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Northwestern Banker’s Ben Haller Dies at Age 88
 Some journalists are merely observers. Others are active participants in the world about which they write. Ben Haller was clearly the latter.
Haller passed away Monday, October 15, at Mercy Hospice in Johnston, Iowa, due to congestive heart failure at the age of 88.
Ben was born in Omaha, one of 14 children of Dr. Ben and Agnes Haller. He attended Creighton Prep and Creighton University, graduating in 1942 with a degree in journalism. He served in the U.S. army Air Corps in World War II, was commissioned as a first lieutenant and flew 19 combat missions in the European theatre as a bombardier aboard a B-24 Liberator.
Ben and his wife, Peggy, moved to Des Moines in 1945, when Ben joined Northwestern Banker, a trade journal serving the banking industry, as an associate editor. He advanced to editor in 1954, co-owner in 1958 and took over sole ownership of the magazine in 1981.
Haller sold the Northwestern Banker Company in 1988, prior to his retirement. He was named chairman emeritus of Northwestern Financial Review, the successor publication. Haller continued to write for the publication following his retirement.
Ben was intimately involved in Iowa banking and was a fixture at the annual IBA Convention, attending nearly every year. He was also inducted as an Honorary 50-Year Banker. He was present at many IBA events, always willing to share insights he’d learned along the way.
“Ben was connected to Iowa banking for more than fifty years and was a dear friend to so many in our industry,” said John Sorensen, president and CEO of the Iowa Bankers Association. “He will be fondly remembered for his many stories, his sense of humor and, above all, his kindness to others.”
Haller chronicled events affecting banking in Iowa and surrounding states for more than 45 years. He witnessed some of the most profound changes in the banking industry. More than that, however, he helped to shape issues and events affecting bankers nationwide through his actions and principles. More than a banking journalist, Ben was known far and wide as an advocate and defender of the banking industry.
Ben is survived by Peggy, his wife of 63 years; their five children and eight grandchildren..
Don’t Miss the Opportunity to Stop Fraud
FinCrime is an online data base and clearinghouse that allows banks to share information regarding financial crimes with other banks across the country and law enforcement.
Financial institutions are encourages to use FinCrime to notify other financial institutions of a crime that has taken place at their location or to learn about other financial crimes. FinCrime allows banks to:
• Submit case information
• Search the care database
• Receive notification of incidents matching an individual bank’s profile
• Upload, store and retrieve photos
• Verify the identity of people posting information.
• Cross reference notifications when posting.
FinCrime is a free service to all IBA members. To register, visit www.iowabankers.com and click on the FinCrime link. Registration takes under five minutes.
For more information regarding FinCrime, contact the IBA’s Steve Looney at 800.532.1423 or email slooney@iowabankers.com
Technology Peer Groups Forming at the IBA
One of the most powerful career building steps a banker can take is to meet regularly with a group of peers. With a peer group, you can accelerate your growth and eventually give back your wisdom and experience with others. You can learn more quickly, more intelligently, and less painfully with people who have done it before to support you.
To help you create this support and camaraderie, the Iowa Bankers Association is in the process of developing several new peer groups for bank technology professionals. The groups will be comprised of 20-25 bankers from across the state of a similar asset size.
The goal of a peer group is to foster exchange of information in a confidential and congenial setting. Peer groups establish a network where you can ask questions, share ideas and gather best practices.
Most groups meet 2 to 4 times per year. Since groups will be comprised of bankers from across the state, meetings will be held in Des Moines.
The cost of belonging to a peer group is an annual charge of $150/group member, plus meeting expenses divided among the group. For this fee you receive:
Coordination of meetings – complete planning of all meetings each year
Professional Services for meetings – agenda development and professional expertise at meetings
Networking Facilitation – electronic discussion groups and additional correspondence
If you are interested in joining a peer group, please e-mail IBA’s Darcy Burnett at dburnett@iowabankers.com. This does not indicate a commitment at this time. IBA will work to form groups from interested bankers and then contact you with a potential group list to see if you are still interested and would like to join.
Advertise in the IBA Directory of Financial Institutions
The Directory of Financial Institutions is a widely used resource with over 3,300 copies sold each year and includes essential information on Iowa banks, thrifts and industry vendors. It is the most comprehensive, up-to-date directory of Iowa financial institutions available. Most importantly, it is used by hundreds of important banking decision makers throughout the entire year. It is a cost-effective way to reach Iowa’s financial industry.
Ads are available as full, half- or quarter-pages. Rates are low and are designed to fit a variety of budgets.
