Grunder Keeps Service at the Center
Ty Grunder, 2nd vice president, commercial banking for MidWestOne Bank, has found banking to be a humbling and rewarding career. As a banker, Grunder said you help steward people’s most valuable resources — time and money. He strives to go the extra mile when asking questions on behalf of his customers, believing it should be the standard, not exception.
Grunder said the IBA has helped him become a more well-rounded and relationship-oriented banker. When he’s not working, Grunder enjoys spending time with his wife, three kids, and serving at his church.
What drove you to choose a career in banking?
I would use the word “drove” loosely here regarding a career in banking as it was never the plan, at least early on.
It was more of an opportunity to step into an industry where I could bring real change for businesses and their owners’ lives by serving them as a trusted advisor on what is most advantageous to their business, use of resources, and value of their time.
Describe one life experience that taught you a lesson that you apply to your banking career.
The most important thing I can do as a banker and trusted advisor to my clients is to be exhaustive in advocating and educating them on their options.
Banking can become so convoluted at times for any person, business, or business owner. Therefore, my life experience has taught me going the extra mile in asking questions on behalf of my customer should be the norm in our profession, not overachieving exception. Doing right and serving others should be our mission in banking, and this is what my life has taught me and prepared me for in this career.
What is your best elevator pitch for why banking is a great career?
Banking is a humbling career and one that seeks to serve others while stewarding people’s top two resources they possess – time and money. Banking the right way and mattering to our clients has shown me what a career in banking has meant to me, and I am so quick to tell others.
how does getting involved with the iowa bankers association help you and your bank?
I did not take a traditional path into banking. Through my development and volunteering with the Iowa Bankers Association, I’ve seen that I’m not the only one who didn’t have “banking” on their career bingo card.
Through the support from MidWestOne‘s leadership to further my development as a leader in our bank and the communities we serve, their first notion was to get me plugged into everything IBA. I have refined my skills as a relationship-oriented banker while learning how to become the most well-rounded banker that executes for our clients. It’s been incredibly fun to take IBA courses and expand my network with such wholesome people who care about others’ success more than their own in preparing the bankers of tomorrow.
when you’re not at work, what do you like to do most?
Anything with my wife and our three kiddos – Finn, Olive and Sonnett.
Most of our time is spent at our church caring for others, doing ministry together from kids bible study club to freedom groups, and serving others as a family.
what is a quote or guiding principle you live by?
There are so many, which made this a tough decision. It ultimately came down to my two favorite church planters/missionaries: Count Nikolas Ludwig Von Zinzendorf of the Moravian Church plant and the father of modern-day missions, William Carey.
My guiding principle comes from William Carey’s timeless philosophy of “I’m not afraid of failure; I’m afraid of succeeding at things that don’t matter.” Therefore, “Expect great things from God; and thus attempt great things for God.”