Merry Christmas to you, your team, and your family.  At a time like this, we should stop and reflect on what this holiday is all about.  

It’s all about family, and we know it—because having the love and the ability to impact other people in the world and the ones that we brought into the world is a wonderful thing. 

But listen: Our family extends beyond the family that we’ve given birth to and the one we’re birthed into. We also have a family called our team. And a family called our community.  And the one thing that causes me to get up in the morning every day and work hard to help community banks thrive is knowing the impact that a community bank has within the community.

Let’s face it, when the last community bank leaves the community, you’ll get brain drain and a lot of other problems. This is a great time to reflect on how what you do matters. It is the impact you make on your community and the people within it. And that is so much more powerful than the transactional things you’re thinking about. 

So, Merry Christmas to you, your family, and others, and please give them the gift of presence this holiday. Because remember—when you listen and are aware of what their needs are, they feel valued. And what could be a better present under the tree than that?

– Roxanne Emmerich

I hope you’ll watch and share the video with my thanks and best wishes for your holiday.