Home About NJBA Chairmans Message

Frank A. Kissel
Chairman

It is my pleasure to welcome you to the summer issue of New Jersey Banker.

I had the honor to be a part of the NJBankers 2011 Annual Conference at the Fairmont Turnberry Isle and was installed as chairman of the Association. I could not be more proud to serve the members of this outstanding organization.

The great philosopher, scientist and lawyer, Francis Bacon once said, “A wise man will make more opportunities than he finds.” I find this quote particularly motivating since the Annual Conference theme was “Opportunities in the New Decade.” Those attending listened to several presentations on just where those opportunities may be found or made.

There is no doubt that tough economic times are still with us.  It seems that like Bacon, bankers have to be philosophers, scientists and lawyers as we continue to make our financial institutions successful and position ourselves to serve the needs of consumers and businesses in our great Garden State.

We are philosophers when we “think” about where we are and what is to come. Like philosophers we face many questions and we strive to find the answers that will make our institutions successful. The Annual Conference helped to guide and plot a possible course as we look to make opportunities.

Like scientists, we take our observations and distill the data making conclusions as to how it can best fit our institutions and the customers we serve. Though many services we offer may seem the same, our journeys are very different. Opportunities for one institution may not be the same for another… but then again, that was always true. That is where the philosophical thinking comes in!

Like lawyers, we pour over new regulations designed to better banking. But didn’t New Jersey banks always offer “better banking” for customers? Like lawyers defending our innocence, we tell our story to the press, the regulators and customers: “Traditional banks did not cause the economic crisis. We are willing, however, to be the solution that stimulates healing and growth.” We educate the public that we must perform our duties diligently and prudently. We will evaluate each opportunity that comes our way but we will not “jump” at it until we are assured that it is the right thing to do… for our bank and for our communities.

There is no better way to tell our story than to demonstrate the commitment to the communities we serve by participating in the NJBankers Community Service Award Program. Peapack-Gladstone did and by independent judges was awarded special recognition at the Conference. I speak for my colleagues at Century Savings Bank, Columbia Bank, NVE Bank, OceanFirst Bank, RSI Bank, and Wachovia/Wells Fargo Bank when I say we were proud to be recognized for this commitment. I certainly hope that you will participate, if you have not in the past, to demonstrate to legislators, regulators, customers and the public the commitment you also make to the communities you serve. When communities thrive, the nation thrives. Remember, your Association’s motto is “With New Jersey Banks, New Jersey Prospers.”

I would like to thank Gerry Lipkin, our immediate former chairman, for his service this last year. At the Conference, the ceremonial gavel was passed to me and I encourage all of our members to move boldly into the future as our customers and communities need us.

Times may be tough, but bankers are tougher. We will seek out the opportunities and our management teams and boards of directors will prudently evaluate how to best take advantage of them. And, as Milton Berle said, “If opportunity doesn't knock, we’ll build a door.”   I plan to join Association leadership in speaking to legislators, regulators and the media. Won’t you join us? Let’s get started working on those opportunities! I look forward to serving you.