United Bank of Iowa

A banker going back to high school? You just never know where you might find Jim Friel.

 

Strong community connections are so important! The relationship of bankers supporting the community and, in turn, the community supporting their local bank is vital to the success of a community. A perfect example of strong connections is Jim Friel in our Carroll community. You may know Jim as the Manager of our Carroll office or the lender who typically writes our ag articles for this newsletter. He’s also featured in this issue as one of our Regional Managers.

 

Jim has a strong dedication to the Carroll community. His current involvement includes school board member, director for Carroll County Growth Partnership, Leadership Committee for HUB712, President and Director of Carroll Cultural Alliance, Advisory Board Member for SBDC, and more! Jim mentioned he feels privileged to be part of starting HUB712, an entity to help start-up businesses, businesses looking for expansion, or succession plans for existing businesses. Another accomplishment he mentioned was the recent formation of Carroll Cultural Alliance, a multicultural group serving as a welcoming committee and resource for those coming to the Carroll community.

 

Jim commented, “I’ve been involved in many community, church and school groups over the years; however, one of my favorite volunteer roles is going into the high school as a guest speaker. I will talk about journeys and failures in my own life, how I have learned and what I am doing today. I also share examples of my banking career and talk about customer success stories that are relatable. I talk to youth about having a strong work ethic, setting goals, being open minded, communication and people skills, and of course, how to budget their money!” Sounds like the teachers and students are lucky to have him!

 

Jim is the perfect example of how bankers do more than banking… their strong connections in their community are just as important!