"Despite coming prepared with a page full of questions, our intern class found ourselves fully engrossed in the conversation with Lucas and Carla, with discussion flowing effortlessly. Lucas and Carla showed remarkable expertise and in-depth knowledge when delving into their respective roles at Parkside. We gained valuable insights into both the Banking and TFO sides of the company, but what resonated with us the most was the significance of client relations. In certain instances, advisors at larger commercial and wealth management banks may be overwhelmed with a large volume of clients, potentially affecting the level of service provided. Parkside is different. Here, immense value is placed on delivering personalized, top-tier services to clients across all departments. Their dedication to excellence makes them stand out.

Hearing about the dedication and effort that formed meaningful relationships with clients and how Parkside approaches maintaining and growing those relationships opened my eyes to the passion everyone has at Parkside. They take the extra step to show clients how valuable they are and being reachable more often than you would find at many other banks."

"During this Lunch N’ Learn it was fun to talk and learn about the expansion of the bank, especially for loans. We engaged in a fascinating conversation with Karen and Kinna, where we discovered how their distinct roles complement each other seamlessly. Without their combined efforts, Parkside wouldn’t be able to close loan deals successfully. Although there are occasional conflicts in their responsibilities, Karen and Kinna collaborate frequently and work together to satisfy clients while protecting Parkside’s interests.     

The difference between Colorado and Missouri and the approaches the teams must take in those different deals because of the varying laws and clients' desires. Hearing the craziness from open to close on a loan is fascinating as if a loan is great looking on the front-end there may be some obstacles on the back-end which have to be rectified and the fact that the teams work together even though their core jobs are to “conflict” to make a viable loan situation for Parkside and the client."

"Bank Ops and CSR seem to be complete opposites of banking, but one could not function without the other. They characterized Parkside as “uncommon” for the same reason many others have: “the client receives a more personalized experience.” However, at Parkside, they are offered the freedom to work with a multitude of people. Even if a member of their team does not hold the same title in the company, they are working side by side and giving insight into each loan."

"Alex’s L&L was very detail oriented and shocked me with how much detail and effort goes into marketing [for financial institutions]. With many institutions it is common to see constant repetitive content, but with hearing how Parkside approaches it and is taking a carefully crafted path to develop and grow, especially since there are many laws that must be followed when advertising in the finance industry. Alex taught us all about the various aspects marketing entails and about Parkside’s specific approach to it.

One of the most interesting topics she covered was the center of influence web. It showed me how professionals from various fields interact with and help each other with client referrals. Alex clarified that marketing for a bank is unique and challenging, but after seeing the changes she has made in less than a year, I am confident that Parkside’s marketing is in greats hands and I’m excited to see the new ideas that Alex creates in the future."

"Dave and Brian taught us about the importance of saving for retirement at a young age and the difference between each type of retirement account. Many companies offer employee 401(k) matches, so it is important to try and match your employer to receive extra “free” money for your retirement. Dave and Brian work together to educate all clients employees and hope to enroll them into the 401(k) plan. The information from the L&L will be extremely beneficial for my future, and I am grateful that I learned more about 401(k) planning during the internship.  

 

Our meeting with Dave & Brian in 401k was extremely informational. During the meeting we discussed the aspects of their department from the client referral and acquisition all the way to retirement plan and its establishment. We got down to the specifics of the ever-changing legislation (State and Federal) about retirement and the ways Parkside works with their clients to navigate it. With the possibility that Social Security will be unable to support itself in the next decade or two, we discussed the emphasis that is being put on individuals taking more responsibility in their retirement funds/planning. Another interesting topic for me that we discussed was the types of fund options and how Parkside navigates through the huge variety and selects or curates the best options for its clients."

"In the Treasury Management department, Kelley and Mary Kate work with all banking clients to assist in each company’s financial management. They offer many services, including remote deposits, ACH transfers, wire transfers, bill pay, sweep accounts, and online banking. When speaking with Kelley and Mary Kate, the fraud protection system stood out to me. With fraud becoming more prevalent today, Parkside has implemented systems to recognize fraud early and alert clients before something goes wrong. 

 

During this Lunch N’ Learn, we spoke with Mary-Cait & Kelley, Parkside’s two-person treasury management team. This meeting opened my eyes to the diverse array of services that businesses require beyond fundamental banking solutions. Parkside offers a wide range of services including remote deposits, ACH transfers, sweep account services, and fraud protection, all to simplify the lives of their clients. One of the most surprising things I learned during this lunch was that check theft has recently emerged as a common type of fraud. I had a hard time understanding how this could be prevented and was amazed by the proactive measures taken by Parkside to combat this issue."

"We discussed our thoughts about “A Random Walk Down Wall Street: The Time-Tested Strategy for Successful Investing” by Burton Malkiel in our book club with Matt. Being able to formulate our ideas about the investment theories in the book, through a long discussion, allowed us to understand the book further. The book itself educated me on the history of investment and how many practices developed years ago are still being practiced in the modern market. The book challenged some of my own ideas about investing and shed light on new ones that I began to research as I read through the novel. Overall, the book club showed each other's similar and different opinions on the points of the book and taught me a lot on the market as a whole along with the average investor. 

 

Our Lunch N' Learn book discussion was hosted by Matt Harlow, Vice President of Trust & Family Office. He explained how Malkiel’s theories showed up in his real-world experiences. Engaging in the reading and discussion of this book was an enriching experience. The book blended historical context with valuable investment insights, allowing me to reinforce ideas previously learned in school. Through our discussion, I was introduced to how these financial concepts are applied to the industry. "