Colorado banker doubles bank's size by focusing on people in lending process

Northwestern Financial Review, Aug 1-Aug 14, 2002 by Dullum, Justin

Myron Sams was faced with a difficult task when he took over as president of High Plains National Bank, in Wiggins, Colo. The bank was stuck in neutral. But Sams, a 2002 North*Western Financial Review Rising Star, turned the bank around by relying on his experience and his staff.

Until 2000, High Plains National Bank, then known as Independent Bank, was a branch of the $2 billion Vectra Bank Colorado, a subsidiary of the $22 billion Zions Bancorp of Salt Lake City, Utah. The office's assets totaled $9 million and Sams was branch manager at the time. The first National Bank of Flagler, Colo., became interested in branching to Wiggins and negotiated to buy Independent Bank from Vectra Bank. Sams was kept on as the bank's leader. New ownership permitted him to utilize his deep eastern Colorado roots in concert with the kind of business approach he prefers. The strategy is working.

"We went from being the branch of a $2 billion bank down to being a branch of a $56 million bank," said Sams. "Without a doubt, it's the little things that have made the difference-the personal touches. When we took it over a year ago it was about $8.9 million. We've grown that to $15 million. That's good steady growth."

Sams has a deep understanding of business in eastern Colorado. He began his career after graduating from Bob Jones University, Greenville, S.C., with a degree in business. But before entering the banking world, he returned to help operate the family farm and ranch in Rush, Colo., following his father's heart attack.

"After about a year, my dad was doing better and he told me, 'You went and got a college degree. Maybe you should get out there and use it,'" Sams said.

Sams's father not only nudged him back out into the business world, he influenced his business style as well. "My parents are rock solid country people. My dad is a farmer, rancher and honest as the day is long. His integrity was passed onto me. The way he did business is the way I am doing business too," said Sams.

Although he left the farm, Sams didn't veer far. He landed a job managing a Farm Credit office in Colorado Springs. Ernie Devlin, who hired Sams, would prove to be another positive influence.

"He taught me that you lend money to people," said Sams. "Not just collateral and facts and figures. That person you're making a loan to wants to repay you. They may have some hard times, but if they're the right kind of person with integrity, they'll take care of business in the end."

In 1994, after building lending experience for 13 years at Farm Credit, Sams accepted the branch manager position at Independent Bank in Wiggins. There he met Larry Neuschwanger, who further influenced his banking philosophy. Sams flourished in this position for six years. But in 2000, an opportunity arose for Sams to do business in a community bank environment and conduct business in a manner he'd grown to know best.

"My main banking influences taught me to take care of people. I learned how to be timely," Sams said. "When people come in, you need to tell them today whether they have credit or not. The idea is pretty simple: if you take care of people, they'll take care of your bank."

Wiggins is an hour from Denver, and a burgeoning commuter population is expanding the market. Sams sees opportunity to maintain the bank's rapid rate of growth. "We'll remain flexible and stay with the community," said Sams. "You can always serve your community better."