03/20/18
Both the Kansas Senate and Kansas House financial institution committees have featured testimony from Fort Hays State University’s Robbins Banking Institute during this legislative session. Inaugural institute Director Alan Deines and Robbins Banking Institute benefactor W.R. Robbins presented on behalf of Fort Hays State.

The Senate Financial Institutions and Pensions Committee, chaired by Sen. Jeff Longbine, Emporia, and the House Financial Institutions and Pensions Committee, chaired by Rep. Jim Kelly, Independence, included the Robbins Institute on their recent agendas.

Robbins opened testimony in each committee by sharing his vision of creating an institute that would create an educated workforce meeting the needs of the banking industry in Kansas. He has had a very successful career in Kansas, growing Farmers Bank and Trust from one small bank in Albert to a network of banks in West Central Kansas and Johnson County. He and his wife, Yvonne, believe both in the importance of the banking industry and in Fort Hays State’s ability to uniquely serve the State of Kansas by preparing students for quality careers in Kansas. In 2016 when Robbins committed resources to the W.R. and Yvonne Robbins College of Business and Entrepreneurship, he insisted that the college include an institute of banking.

“Therefore,” said Robbins, “the banking institute came to be.”

Deines shared the Robbins Institute’s mission to “educate and train people interested in banking as a career.” He said, “The Institute provides three options for academic credentials: a finance degree with a banking concentration, a banking minor for non-finance majors, and a banking certificate for non-finance majors such as agriculture, management and marketing. The Institute will serve traditional undergraduate students through on-campus education and place-bound students – often already working in banking – through distance education.”

Deines, explaining the compelling need for the Robbins Institute and its mission, said the Kansas banking industry has assets of $70 billion and employs approximately 15,000 people, half of whom are 55 years old or older. A large percentage will retire within the next 10 years and the Robbins Institute has been developed to address this crucial need by providing current and relevant banking coursework. The Institute, he said, involves industry leaders who provide guidance through an advisory council and through classroom presentations.  

Deines has 37 years of banking experience. As a consultant, he worked with hundreds of banks, primarily in Kansas but also ranged from Wyoming to Illinois and from South Dakota to Oklahoma. He served as CEO, CLE and as a member of the Board of Directors of many of these banks. He has worked on special international projects including in Iraq.

The 14 members of the Robbins Institute’s Advisory Council include presidents and CEOs of banks ranging in size from $30 million to $3 billion in deposits. The Institute engages in various ways with industry groups including the Kansas Bankers Association, the Risk Management Association, the Kansas Department of Banking, and the Community Bankers Association of Kansas.

For example, the Institute and the Kansas Bankers Association are jointly developing an “Introduction to Banking Compliance” course to be offered through distance learning. Through contributions, Kansas banks have helped provide access to bank simulation software and several banks have funded banking scholarships.

Deines emphasized that one focus of the Robbins Banking Institute will be on connecting students and banks for paid internships to help students gain real world experience and  turn theory into practice. Another focus of the Institute is research on issues important to the Kansas banking industry. Faculty from a variety of FHSU business areas, including finance, accounting and economics have shown an interest in being involved in this effort.

The Robbins Banking Institute’s first semester of existence, fall 2017, enrolled 28 students. This semester, the number has grown to 55 enrolled students.

The Robbins Banking Institute has received statewide media coverage in the Kansas Banker magazine and regional coverage from Bank News Midwest, and will be listed on the FDIC website with only 31 other universities offering significant banking programs.

Dr. Mark Bannister, dean of the Robbins College of Business and Entrepreneurship was quoted in the testimony: “The Robbins Banking Institute fits solidly within the mission of the college as it serves Kansas businesses, students, and citizens.”

In each case of testimony, members of the legislative committees have expressed praise for W.R. Robbins and Fort Hays State University for addressing an important state need through an innovative public private partnership.