ABA Banking Journal
No Result
View All Result
  • Topics
    • Ag Banking
    • Commercial Lending
    • Community Banking
    • Compliance and Risk
    • Cybersecurity
    • Economy
    • Human Resources
    • Insurance
    • Legal
    • Mortgage
    • Mutual Funds
    • Payments
    • Policy
    • Retail and Marketing
    • Tax and Accounting
    • Technology
    • Wealth Management
  • Newsbytes
  • Podcasts
  • Magazine
    • Subscribe
    • Advertise
    • Magazine Archive
    • Newsletter Archive
    • Podcast Archive
    • Sponsored Content Archive
SUBSCRIBE
ABA Banking Journal
  • Topics
    • Ag Banking
    • Commercial Lending
    • Community Banking
    • Compliance and Risk
    • Cybersecurity
    • Economy
    • Human Resources
    • Insurance
    • Legal
    • Mortgage
    • Mutual Funds
    • Payments
    • Policy
    • Retail and Marketing
    • Tax and Accounting
    • Technology
    • Wealth Management
  • Newsbytes
  • Podcasts
  • Magazine
    • Subscribe
    • Advertise
    • Magazine Archive
    • Newsletter Archive
    • Podcast Archive
    • Sponsored Content Archive
No Result
View All Result
No Result
View All Result
ADVERTISEMENT
Home Human Resources

A Banker’s Story: Finding My Purpose

January 3, 2017
Reading Time: 2 mins read

By Jennifer Sobotta, CFMP

There are many different banks in our country with many different styles, and each serves a purpose within the states and communities that they have branches in. We all serve a purpose. Does that purpose drive us all?

I’ve been in banking for 19 years, and I’m working at my second community bank over that time period. When I joined the Forward Financial Bank family, I saw an energy and innovation in banking that was infectious with the entire staff. Our CEO has instilled the importance of our purpose in all of us, and our communities recognize that purpose makes us different.

As the marketing director, historically I’ve been charged with traditional advertising and the move to digital channels and social media. The new channels are more engagement driven and work best when you have a story to tell. Now I’m the lead storyteller for Forward!

The purpose driven approach that we have taken as an organization makes storytelling easy. It has made our brand stronger, and it has exponentially made marketing more exciting. I have the chance to stand next to my Forward team with pride at high school field goal kicking contests, community parades, fundraising events, volunteer work days, and ribbon cutting for new facilities that we had a big part in bringing to fruition. Who wouldn’t run to work to be part of that?

My purpose, like members of my Forward family, is to be a part of something bigger than myself. I am part of a company that truly believes that a “rising tide raises all boats” and we will only see success if all aspects of our communities do well. That’s a story worth telling.

 

Jennifer Sobotta, CFMP, is vice president and marketing director at Forward Financial Bank.

Every banker has a story. And we’d like to showcase them in our new feature, A Banker’s Story. Send your stories here. They don’t need to be long—200-300 words is perfect. And include a photo. We’ll let you know when they go up.

ADVERTISEMENT
Tags: Banker's story
ShareTweetPin

Related Posts

Podcast: Old National’s Jim Ryan on the things that really matter

Podcast: Old National’s Jim Ryan on the things that really matter

ABA Banking Journal Podcast
June 12, 2025

Jim Ryan has led Old National Bank to 250% asset growth. On the podcast, the ABA American Bankers Council chair discusses the bank's growing profile and footprint, his views on deposit insurance reform and the experience of leading...

Nine highlights from nine decades of Stonier alumni

Nine highlights from nine decades of Stonier alumni

Community Banking
June 12, 2025

Over 90 years, more than 26,000 graduates of the ABA Stonier Graduate School of Banking have brought leadership and vision to their banks and to the industry. To commemorate Stonier’s 90th anniversary, we are highlighting nine remarkable Stonier...

The man with the transformation plan

The thrill of recognition

Community Banking
June 9, 2025

How winning an ABA Emerging Leader Award supercharged one banker’s professional growth.

Biden vetoes resolution to overturn SEC treatment of crypto custody assets

Labor Department rescinds guidance on crypto and 401(k)s

Compliance and Risk
May 28, 2025

The Labor Department rescinded a 2022 compliance release that directed fiduciaries to exercise “extreme care” before adding a cryptocurrency option to a 401(k) plan's investment menu for plan participants.

Office overseeing federal contractors offers opportunity to object to release of diversity data

EEOC opens collection of EEO-1 data; submission deadline June 24

Compliance and Risk
May 22, 2025

Survey requires private employers with 100 or more employees and federal contractors with 50 or more employees to submit data on employees’ gender, race and ethnicity annually to the EEOC.

Podcast: Accelerating banking for quick-service restaurants

Podcast: Accelerating banking for quick-service restaurants

ABA Banking Journal Podcast
May 8, 2025

As independently owned and operated small businesses, fast-food restaurant franchisees have unique business needs. They have mobile and often part-time workforces, complex inventory management and the constant challenge of managing both a small business and being the face...

NEWSBYTES

ABA DataBank: Planned/announced office conversions spike

June 20, 2025

OCC releases mortgage performance report for Q1 2025

June 20, 2025

Justice Department seizes millions of dollars linked to alleged crypto investment scams

June 20, 2025

SPONSORED CONTENT

AI Compliance and Regulation: What Financial Institutions Need to Know

Unlocking Deposit Growth: How Financial Institutions Can Activate Data for Precision Cross-Sell

June 1, 2025
Choosing the Right Account Opening Platform: 10 Key Considerations for Long-Term Success

Choosing the Right Account Opening Platform: 10 Key Considerations for Long-Term Success

April 25, 2025
Outsourcing: Getting to Go/No-Go

Outsourcing: Getting to Go/No-Go

April 5, 2025
Six Payments Trends Driving the Future of Transactions

Six Payments Trends Driving the Future of Transactions

March 15, 2025

PODCASTS

Podcast: Staying close to clients amid tariff-driven volatility

June 18, 2025

Podcast: Old National’s Jim Ryan on the things that really matter

June 12, 2025

Podcast: What bankers need to know about ‘First Amendment audits’

June 5, 2025
ADVERTISEMENT

American Bankers Association
1333 New Hampshire Ave NW
Washington, DC 20036
1-800-BANKERS (800-226-5377)
www.aba.com
About ABA
Privacy Policy
Contact ABA

ABA Banking Journal
About ABA Banking Journal
Media Kit
Advertising
Subscribe

© 2025 American Bankers Association. All rights reserved.

No Result
View All Result
  • Topics
    • Ag Banking
    • Commercial Lending
    • Community Banking
    • Compliance and Risk
    • Cybersecurity
    • Economy
    • Human Resources
    • Insurance
    • Legal
    • Mortgage
    • Mutual Funds
    • Payments
    • Policy
    • Retail and Marketing
    • Tax and Accounting
    • Technology
    • Wealth Management
  • Newsbytes
  • Podcasts
  • Magazine
    • Subscribe
    • Advertise
    • Magazine Archive
    • Newsletter Archive
    • Podcast Archive
    • Sponsored Content Archive

© 2025 American Bankers Association. All rights reserved.