Today we’d like to introduce you to Scott Page.
Hi Scott, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
I am a 4th generation family banker. My family still owns the bank in Plankinton, SD that my great grandfather and grandfather bought in 1915. I graduated from the University of South Dakota in 1983 and started my career at Security Bank in Sioux City IA as a personal banker. My wife got a good job with Hallmark Cards in 1984 so we decided to move to Liberty Mo, (a suburb of Kansas City) where I worked for two banks prior to joining Pony Express Bank as President/CEO in 1993. Pony Express Bank was a small family owned (12 million in assets) bank based in Braymer Mo and they wanted to branch into the KC Metro area by opening a branch in Kearney Mo. That same year I joined the bank we opened a 2nd branch in Liberty, Mo. My brother, Tom joined the bank in 1997 and we purchased the bank in 2003. My daughter Lynsey Waldman joined the bank in 2012 and my son Kevin Page joined in 2020. We have since grown the bank to $385 million in asset size and are recognized as the premier family owned community bank in the area, specializing in face to face banking with small business owners.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
We have been fortunate that we are located in a growing community and loan demand has always been strong in our market. The road has been fairly smooth however, during the great recession of 2008 we did encounter some rough patches with some problem loans but overall we have had a very smooth journey. The biggest obstacle we face today is deposit gathering, which has always been difficult with the amount of competition we have in this urban market along with the brokerage houses and now stable-coin and fintechs entering the crowded market. Without deposits, it is impossible to fund the needs of our loan customers and this is a real problem for not only Pony Express Bank but all small banks in general.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about Pony Express Bank?
We are a small family owned bank specializing in face to face banking with small business owners. We specialize in residential construction loans, C&I business loans, 1-4 residential rental property loans and small business loans in general.
We have a very seasoned dedicated staff with long tenured banking careers, (We currently employ three ladies that all have over 50 years of community banking experience). Our lending staff is made up of very experienced bankers who all have come from a community banking background with very strong relationships with their customers.
What I am most proud of is our reputation in the community as a trusted business partner helping other reach their goals and dreams. We also have done a good job with hiring strong younger people that have bought into our culture and can manage this bank for years to come. I have two of my three children in the bank with both of them taking on C-Suite positions to insure the continued commitment to keeping this bank a family owned community bank for the next generation.
Is there a quality that you most attribute to your success?
My simple approach to doing business is that I have a desire to help others achieve their goals. I grew up in a very small town where I was involved in all aspects of school (sports, music, student government, etc.). My parents, Hershell & Ruth Ann Page, were the major influence in setting an example for my 8 brothers and sisters as our family has owned the bank in our hometown for 111 years and dad spent over 50 years as the president of the bank. The example he set for me and my brother was they most influential component in teaching us how to treat people fairly, giving me the skills and background to understanding peoples work ethic and desire to succeed.
I am genuinely curious in understanding how other peoples business works and I look at customer relationships from the prospective of a partner and friend first, which I believe puts people at ease around me. The community of Liberty has also had a profound impact on my success, I have made lifelong friendships and I feel Pony Express Bank has been instrumental in supporting the growth and success of the entire Liberty area.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.ponyexpressbank.com
