2012 Rising Stars in Banking: Henry Schutz

Henry Schutz is a people person and he is willing to do any job in the bank. These qualities made him a leader the bank needed as it managed difficult times. "In 2008, a lot of banks went through difficulties. This is my bank and my community. I've been here 20 years now; I felt an obligation to the staff and I wanted to set an example," said Schutz, who has been selected as a 2012 NorthWestern Financial Review Rising Star in banking..Born and raised in Alexandria, Minn., Schutz always envisioned working in banking and accounting. "I enjoyed going into the bank as a kid; filling out a deposit slip was always kind of exciting," he said. When Schutz attended St. John's University in Collegeville, Minn., there wasn't any question about his focus — he majored in accounting and graduated in 1987..In 1988, he worked as a consumer loan and second mortgage lender for ITT Financial based in Crystal, Minn. His lending experience trained him well to start at Lake Country Community Bank. "It was a great training ground; the best training was on the collections side," he said..In 1993, the skills he learned at ITT helped Schutz obtain a job as a junior lender at State Bank of Morristown, as it was called then. The bank, which changed its name to Lake Country Community Bank in 2002, had $8 million in assets when he started. Schutz immediately began to do work above and beyond his lending responsibilities. He soon took on responsibilities in human resources; he prepared the call report; he processed payroll; he handled the general ledger and balanced the bank's investments. Schutz didn't see himself as just a lender and he doesn't see himself as a senior vice president who's above the menial tasks of the bank. "It was a small bank so I learned quickly how to do a lot of things," he said. "It is a true team effort with all of us wearing lots of hats.".For Schutz, even as an SVP, a shift at the teller counter isn't uncommon. "There are times when I will go from the drive-up teller to a board meeting all in the same day," Schutz said. "Henry has done it all, from payroll to running our credit committee," said Ray Brueggemeier, president of the bank. "He shares in the work and is incredibly knowledgeable about how the bank works.".His willingness to do what it takes is not an exaggeration. "Today, I spent part of the day working on the air conditioner," he said. "When it comes to cutting costs, you can't be afraid to get a little dirty.".But his knowledge hasn't come without a few uncomfortable learning experiences. When Schutz was being trained in at the teller window he had a customer come to the line for some cash. This was a customer who was known in town to be a very honest person. As Schutz scrambled to get the customer his cash, he accidentally grabbed the bank's bait money. "He was one of the most honest guys in town and I gave him the money we use to catch robbers. I kind of muddied up the system there," he said..During his first 15 years, the bank was actively trying to grow with a focus on real estate. "Henry probably should have left when the bank started having problems in 2008, but he made a commitment to stay," Bueggemeier said. "Without him we would be looking at a whole different scenario than we are today.".Schutz has a way with people. "Over the last 20 years I have worked with people who are good at saying, 'it's over,'" Brueggemeier said. "But when Henry tells customers we are at the end of the line, we haven't had the hostility I've seen in other places.".Schutz is known for his approach to customer service. "He's absolutely great with customers. He has a big following of people who will only deal with Henry." When the bank was in workout situations with some customers, "we have people who feel bad because they have let Henry down," Brueggemeier said.."We turned things around fast," Brueggemeier said. "We have come out of this recovery period better because of that characteristic of Henry's.".Much of Schutz's approach comes down to his attitude. "I might be the SVP of the bank but I don't see myself as any better than anyone else I meet," Schutz said. "In these times when things are tough for the customer, I am willing to listen and find a solution. They know they can tell me their problems and I am not going to judge them. Much of it has to do with how my parents raised me. They taught me to treat others as I'd like to be treated and I believe that has served me well."Other 2012 Rising Stars in Banking honorees:Sherri Van Beek, CorTrust Bank, Sioux Falls, S.D.Todd Heilman, Western State Bank, Devils Lake, N.D.Tod Eastman, HomeStar Bank and Financial Services, Manteno, Ill.Adam Dittrich, Americanna Community Bank, Sleepy Eye, Minn.Blair Folkens, L.A. Amundson Investments, Sioux Falls, S.D.Greg Turner, MidWestOne Bank, Iowa City, IowaEric Kjos, Regional Missouri Bank, Marceline, Mo