Saturday, January 19th, 2019
Banker leaves mark on industry
By Tom Stankard
COLDWATER - A local bank administrator known nationally as an expert on community banking issues is stepping down after more than 35 years with an area bank.
After building a distinguished career for himself with The Peoples Bank Co., Jack Hartings last month announced his retirement, effective at the end of this year.
Hartings served a year as chairman of the Independent Community Bankers of America. He used the position to advocate for legislation to improve cybersecurity in banking and other industries. Hartings also testified before the U.S. Senate Banking Committee, U.S. House of Representatives Financial Services Committee and Ohio Senate Ways and Means Committee in 2018 regarding the Economic Growth, Regulatory Relief and Consumer Protection Act.
"The landmark Economic Growth, Regulatory Relief and Consumer Protection Act provides regulatory relief to our nation's community banks, so they can continue financing the dreams of Americans in local communities like ours," Hartings has said.
His career goes back to his childhood, he said, recalling always being someone who would put money aside from paychecks he earned mowing lawns and bailing hay when he was a teenager.
Hartings would go on to graduate from Capital University in Columbus in 1980 and three years later begin his career at The Peoples Bank.
He was elected president/CEO in 1990 after serving as vice president and loan officer. Starting out in that role at 35 years old, Hartings remembered wanting nothing more than to continue the bank's 100-year-old tradition of respecting customers and employees. He would go on to become the longest-serving president in the bank's history.
He made his mark on community banking by serving as chairman of the Independent Community Bankers of America from 2015-2016 and their Federal Delegate Board, as well as multiple committees within the organization, according a bank news release.
He has also served as a member of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. Advisory Committee on Community Banking and was a member of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau's Community Bank Advisory Council. He served as a member of the Ohio Banking Commission board, a member of the Federal Reserve Small Bank Advisory Board, and the executive director, chairman and board member of the Community Bankers Association of Ohio.
Being active in community events in Coldwater, where he's lived for several years, is important to him, he said.
"It's a wonderful community. Others try to replicate the quality of life but it's hard to," he said.
To him, community banking means "knowing your customers and building relationships with them."
Throughout his career, Hartings said he has seen the advent of technology change how banking is done.
"The biggest change is mobile and online banking," he said.
Hartings said he's passionate about developing and mentoring future leaders. At the age of 65, he said he's ready to retire, and the board of directors has chosen longtime lender and senior vice president Dan Broering to succeed him. The two will work together during the coming year to ensure a smooth transition, Hartings said.
"On behalf of the board of directors, I want to thank Jack for his many years of service. Jack has been an inspirational leader over the past 30 years," Peoples Holding Co. Chairman Stephen Lefeld said in the release. "His tireless contributions to the growth and advancement of The Peoples Bank Co. have provided all of us on the PBC team with prosperity and a strong vision for the future. We are deeply grateful to Jack for his innumerable contributions to the success of the Bank."
Broering will assume the role as president/CEO on Jan. 1, 2020. He has 27 years of banking experience and has been in a leadership role with PBC for more than 20 years and has background agricultural and commercial lending.
"I look forward to continuing this legacy of growth and advancement for our customers and communities," Broering stated in the release.
"I am confident that Dan is the right person to lead PBC to even greater success," Hartings added.
