Some of the most important relationships a community bank CEO will ever have are formed long before they become necessary.
That wasn't obvious to me early on.
Like many CEOs, I assumed the important conversations would begin when the need appeared.
Looking back, they had already begun years...
Every few years, the conversation returns.
"What are multiples doing?"
It's a reasonable question.
Community bank CEOs have been asking it for decades.
I've noticed that the more interesting conversations usually begin there.
They rarely stay there.
At some point, someone asks a di...
Want to signal you're serious about selling your bank?
Bring serious people to the table:
investment banker,
legal counsel,
and accountants.
This professional team doesn't just provide expertise.
It signals intent and credibility to the market.
Timing Your Sale: The Baseball Analogy
Think...
Here's a fundamental truth about selling:
The more qualified prospects at the top of your funnel, the better your chances of maximum value.
It sounds obvious.
But I've seen too many CEOs sabotage their process before it starts.
Check Your Competitive Bias
First, address that voice in y...
One of your most crucial decisions when selling: how to take your bank to market.
There are three distinct approaches.
Choosing the right one can mean the difference between maximizing value and destroying it.
Why This Decision Matters
Everyone needs alignment.
Your board, your investm...
Most CEOs start thinking about selling when they're forced to.
That's exactly when you don't want to start.
Here's what matters:
Just because you're prepared to sell doesn't mean you need to sell.
Being prepared with low urgency?
That's the ultimate position of strength.
Maximum optional...
The deal closed.
You're exhausted. Relieved. Maybe a little emotional.
Now what?
Many CEOs skip straight to "What's next on the list?"
I've done it myself.
We're competitive.
We move fast.
Celebrating feels like wasting time.
But here's what I learned:
Most people aren't obsessi...
You've made it through seven months of grinding work.
The definitive agreement is complete and ready for board approval.
Your bank continues to perform well.
The announcement is just days away.
But your mind won't stop racing:
What will shareholders think?
How will employees react?
W...
Seven months of grueling work has led to this moment.
You've narrowed it down to two offers.
Both buyers are waiting for your decision.
Your board is tired.
Your team is stressed.
Everyone wants to just pick an offer and be done with it.
But here's what you need to know:
Once you sig...
You've narrowed it down to two close offers.
Both buyers want to improve their bids, but they need something first:
They want to meet your management team.
This isn't a casual coffee meeting.
This is a full-day, deep-dive session where they'll bring their CFO, credit chief, operations head...
The moment you've been waiting for finally arrives.
Five written offers for your bank sit on your desk.
Your heart pounds as you scan the numbers.
One offer looks amazing—until you read the fine print.
Another seems low but has no strings attached.
A third promises stock that could be ...
After months of preparation, meetings, and mountains of paperwork, the moment finally arrives.
Your investment banker calls with news: "The offers are in."
You feel the weight of the moment.
This is it—the moment you find out what the market really thinks your life's work is worth.
W...
