2011 Outstanding Women in Banking: Robin Loftus

Robin Loftus is at the right place at the right time as executive vice president and chief operating officer of Security Bank in Springfield, Ill. Loftus wears many hats at the bank —lender, marketer, and manager among them. To her, the sum of these tasks is happy customers.."I get to see a lot of people, and that's always been what I've enjoyed about this work," Loftus said. "I'm not hidden somewhere in the bank. I'm right there for all to see. It isn't hard to find me.".Loftus grew up in the small town of La Grange, Ohio, where her family ran a farm implement dealership. Her college education began at Baldwin Wallace College, Berea, Ohio. During the course of studies, she met her husband, Donald. The couple moved to Springfield, where she completed her management major and math minor at the University of Illinois, Springfield. She entered the world of banking in 1975 when she began working for Germania Bank, Alton, Ill., a federal savings bank.."I applied to be a teller thinking it might fit nicely with my math background, but I hadn't really considered a career in banking before then," Loftus said. "I had worked in retail in college, and I liked that because you got to meet a lot of people. You certainly get a lot of that as a teller, and I've always thought people were very interesting.".Loftus rose through the ranks at Germania, eventually becoming its Illinois and Missouri regional manager. Then came the S&L crises, which swallowed Germania in 1991. After a series of acquisitions, she ended up a regional manager at First of America Bank, where she stayed for seven years.."First of America was good to me, but it was a big bank. Their philosophy didn't fit in with mine of community banking," Loftus said..In 1997, Loftus answered a call from Steve Cour, Security Bank's president, who was looking for someone to head up residential lending.."I was wanting to travel less for work and to spend more time with my family, so the timing was great," Loftus said..The $167 million Security Bank has four branches, all in Springfield — a tidy platform for Loftus's brand of banking and community activism. Loftus also pursues leadership roles in the community banking industry. She is active with the Independent Community Bankers of America and served as the first female chair of the Community Bankers Association of Illinois in 2009-2010.."She's most effective in smaller interaction groups with elected officials and other bankers," said Bob Wingert, CBAI president. "She's certainly willing to speak up and convey her points of view clearly and articulately. She's a quick learner, prepares herself well, and has done an excellent job when we're trying to convince others of the merits of our positions."."It was a challenging year," Loftus said. "A lot was happening with legislation. But the message was clear. When you sit in a room at a [CBAI] meeting with four-hundred bankers, you learn they are just good people. It's not about making the big bucks. These people care deeply about their communities.".Loftus said being the first female chair is one indication that women have advanced in the industry.."There was a time, like when I started, that you rarely saw a woman in any executive position," Loftus said. "There have always been a lot of women in banking, but now when you're in a boardroom you're going to see a lot more women than ever.".When not tending to the bank, Loftus could historically be found at a soccer field attending one of her three children's matches. Now, she has grandchildren following in their footsteps.."I joke that if I'm looking for something in town, you can tell me where it is in relation to a soccer field, and I'll know what area you're talking about," Loftus said..Other 2011 Outstanding Women in Banking honorees include:Cleo Bykonen, American Bank Center, Stanley, N.D.Vicki Monsen, McKenzie County Bank, Watford City, N.D.Rachel Nesheim, First Community Bank, Newell, IowaRachael Petersen, Bridgewater Bank, Bloomington, Minn.Sue Sjoselius, Northeast Bank, Minneapolis, Minn.