Meet the new CBAI president: Jim Ashworth

Northwestern Financial Review, Sep 5, 1998

Jim Ashworth, president

Carlinville National Bank of Carlinville, Ill., Will become president of the Community Bankers Association of Illinois at the organization's annual convention Sept. 24-27 in St. Louis

Ashworth Hopes To Re-establish Clout

What do you hope to accomplish as president of the CBAI?

All of the four major areas of association activitv have been, and will continue to be, very active. Legislative efforts are ongoing, and I've been involved long enough to realize that there will always be opportunities and challenges each year. Education/communication only grows in importance, largely due to the accelerating pace of new technologies. Bank services will continue to provide a mechanism for smaller institutions to negotiate with vendors, essentially as a group, which of course, helps us compete. And the insurance agency specifically delivers bank and retail products across a growing association membership base. I plan to help wherever possible to encourage fellow bankers to take advantage of all these collective efforts. In the process, our segment of the financial industry needs to consistently differentiate ourselves from those who do not intermediate funds within our communities, for the survival of not onlv our institutions, but for the communities themselves.

What are the most pressing concerns facing Illinois bankers?

After watching our logical arguments being largely ignored this past year during the credit union debate and legislative slaughter, I fear many of my fellow bankers assume we have absolutely no clout with lawmakers and certain special interest groups. It can be very frustrating to feel that those things that truly differentiate us are not perceived as important to those who govern us.

Meanwhile, we will continue to be challenged to educate ourselves at the same speed as technological change. I'm convinced we can help ourselves to meet that challenge, but we must never lose our understanding that it is consistent, high-quality customer service (the personal touch) that helps to distinguish us from those who wish to "commoditize" outproducts.

What main strength will you bring to your new position?

I am a fourth generation banker. From my great-grandfather through mv father, past leaders at Carlinville National Bank built a consistently successful company. Fortunately, their style of developing staff while keeping pace with change in customer needs and industry advances, was not lost on my fellow employees and me. Such success breeds a sincere dedication to what we do: help the citizens of our communities to manage their financial fortunes with their own capital. It is the best economic svstem devised so far by mankind, yet because of free enterprise (which I also treasure), others will always challenge it. So a strength, I suppose, is a firm conviction that we have something worth defending, and that it requires a collective, coordinated effort.

If you could have an audience with any living person, who would it be?

A couple of years ago (before he died) I would have quickly answered this question with the name Jacques Cousteau. He was my hero, not only due to his tremendous experiences, but also his vision and abilities to blend concerns over man's impact on nature and a keen understanding of business and progress through capitalism. Today, I would ask to join company with Walter Cronkite, William Buckley Jr. and Ted Turner in the cockpit of a classic sailboat off the New England coast, for cruising, cocktails and conversation about whatever comes up.

What are your hobbies and interests?

I love water sports, especially sailing and diving. In my early years with the CBAI, I was known as "Golfmon," before my tee shots began falling way short of my younger teammates and opponents...now it's just "Mon." Also, it seems I never find enough opportunities to get my family together for an outing or activity.