|
little-fish banks, all without regard for the needs of everyday people, communities and small businesses.
It is common for someone to notice a trend and then years later, when a business has capitalized on that trend, to say, "I saw
that. I should have done something." That, as they say, is what separates the sheep from the goats, or the average
businessman from the successful one.
Repking noticed the trend, considered, made plans, took a chance, raised money and in 1994 opened Liberty Bank. The bank
finished 1994 with $16.7 million in assets. In 1995, the bank's earnings were stated with black ink; profits have increased
every year thereafter. In 2001, Liberty Bank earned just less than $1.3 million and finished the year with nearly $137 million
in assets.
Repking walked away from the "big bank" and struck gold in a smaller bank. His background had a lot to do with it.
"I grew up in Teutopolis, a little burg (near Effingham) with a population of 1,559," Repking said. "You may know that
Teutopolis means 'City of Germans' and, indeed, that's what it was. My schoolmates all had names like Probst, Goeckner,
Niemerg etc. Although I went to public school, our teachers were nuns. Every day all the kids went to Mass before school. My
graduation class was the largest ever, with a grand total of 14."
The eldest son of seven children, Repking learned his work ethic from his father. He worked for two years before going to
college at Southern Illinois University Carbondale, where he graduated with a degree in accounting. He worked in the large
accounting firm of KMPG Peat Marwick until 1988, when he joined the Bank of Alton as CFO, later becoming president and CEO.
"It was not until I was at the Bank of Alton that I finally paid off my student loans," said Repking.
|
Hiring the right people, Repking said, is one of the keys to success in any business.
"I would have to say that we hire great people - people who are committed to values that are essentially what you find in
the Bible," he said.
Posted on the financial institution's Web site, and in locations throughout employee areas of the bank's Alton and Godfrey
locations, is the Liberty Bank Creed.
"It begins, 'We believe in one God and in the dignity of the human race,'" Repking said. "'We believe that people should be
treated in the same way that we would like to be treated . . .'
"That may sound corny to some, but we believe it. In addition, the typical bank has $1.5 million to $2 million of assets
per [full-time employee], and our ratio is $5 million per FTE. As a result, we have lower overhead, and that's due to our
dedicated staff."
Repking and his wife, Shirley, have four children: Michael (16), Maria (12), Nick (11), and Emily (6). When asked what has
influenced him most, Repking doesn't hesitate.
"About four years ago I attended the Congressional Prayer Breakfast in Collinsville," he said. "The main speaker asked the
question, 'Where will you be in 100 years?'
"I thought, 'You big dummy.' You see, I had been focussing on five years, or maybe 10 years, but I had no answer for 100
years. I believed in God, went to church and had a good family, but the speaker challenged us to give our lives personally to
Jesus Christ, to make Him Lord.
"However imperfectly, I took up the challenge. I went to a Christian bookstore and asked to buy a Bible. They responded,
'What kind?' I said, 'A black one.' I had no idea there were different translations. Well, I have learned a lot over the past
four years. My purpose has now come into focus. As a banker, a husband, a father and a member of the community, it's to
glorify God and help bring people closer to Christ."
staff writer: Kurt Prenzler 
email: kprenzler@ibjonline.com
|
