Morris of Union State Bank Graduates from Banking School
Jesse Morris of Union State Bank recently graduated from the Graduate School of Banking at Colorado (GSBC)’s state-of-the-art program. Morris was one of 160 graduates representing 28 U.S. states to earn a diploma from the school in 2024.
“Congratulations to Jesse on graduating from the Graduate School of Banking at Colorado,” expressed LeRoy Heizelman, Union State Bank’s Chief Financial Officer. “It has been great to see Jesse put into practice what he has learned. GSBC has definitely made a significant impact on his role here at USB. In addition to receiving the prestigious diploma in banking, Jesse was recognized for outstanding achievements such as completing the “Committed to Lead Credential” coursework.”
GSBC is a three-year program targeted at developing leaders in the community banking industry. The program immerses students in a mix of traditional and non-traditional models of coursework on financial management and strategy, innovation and engagement, leadership and culture, and lending - all through a community banking lens.
“I really enjoyed the networking opportunities with peers and industry experts,” said Morris. “These experiences led to strong personal connections and allowed me to gain insights into best practices throughout the industry.”
In additional core and elective courses, the third year of GSBC affords students the experience of the Bank Management Simulation (BMS) where they apply concepts and knowledge gained from previous years to manage a simulated bank in a dynamic team environment. Over the two final weeks of the program, BMS teams compete for loans and deposits, manage an investment portfolio and capital, allocate resources and make decisions based on business objectives and economic conditions.
Morris held the role of Chief Executive Officer on his BMS team. Based on the team’s overall performance in the simulation, they were recognized as the top bank in their community and received the “BMS Best Bank” award from GSBC. “Jesse’s Bank Management Simulation team not only finished first in his community, but they were also recognized for achieving the highest final share price out of all thirty-four teams in the simulation,” Heizelman said.
Morris is Senior Vice President and Assistant Chief Financial Officer for Union State Bank. He has been with the organization for eight years and has over a decade of experience in the financial industry.
“This experience has certainly enhanced my role at USB by providing advanced knowledge and skills in financial management, leadership, and strategic decision-making,” said Morris. “It has also helped me reframe the way that I think about community banking and the important role that we play in fostering resilient, thriving communities and as a catalyst for positive change.”
About Union State Bank: Founded in 1908, Union State Bank has banking locations serving communities of Arkansas City, Newton, Udall, Winfield, and Wichita in Kansas and in Bartlesville and Edmond, Oklahoma. Union State Bank offers a full range of electronic, deposit and cash management services, as well as business and agriculture, commercial real estate, construction, mortgage, residential and consumer loans. Member FDIC. Equal Housing Lender, NMLS# 412388