2024 BankNews Outstanding Women in Banking: Leslie Sedlock

Returning to her hometown of Eagle Lake, Texas, was never in Leslie Sedlock's plans. Now, she uses her story to remind younger people that they're always welcome back home.."It's important to get out there and show the youth in our area that banking is fun and it's important to our communities," she said. "I want them to know they have options.". The Texas A&M graduate started her banking career in 2006 in El Campo, Texas, a 40-minute drive south of where Sedlock grew up. She moved to the First National Bank of Eagle Lake in 2010 and now serves as the bank's president. Sedlock is one of five women being recognized as an Outstanding Woman in Banking for 2024 by Bank News magazine..Everywhere Sedlock goes, she's a community builder according to Chief Operations Officer for First National Bank of Eagle Lake Tracie Schuette. ."Leslie has really networked out and knows many of the other people from other banks," Schuette said. "We are able to reach out and learn from one another. And she gets us involved in a lot of community events, where we've learned to go out and build community and see other businesses and be recognizable … Leslie's impact extends far beyond the walls of this bank.".Inside the bank, Schuette said Sedlock is a strong leader who sets a clear bottom line. She said Sedlock uses her connections to people in Eagle Lake to help bankers do the best they can for the community.."She's really good about setting the pace for all of us. She understands the needs and pinpoints them very easily," Schuette said. .Sedlock said she's a "natural born fixer" and refuses to sit back and complain when she sees a problem. One way Sedlock gets ahead of potential problems is by encouraging financial literacy in Eagle Lake schools, where she once attended. ."I try to go into all the schools annually, and really be that voice of advocacy for financial literacy," she said. "I also want to show kids it's okay to come home and find a career and be successful in our small community if that's what they want to do." .When it comes to banking, Sedlock looks for leaders within her own ranks to lift up when new positions are available. That's how she found the majority of First National Bank's current executive team, which is nearly all women..After attending conferences for executives at banks, Sedlock realized the women's restrooms were always empty. She wanted to do something about it.."I'm a member of Financial Women of Texas and it was important for me to become a member because I am advocating for women in our industry," she said. "I have the thought process of 'if I can do it, anybody can with the right tools and the right mentorship.' I want to give people that at all levels, on the front line all the way up to executive management." .When Sedlock took on the chief operations officer position before becoming president, she was told a few efficiency studies had been done on the bank in recent years, but that the results had not been implemented with any success. Schuette said Sedlock turned that around and made sure the bank took the next study seriously.."She passed on the information to the employees and explained it," Schuette said. "She gives detailed information to the employees to make sure they understood the changes that needed to be made and they wouldn't get lost in communication.".Sedlock said it's often hard to be better than the bank was the day before, but it's that view of progress that led her to ensure the studies helped the bank.."Making those changes and learning why it was important to make them made me a better banker overall," she said. .At the beginning of 2025, Sedlock will add a new title: CEO. Schuette said Sedlock already has plans for when she takes on the position when current CEO Sam Kana retires on Dec. 31. ."In my eyes, and in the eyes of many of our colleagues, we've always felt that she already does the job," Schuette said. "She's the person everybody goes to with questions. If she doesn't know the answer, she knows she has the contacts to get there. She's really good about networking and solutions, and that will definitely help as CEO.".Sedlock said she is excited to step into the new role and find new ways to continue growing and improving First National Bank of Eagle Lake for years to come.."As a leader of a community bank in Eagle Lake, I strive everyday to promote our community, our bank better and to serve our community better," she said. "I will continue doing that regardless of my position."Other 2024 BankNews Outstanding Women in Banking include:Jill Castilla, Citizens Bank of Edmond, Okla.Danielle Smith, Nebraska Bank of Commerce, LincolnShannon Johnson, UMB Bank, Kansas City, Mo.Jennifer Luce, FirstBank, Castle Rock, Colo.