RISING ICON #84: Andy Schornack
What name do you prefer to be called?
Andy
Where did you grow up?
Perham, MN
What city are you currently based in?
Rosemount, MN
How do you typically introduce yourself to new people?
In a work environment, I’m the President of Security Bank & Trust Co. We are a $1.1 billion community bank with 21 locations spanning from McLeod County into the Twin Cities Metro Area. It’s always been a passion of mine to support entrepreneurs and owner-operators grow and build their financial lives. My business grows because yours does, not the other way around. We provide quick, creative, and reliable banking decisions and solutions to small to lower middle market businesses and entrepreneurs in Minnesota. We grow with their businesses as they expand organically or via acquisition in and outside our state. At home, I have a great wife, Jill, and three great kids. I am a passionate supporter of my community, schools, and building a family that explores and travels together.
What’s one thing you wish more people knew about you?
I love to hike, explore, and read. The outdoors gives me energy.
Who do you help?
My tagline on LinkedIn is SMB Enabler because I truly get to help entrepreneurs with small to medium-sized businesses grow and expand their operations.
What are you building now?
We are building Security Bank & Trust Co. Over the years, we have done a number of mergers and acquisitions to grow and serve our clients and our communities. From a great Trust Department that manages over $500 million in wealth assets to our traditional community bank, we get to provide support and make an impact to thousands of Minnesotans every day.
What were you building ten years ago today?
Ten years ago, I was one year into my position at Flagship Bank Minnesota. We merged Flagship into Security Bank in April 2024, and that was a big transition that was many years in the making. It was the success of starting at the $90 million bank in 2013 and the relationship with Security Bank & Trust all those years that led us here today.
What do you predict of yourself 10 years from now?
In my life, the future is driven by goal setting and opportunities that present themselves over the years. My goal for myself in 10 years is to have made a meaningful contribution to Minnesota through my work in banking and my extracurricular activities.
What’s a fact or statistic you wish everyone knew about your industry?
Community banks make a material impact on our industry by providing roughly 60% of all small business loans, more than 80% of agricultural loans, and employing nearly 700,000 people. Starting your business journey at a community bank will make a material difference in your business's path forward. (Source)
Why do you believe the work you do matters?
It matters because I see that impact every day when clients grow their financial stability, achieve their dreams, and build the life they want to live. Everybody has a bank; my wish for everyone is to have a good banker.
Who is your mentor and what is the best advice they’ve given you?
Gale Hoese is my mentor. My career progression has been largely through his support of my ideas and efforts over the past several years. The best advice has always been to keep it simple, stay focused, and always share the success with your team and your community.
What piece of content about you or your company are you most proud of?
During the regional banking panic, we were profiled in Bloomberg for having very few calls or disruptions at our bank. This reflected highly on our team’s relationship with our clients and the financial soundness of our bank. I was very proud of our team during this more volatile time in our industry.
What publication do you hope to appear in next?
It would be fun to be positively mentioned in the Wall Street Journal.
Who would you love to be interviewed by?
David Senra at Founders Podcast.
If you had to give a TED Talk tomorrow, what would the title be?
Building Strong Banks
What award would mean the most to win?
Any award around being a great father.
What makes zero sense to you?
Spending more than you earn.
What’s a word in your industry you hope gets re-evaluated?
Debt
What game are you changing?
Financial independence
What’s the next thing you’re a part of that you want to invite more people to participate in?
The Twitter / X SMB community. There’s a great group of people in Minnesota who are doing great things and sharing them freely. An event that is coming up this fall is an ETA at the Carlson School of Management. Stay tuned for dates.
Where can we follow you online?
What’s one thing that makes every leader better?
Humility
You can learn more about Andy’s work at the following: Security Bank & Trust Co. LinkedIn Twitter / X
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We’re grateful to each Rising ICON for their transformative work. Thank you, Andy, for sharing your story!
LAUREL is a media relations partner for bold leadership. For nearly a decade, we’ve helped leaders build effective strategies for scale and growth specializing in key opinion leadership and go-to-market strategy for emerging brands. To follow along with the RISING ICONS series, nominate a leader or subscribe to our weekly email newsletter. To accelerate your own rise, get our free guide to elevating your leadership profile, FIT(lite). RISING ICONS is made possible by grant funding from Knight Foundation.
“I see that impact every day when clients grow their financial stability, achieve their dreams, and build the life they want to live. Everybody has a bank; my wish for everyone is to have a good banker.”
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