2015 Rising Stars in Banking: Lucas White

Few bankers balance the dual careers of law and banking, but for Lucas White the combination is a family tradition dating back to the Depression for The Fountain Trust Company in Covington, Ind..NorthWestern Financial Review is honoring White as a Rising Star in Banking for 2015, along with six other bankers..A vice president and director at the bank and the fourth generation of his family to pursue the banker-lawyer path, White is responsible for asset liability management, interest-rate risk and investments. Along with his father and brother, he also rents office space from the bank for their legal practice. Balancing the two careers takes finesse but is very worthwhile, White said. "Some weeks I'm in the bank 95 percent of the time and other weeks if there's a big case, it's 95 percent in the law office. Right now, about 70 percent of my time is spent in the bank."."The legal background really complements the banking background," White said. "With my role in the bank, I don't get a whole lot of face time with customers, so the law office gives me a nice touch there.".As with most banking families, White started young, working as a drive-up teller beginning his freshman year of high school. Even while pursuing his undergraduate degree at Indiana University, White helped set up and run the bank's asset liability model and spent time working in every department of the bank..When White came back to the bank after finishing his law degree in 2006, he wanted to be involved in the Indiana Bankers Association. His father had been very active in industry advocacy both at the national and state levels..At the time, the association didn't have many opportunities for member engagement below the statewide level. IBA President and CEO Joe DeHaven invited White to help bolster IBA's Future Leadership Division. He jumped at the chance, and is now starting the second year of his term as FLD president. Through that position, White also sits on the IBA board.."He is a very, very bright young man," DeHaven said. "He attends trips to Washington, D.C., a couple times a year and communicates exceptionally well with congressmen and their staffs. Having been born into a banking family and having a law degree, being a practicing lawyer, he's able to understand fairly complex issues quickly. He is quite a breath of fresh air to have with us in Washington. He's able to distill pretty complicated situations or issues in a very logical and easily understood manner.".One of the FLD goals is to give younger people the same opportunities that White has had from industry groups and trips to Washington, D.C. "I have connections all over the country where I can pick up the phone and call and ask for advice on a problem I'm having," White said. "Usually it's just CEOs who have that kind of network to fall back on, and my goal is to help other positions – chief information officer, chief financial officer, chief loan officer – create that similar network.".Over the past year and a half, White and the FLD have developed a list of about 80 names to focus on for their outreach, extending invitations to regional meetings, days at the capitol and other industry networking opportunities..For the foreseeable future, White plans to stay involved with FLD. "I'm sure they'll put me out to pasture eventually, but until they tell me to get the heck out, I want to stay involved," he said..White, however, is unlikely to be shown the door anytime soon. "He's a brilliant young man," DeHaven said. "He's been quite involved in IBA and the things that are important to bankers. Being around him gives you confidence in the industry. He will be involved with the association for many years to come, and he absolutely will continue to contribute significantly. We have a really strong group of next generation leaders, and Lucas is at the core of that group.".Other 2015 Rising Stars in Banking honorees:Bill LaVigne, The Bank of Elk River, Minn.Amanda Fanning, Adams Bank & Trust, Ogallala, Neb.Tim Heilman, Choice Financial Group, Fargo, N.D.Mark Heinemann, Farmers State Bank of Hartland, Minn.Jennifer Kruchten, First National Bank and Trust of Beloit, Wis.Matthew Lujano, Westside State Bank in Westside, Iowa