated the importance of family, the power of doing good and how the consequences of one’s own actions can impact an entire community.
It’s many of the same principles and life lessons Findysz looks to implement as Community State Bank’s 10th president in the organization’s 127 years.
The 56-year-old Findysz took over his new duties on Jan. 1. Former CSB President Scott Huedepohl keeps his role as Chief Executive Officer and remains a member of CSB’s Board of Directors and Union Bancorporation Board of Directors.
Community State Bank recently sat down with Findysz to discuss community banking, family, fitness, poker and more.
CSB: You arrived in June 2023 as Community State Bank’s CFO. When did you find out you would become the next Community State Bank president?
Findysz: “You always have a succession plan, and I was on it. I was never told I was going to be president, but I kind of knew (Huedepohl’s) tenure had a certain timetable.”
CSB: Has it finally sunk in?
Findysz: “I’ve never really cared much about titles. I still have the CFO role, and January is our busiest time of the year. You close out the year. You lock in your budgets. You do a lot of reporting. It’s hard for me to put the president’s hat on right now. It all begins when I can start visiting with customers and our branches more.”
CSB: How will your leadership be different or perhaps comparable to Huedepohl’s?
Findysz: “I might be a little more analytical than most, hopefully all behind the scenes instead of in front of people. I’m more of a listener than a speaker because I like to analyze everything before giving a response. My reactions aren’t quite as quick from the hip like Scott. We both have the same commitment to the community, to our employees. We both believe in that model as much as anyone. Scott wasn’t the type of president where he takes the lead, and everyone follows behind him. We were all marching together. I want to be the same way.”
CSB: You have been in the banking industry for decades. Thousands of banks have come and gone over the past 10 years. How has CSB been able to remain successful for 127 years?
Findysz: “What’s nice about our community bank is our community believes in this bank. That’s our secret sauce. Most banks say that, but the numbers don’t back it up. Our numbers back it up. Our customers want the service that a community bank provides. Being part of the community is more important than making every single dollar you can possibly make.”
CSB: How does Community State Bank compete with the big banks?
Findysz: “There’s loyalty between us and our customers. We don’t have the highest deposit rates. We don’t have the lowest loan rates. We have the fairest rates. We’re not going to gut you every time the rates move up or down. We’re going to be actively involved in our community and we’re going to take the money we get from our depositors and reinvest it back in our community.”
CSB: You started your career at a community bank, before working years for multiple big banks. How does it feel to be back in community banking again?
Findysz: “The first bank I was at, it felt like I was a banker in “It’s a Wonderful Life.” I thought all banking was that way. All the other banks I went to, nothing was even close. It was all corporate, white-collar type of atmosphere. Customers weren’t first. They seemed to be second or third on the list. This is the closest I’ve ever come, if not better, than my first bank. If these are the two bookends of my career, that would be a perfect scenario.”
CSB: What do you do when you’re not banking or crunching numbers? I’ve heard you're quite the poker player.
Findysz: “When I was little, I used to play poker with my grandpa. I was really close with him. He was a factory worker. So, I grew up playing poker. I did a few World Series of Poker satellite events.”
CSB: How did you do?
Findysz: It’s a commitment. A lot of people think poker is fun. For me, it was a job. I approached it like a job. I had some success. I guess you’re good at poker if you win more than you lose.”
CSB: Any other hobbies? I know health and fitness are important to you.
Findysz: "I spend time with my wife (Vicki) and four kids (Sammie, 19; Hannah, 17; Bobby, 16; Tyler, 12). I’m an older dad. I started later in my days. I want to be around to see them go to college. My family tree doesn’t make it past their seventies. I walk a lot and go to the gym with my boys."
CSB: How do you get in so many steps every day?
Findysz: “I go downstairs (at Community State Bank) a lot. I’ll walk around the lunchroom for about 20 minutes and get 1,000 steps. I was doing almost 29,000 steps a day. I’ll get back to 10,000 steps a day and every week add another 1,000. I need to pick it up.”
CSB: You make time to stop at everyone’s desk during the day. Why is that a priority for you?
Findysz: “I’ve been doing that since I started. I go around and say ‘hi’ to everybody. I think that’s important, especially at a community bank.”
CSB: They always say the key to success is surrounding yourself with good people, right?
Findysz: “I’m surrounded by the dream team of banking. I truly believe that. Every department has so much strength now. I appreciate every one of you. With the right community and the right set of bankers, it’s going to be impossible for me to fail as president.”