It was a tough decision.
The contest question was: What are the best signs that a bank is "in
Two readers sent in such good replies that we've decided to make both of
Co-winner Richard B. Foster Jr., a lawyer in Okemos, Mich., gave these
*The bank that announces it is going into a major new business in which
*The closely held bank a large block of whose shares - for which there
*The bank that has expanded beyond it capital and management resources
*The bank whose directors look only backward - for example, by reviewing
*The bank whose directors don't regularly ask the CEO questions like
*The bank whose management, with or without the knowledge of its board,
Our second winner, Union Bank's Michael Cunningham in Los Angeles, is
Mr. Cunningham offer this list of the top 10
"10. Bank's attorney orders new, higher-capacity billing meter.
"9. Bank has sudden promotional campaign with emphasis on distribution
"8. Increased sightings of strangers in dark blue suits even, though no
"7. Topic of conversation at local barber shop has switched from family
"6. All copies of books on resume writing have been checked out from
"5. Board members ask for second helpings and doggie bags at latest
"4. Chief executive officer, if a large shareholder, is seen in travel
"3. Chief executive officer is seen in travel agency checking on lowest
"2. Ad pages on employment opportunities have already been torn from
"1. You just sold your last shares of the bank's stock in order to buy
Most community bankers will acknowledge that often a small event or
A favorite example (I am sure I have mentioned in this column before)
The manager suggested that the phone company send red return envelopes
As the song says, "Little things mean a lot." And that's our new
Tell us some small development or event that played a big role in your
The writer of the best entry becomes president for a day of the
Mr. Nadler is a contributing editor of the American Banker and professor
