Jim Rine has been with UMB his entire 30+-year career, holding positions of increasing responsibility in credit, commercial banking, and now executive leadership. Today, he serves as president of UMB Financial Corporation, as well as president and CEO of UMB Bank. We sat down with Jim to discuss his career path, leadership approach and valuable lessons he’s learned over the years.

Why did you choose UMB?

I graduated from Missouri State with a finance degree in 1993. I started right out of college with UMB as a credit analyst/management trainee – and I’ve been here ever since.

UMB was my bank. I opened my first checking account with UMB when I turned 16, and when I graduated college, I thought I was going to be the next great mutual fund manager. Thinking I would need to start as an analyst, I thought the fundamental analysis you would do on the privately held companies in the credit department would be a door-opener to becoming a market analyst. I had no idea I would end up building a lifelong career here.

What are some leadership strategies you rely on?

First, be direct. Whether it’s one-to-one meetings, a group discussion or a presentation, it’s important to be clear in your requests, feedback and questions. While I always try to encourage conversation and big ideas, if something seems convoluted or unclear, it’s important to investigate those details through thoughtful and direct questions to ensure everyone is on the same page and understands next steps and expectations.

Second, be transparent. This is something I’ve always worked hard to do, but in this role, it’s more important than ever. Being upfront and open with information ensures better collaboration, teamwork and a comprehensive goal to achieve. It also demonstrates trust and instills ownership as everyone understands what is occurring and their role (or how it may affect them).

Finally, be real. We’re all more than our jobs and getting to know each other is really the best part of what we do. Everyone has a story and having the privilege to truly “know” your colleagues is what makes coming to work every day enjoyable. Everyone always has more than enough work to do, which can sometimes result in stress and long hours. However, when you’re in the proverbial trenches with people you know and respect, it not only makes it much more pleasant, but usually more productive as well.

What advice would you give to an incoming financial professional?

When I started in the banking and financial industry, I didn’t have instant success. I had to ask a lot of questions, work hard and truly learn how to connect with potential clients. It took a few years before I had a growing loan portfolio to manage. To get to that point, I had to sell what made me and UMB different. I had to be confident and honest, and people had to trust me.

Having the tenacity to keep going when you feel like everything is against you is also an important career characteristic, and one that I try to instill in our teams here at UMB. I remind them that even though you may not land every deal or achieve all your goals, you must keep going. Keep practicing and putting in the work. That persistence will pay off.

What are your favorite ways to give back in the community?

I have served on many non-profit boards in the past but have recently pared that down so I can truly focus and spend more time with each one. I currently serve on the boards of the Kansas City Chamber of Commerce and Kansas City Sports Commission.

Tell us about your family.

My wife Melanie and I live in Leawood. Melanie has an undergraduate and master’s degree in music education from the Conservatory at UMKC, where she is also a board member. She taught music in the North Kansas City School District for 10 years.

We have two children. My daughter, Emily, is an investment banker in New York City. My son, Maddox, is currently a sophomore in college.

Where is your favorite place to travel and spend a weekend?

I love visiting anywhere with an ocean and golf course! And even though it’s cliché, my favorite way to spend a weekend is with family and friends. We are fans of “lake life” as well, and it’s been a great way to relax and unwind.

Any final takeaways to share?

At UMB, I remind associates, it’s people first. If we take care of each other, we’ll be able to take care of our customers and our communities – it all goes hand-in-hand. We also must stay humble while we work to build brand awareness in our markets and work to build relationships across a multitude of industries. As we continue to grow and expand, it is our attitude and work ethic that others will remember us by…and by which we should want to be remembered.

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