Profile: Larry Uelsmann

Larry Uelsmann

Security Bank and Trust

Age: 60. I became a grandpa six months ago.

Native of : Scott City, Mo.

Number of branches in Southeast Missouri: The bank has offices in Scott City, Marble Hill, Patton and Cape Girardeau.

Number of ATMs: The bank has ATMs at its offices in Scott City, Marble Hill and Cape Girardeau.

HOW HE GOT HIS START IN BANKING: I am the third generation of bankers in Scott City. I worked at Scott City Bank summers and weekends through high school and college. The first full time bank experience I received was from Jackson Exchange Bank, where I worked from 1971 to 1973. I started with Scott City Bank (now Security Bank & Trust Company) in 1976.

WHAT'S SOMETHING YOU WISH YOU'D KNOWN WHEN YOU STARTED: I wish I had a better understanding of marketing and electronics. In our marketplace, competition is high, and a good understanding of market appeal is important. As to the electronics, when I started in banking telecommunications was limited to talking on a telephone, and the only electronic imaging was television. The internet and personal computers was nonexistent.

What's the fastest growing aspect of your bank? The bank's real estate loan portfolio has grown significantly in the last few years, however, given current market conditions that has slowed. In the last six months growth has been in consumer accounts; i.e., checking and savings.