I love getting to brag about your Association every year in my November/December retrospective, but this year’s feels unique. Something special is happening in Indiana banking, and I cannot wait to see where our industry goes over the next few years.

First, a few highlights from this year:

• Record turnout at the Future Leadership Division’s annual Leadership Conference with more than 225 emerging leaders and college interns attending in July.
• Record turnout at the Banking on Women Conference in October with more than 500 attendees.
• Dozens of bankers joined us for the Annual IBA Washington Trip in October. Special thanks to Maria Dowers, our executive & government relations coordinator, for handling the ever-changing logistics amid the government shutdown. Dax Denton details that trip on page 26.

Looking ahead to next year, we will formally launch the Financial Services Academy with its first class of high school apprentices in August. The state has approved our curriculum and we’re on track for an inaugural class that spans the entire state. You still have time to sign up to host apprentices if you haven’t already. Reach out to Chris Fisher, FSA’s president & CEO, at CFisher@indiana.bank with any questions. It’s not an exaggeration to say this program has the potential to make a generational impact on Indiana’s banking industry and seeing dozens of our member banks come together to lay that foundation is inspiring.

In this Association’s first 125 years of existence, there were only two instances of a Hoosier banker being tapped to lead one of our national counterparts. We received word earlier this fall that we’ll add to that list twice in less than five years. Lucas White at The Fountain Trust Company, Covington, assumed the chairmanship of the Independent Community Bankers of America last year and finished his term in March. Jim Ryan of Old National Bank, Evansville, was named vice chair of the American Bankers Association earlier this fall, putting him in line for ABA’s chairmanship in its 2027-28 member year.

As we told you in our last issue, we expect to see the state’s first de novo in nearly 20 years in the first quarter of the new year with Generations Community Bank, Indianapolis. And the IBA’s Board is getting ready to finalize its new three-year strategic plan to better serve each and every one of our members, from the newest to the 90 institutions that have been with us for more than a century.

Something special is happening in Indiana banking. Reach out to the IBA’s offices to ask how you can be part of ushering in the next generation of banking excellence.