2008 Rising Stars in Banking: Mark Demske

When Community State Bank of Avilla, Ind., decided to add financial services to its list of offerings in 2001, it turned to Mark Demske, a recent graduate of the Valparaiso law school..Demske had taken an interest in trusts at Valparaiso, and he "always enjoyed investing and had done it 'unofficially' since high school" and through his days at Wabash College and the University of St. Francis, where he completed a master's degree in business.."The bank is always looking to even out income, [and] it just so happened at the time that I was available and there was a place in the bank," said Demske, a NorthWestern Financial Review Rising Star for 2008. "They could see that the bigger banks were [adding] financial services divisions also. It was a product that the board thought had to be offered to our customers.".Though Demske's father, Fred, was a veteran of the bank who had "started off as teller and worked his way up to president, CEO and chairman of the board," Mark had not until then considered a career in banking.."Where dad worked wasn't really anything special," to Demske as a kid, though he remembers that he and his twin sister took note when bank customers, who worked during the day, came to the Demske home after hours to discuss business. When they were very young, perhaps in kindergarten, Demske's sister asked their father: "Why do these people come to the house and ask you if they can build a garage? Who do they think you are?".If Demske paid little attention to the bank as a child, he nevertheless attracted a lot of it one day when he visited his father. Smoking was everywhere permissible then, and Demske saw what looked like a push-in car lighter on his dad's desk. He pushed it but nothing happened. Concerned that the device might overheat and cause a fire, he pulled it out again, triggering the bank's alarm and a prompt police response..Today Demske draws notice in a different way. As Community State Bank's vice president of financial services, he single-handedly serves his specialized client base for the bank's six locations. The bank's investment services are growing and Demske said he plans to add support staff soon..Community State Bank's assets that Community State Bank's assets grew by about $14.5 million, to almost $166 million in total assets, in the year ending March 2008. "Over the last year, we're the only bank in our area to grow," Demske said..Noting the performance of the bank's newest branch, which opened in January in Auburn, Ind., Demske said "we've been gaining market share there mostly from the larger nationals, because of the service aspect," and because customers perceive that bigger banks are embroiled in the sub-prime correction. "We don't get too exotic in the things we invest in, so we're a little more solid on those sides," Demske said..But conservatism can cut both ways, and Demske said that one of the main challenges in growing his division has been caution on the part of customers (who are used to FDIC-insured instruments) and bank employees. "They take ownership in their customers and they don't want to lead them astray, so they've got to feel secure in what we're offering to be able to do that.".Demske works with associates at the bank's various locations, "looking at what would make a good referral for them to bring over to us." Support for the division is strong among bank leaders, including current president and CEO Don Monesmith (Fred Demske retired in March) and Vic Seewald, the bank's CFO. Demske refers to both men as mentors..He also continues to publicize the offering beyond his current customer base, in a recent billboard campaign, for instance. He is a key steward of the Noble County Community Foundation's portfolio, which has grown and is lauded in the community for funding projects. Then there's the cumulative effect of good business: "It's a gradual process," Demske said. "Most of my clients come by word of mouth.".Other 2008 Rising Stars in Banking include:Bruce Kout, Farmers & Merchants Savings Bank, Iowa City, IowaLynn Olson, Great Northern Bank, St. Michael, Minn.Jon Schmaderer, The Tri-County Bank, Stuart, Neb.Michael Solberg, State Bank & Trust, Fargo, N.D.Dale Boyer, Citizens National Bank, Paris, Ill.