For more information regarding advertising in the 2008-2009 directory, please contact the IBA’s Dia Gross at 800-532-1423, ext. 4384 or visit our web site at www.iowabankers.com.
IBA Silent Auction Benefits Iowa Public Television
At this year’s IBA Silent Auction, Convention participants proved their love for quality educational television by raising over $12,500 for Iowa Public Television. In exchange for this donation, the IBA will receive recognition on public television programs such as Nightly Business Report, Iowa Press, Sesame Street, Curious George and Rick Steve’s Travel.
Some of the items available this year were: a 42-inch Plasma HDTV; Final Four basketball tickets; a Ping golf bag and Zach Johnson autographed hat; and vacation packages to Colorado and beyond.
The success of our auction would not have been possible without the support from the following sponsors:
A OK Antiques, West Des Moines, IA
American Athletic, Inc., Jefferson, IA
Bankers Trust, Des Moines, IA
Blank Park Zoo, Des Moines, IA
Broker Dealer Financial Services, Johnston, IA
Cedar Rapids Marriott, Cedar Rapids, IA
Clark Consulting, Des Moines, IA
Clifton Gunderson LLP, West Des Moines, IA
Congressman Leonard Boswell
Congressman Tom Latham
Des Moines Marriott Downtown, Des Moines, IA
Eagle Ridge Resort & Spa, Galena, IL
EmbartIT, West Des Moines, IA
Embassy Suites Hotel, Des Moines, IA
Executive Benefits Network, Milwaukee, WI
Farmers & Merchants Bank & Trust, Burlington, IA
First National Capital Markets, Omaha, NE
Gateway Hotel & Conference Center, Ames, IA
Glenwood State Bank, Glenwood, IA
Harvester Golf Club, Rhodes, IA
Holiday Inn Hotel & Suites, Des Moines, IA
InterContinental Kansas City at the Plaza, Kansas City, MO
Iowa Business Growth Company, Johnston, IA
Iowa Public Television, Johnston, IA
Iowa State Bank, Algona, IA
Iowa State University, Ames, IA
KPMG, Des Moines, IA
King’s Pointe Resort, Storm Lake, IA
Kirk Gross Company, Waterloo, IA
Krogman & Associates, Urbandale, IA
Learfield Communications, Des Moines, IA
Marriott West Des Moines, West Des Moines, IA
Midwest Banking Careers, Ankeny, IA
Midwest Independent Bank, Jefferson City, MO
Ohnward Bancshares, Inc., Maquoketa, IA
Pat Langel Clothiers, West Des Moines, IA
Perimeter e-Security, Johnston, IA
Renaissance Savery Hotel, Des Moines, IA
Roth & Company, Des Moines, IA
Ruan Securities Corporation, Des Moines, IA
Sheraton Steamboat Resort, Steamboat Springs, CO
Sheraton Suites Country Club Plaza, Kansas City, MO
Sheraton West Des Moines, West Des Moines, IA
Stoney Creek Inn, Johnston, IA
The Lodge Bettendorf, Bettendorf, IA
The Stonebridge Inn, Snowmass Village, CO
Travelers Insurance Company, St. Paul, MN
University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA
Webster City Federal Savings Bank, Webster City, IA
Get Smart About Credit Day
Thank you to the following banks who participated in the 2007 Get Smart About Credit Day on October 18.
1st National Bank, Ames
American State Bank, Sioux Center
American Trust & Savings Bank, Dubuque
Central State Bank, Muscatine
City State Bank, Grimes
Community State Bank, Indianola
Farmers & Merchants Savings Bank, Waukon
Fidelity Bank & Trust, Guttenberg
First Citizens National Bank, Clarion
First State Bank of Mapleton, Mapleton
Freedom Security Bank, Coralville
KSB Bank, Keokuk
MetaBank, West Des Moines
Peoples Trust & Savings Bank, Guthrie Center
Randall-Story State Bank, Story City
State Bank & Trust Co., Nevada
State Bank & Trust Company, Waverly
Get Smart About Credit Day was created to raise awareness among teens and young adults about the importance of credit smarts. On this date, bankers go to school classrooms to help young people in the community get smart about credit now, so they can make smart financial choices later in life.
If your bank participated in Get Smart About Credit Day and you have not yet registered online, you have until November 18 to do so. Go online at www.aba.com/consumer+connection/getsmartaboutcredit.htm to register. For more information contact the IBA’s Cheryl Miller at 800.532.1423 or email cmiller@iowabankers.com.
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