2014 Outstanding Women in Banking: Jean Ann Honegger

An Illinois executive serves as the bedrock of her bank's steady, dependable growth. Jean Ann Honegger, CEO of Morton Community Bank, Morton, Ill., is one of five women honored by NorthWestern Financial Review as a 2014 Outstanding Woman in Banking..Carol Schick, vice president and corporate administrator at the bank, has worked closely with Honegger for years, and summed up her contribution to the bank.."She pretty much has her finger on the pulse of everything that is going on in this bank. We've been outrageously successful," Schick said. "We have her to thank mostly for that. She's very positive, and she doesn't like negativity; she'll always take that attitude and turn it around.".When Honegger's husband, Gordon, started working at Morton Community Bank in 1971, the bank had one branch and seven employees. After he became president and CEO, he asked his wife to help cover for a retiring employee who handled accounts payable. Honegger worked from home for a while, but as she took on more responsibilities, she carved out a corner of the bank for a desk.."It was a good partnership. I watched all the money going out in expenses and Gordon watched all the money going out on lending," Honegger said. "I've always been on the operations side of the bank and, because the bank was so small, that included everything but the lending.".With her background in education, however, it was only a matter of time before Honegger became involved with the bank's hiring decisions.."We started growing; our bank doubled in size about every five years. We started acquiring banks and adding employees. I was deeply involved in bringing on new people," Honegger said. "It's been nice, the way we've built banks and acquired banks; in the process we've inherited some wonderful employees.".Now, Morton Community bank has about 400 employees, 31 branches and $2.7 billion in assets. As the bank bought neighboring institutions, Honegger worked to conserve and foster its human capital. "When we acquire a bank, I try as hard as possible to keep the employees because they have that community connection," she said..Honegger also brought a cohesive vision to branch decoration, beginning with the bank's first branch. Drawing from Morton's German and Swiss immigrant background, Honegger opted to incorporate clock towers into the building's décor.."It's the thing now to have a brand, but we've had those clock towers since we built our first branch on the other side of town in 1978," Honegger said..Once Honegger found the focal point for the bank's brand, she worked to bring every aspect of the design into alignment with her vision.."When people come into our facilities, we don't want the bank to feel sterile – marble is so cold. So we brought in wood, lots of oak, for the furniture and the teller lines," she said. "I love to see new people walk into the bank; they just stop and stare. They can't believe how welcoming our facilities are.".That personal touch extends beyond selecting materials. Honegger and her husband have traveled all their lives, starting with their honeymoon in 1964, and all photography displayed on the walls of the bank's branches comes from the couple's trips.."It ties into that desire to welcome people into the branch – we don't just pick something impersonal off a store shelf," Honegger said. "It all comes back to this: 'do the best for the customer and you'll do the best for yourself'.".For Honegger, the bank's success stems from the teamwork of its staff. "Sometimes I pinch myself, with how fortunate we are," she said. "We've worked hard, but it's not all us. It's all of the people in our branches working together.".Schick, however, offered a different take.."We have a saying in the bank. 'We can spin on a dime.' No matter what happens, she rallies everybody together to pull it off. It might seem like an impossible task, but she's always able to bring everybody together to make sure it gets done."Other 2014 Outstanding Women in Banking honorees include:Trish Ellison, Cedar Rapids Bank and Trust, Cedar Rapids, IowaDebra Norstad, First Farmers & Merchants Bank, Cannon Falls, Minn.Sherry Lervik, State Bank of Bottineau, N.D.Annette Russell, Security Federal Savings Bank, Logansport, Ind.