2016 Rising Stars in Banking: Krista Heiss

When Krista Heiss joined NebraskaLand National Bank in its rented store-front location in its first days of existence, she was just grateful to have a job..The bank was chartered in 1998 with $3 million in capital, and Heiss joined the bank fresh out of college with a bachelor's degree in business administration and finance. Her youthful zeal and relative inexperience proved to be a boon. "At the time, I was 22; I don't know that I fully grasped what we were doing," Heiss said. "I thought it was cool, but now I look back and think, 'Oh my gosh, what an adventure.'".NorthWestern Financial Review is honoring Heiss, who is now the bank's executive vice president and chief credit officer, as a Rising Star in Banking for 2016, along with seven other bankers.."I may have had the vision to start the bank, but there's no way we could have grown as rapidly and safely without Krista's hard work," said Mike Jacobson, president and CEO of the $656 million North Platte, Neb., bank..At first Heiss worked as a teller and loan administrator but got an unexpected promotion when the man originally hired as NebraskaLand's 1-to-4 family real estate lender didn't work out. Jacobson was called out of the bank in late 1998 to tend to his dying father, but needed to close a loan while he was gone.."I thought I'd have to go back and do it myself because the new guy didn't know how to," Jacobson said. "I tried to walk him through the closing over speakerphone, but he was still struggling. Krista said she could do it. She sat down, put a draft together, faxed it to me to be checked, and she ended up closing the loan.".From that event, Jacobson realized Heiss' potential and decided to take her under his wing as a mentor. Heiss and Jacobson began staying late so he could teach her. "The arrangement was we would work through the day, and after the lobby closed at 5, we would go through credit files together, explaining what each document did," Jacobson said. "We took an hour for our meal, then would work 'til 10 or 11.".Jacobson's lessons paid off less than five years into the bank's existence when he called on Heiss to take on one of the bank's largest customers. While Heiss had worked on the account behind the scenes, Jacobson had been the primary manager..The two flew to Las Vegas with the customer, who specialized in commercial real estate, to look at a property they'd financed. On the way back, Jacobson told the customer of the pending switch. "At the time she was 24, and Ben looked at me like I was from outer space," Jacobson said. "I told him he'd be thrilled a year from now about the change; three months down the road, he came back and said he was really happy with the new arrangement.".That same year Heiss was in charge of putting together a close to a $20 million loan with multiple banks involved. "It was a very complex credit," Heiss said. "I worked with the banks, title companies and attorneys. I flew to Cheyenne and did the closing by myself at age 26, and pregnant with my third child.".It was a time of 16-hour workdays, with Heiss on her computer at midnight talking with the attorney trying to get the deal done. "It reiterated that the bank was continuing to grow, but also personally that I could get it done," Heiss said. "I learned so much. That was a huge place in my career.".Since taking on those crucial projects in the bank's early years, Heiss has gone on to manage the credit department while still managing a loan portfolio of $130 million. She's responsible for management of the bank's branch network, including the two-and-a-half year-old Kearney, Neb., office.."We've had net charge-offs since opening of $175,000. For several years now we've had no OREO, no loans on nonaccrual and none past due 30 days," Jacobson said. "It's not because we take less risk but because we manage it that much better, and Krista is the main reason for that.".Heiss takes great pride in her work and focuses on doing her job well. "I don't need a line of plaques on my wall to say I'm a valuable asset," she said..She may not need them but she deserves them, Jacobson said. "Heiss is truly a rising star in banking," he said..Other 2016 Rising Stars in Banking honorees:Andy Schornack, Flagship Bank, Eden Prairie, Minn.Steven Erickson, Oregon Community Bank, Oregon, Wis.Darla Kauffman, First State Bank of Middlebury, Ind.Darin Johnson, Security State Bank Sutherland, IowaDave Mason, First International Bank & Trust, Bismarck, N.D.Bryan Toft, Community Bank Owatonna, Minn.Joel Rochleau, Security State Bank, Springville, Iowa