David vs. Goliath: A Fight to Keep ‘Community’ in Banking

Bigger is better. Really? That certainly seems to be the trend. Pick any industry, from drug manufacturers to automobiles from consumer home goods to financial services; they are dominated by a few giants gobbling up unequal distribution of profits and market share. For example, take retail Goliath, Amazon, who brings value and convenience to shoppers. Who will ever be content again to wait a week for a package to arrive? Next day is now the norm.

But there is a price to pay in this winner-take-all economy that I explore in this series of blog posts based on my white paper, “David vs. Goliath: A Fight to Keep ‘Community’ in Banking.” The concentration of wealth and jobs in a select few global centers attracting the companies, resources, talent and support services needed to succeed in the new economy is to the detriment of many urban and rural communities across the Heartland, including St. Louis. It’s a downward spiral that doesn’t have to be inevitable.

As the current CEO of St. Louis’ second largest privately owned local bank and the former CEO of the United Way in the St. Louis region, I feel uniquely positioned to offer a potential solution that’s not rocket science: focus your business locally, including where you Bank.

Local community banks are well poised to take on the giants. Join me as I take a closer look at these issues and how they impact the St. Louis region. Through the lens of the banking industry, I will challenge the myth that bigger is better. I will uncover the risks of “banking” with giants like Facebook, Google or any group of institutions that are too big to be held accountable for their poor business or predatory decisions. I will show you how the Davids can bring greater convenience, value and safety to your personal banking.

Follow the series and you will see that when you keep Community in banking you are putting your money where your heart is. When you Bank Your Values you are investing in in the long-term viability of your community.

I feel uniquely positioned to offer a potential solution that’s not rocket science: focus your business locally, including where you Bank.

— Orv Kimbrough

Hi, I’m Orvin Kimbrough—volunteer, board director, chairman, and CEO. I help professionals move from feeling stuck to being strengthened by reshaping how they think, lead, and live. My work focuses on confidence, leadership, and influence through mindset shifts, expanded networks, and bold, values-aligned action. My perspective is rooted in lived experience—from growing up in foster care to leading complex institutions as a CEO—and shaped by faith, resilience, and a deep belief in human potential.

Books for Every Stage

Twice Over a Man

A memoir often described as a leadership guide wrapped in an honest, relatable story of perseverance, healing, and growth. It explores how pain can be reframed into purpose and how ordinary people build meaningful lives through courage and clarity.

More Than a Conqueror

Written for teens and young adults, this book encourages confidence, resilience, and identity formation during the years when self-belief is being shaped.

Ward and the State

A children’s book that gently introduces big ideas like belonging, courage, and hope, helping young readers see themselves as more than their circumstances

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Tags: Community Finance

David vs. Goliath: A Fight to Keep ‘Community’ in Banking

— Orv Kimbrough

Books for Every Stage

INTRODUCING: The Thriver’s Path™

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