Profile: Don Burnett

Don Burnett

Focus Bank

TITLE: President/CEO

AGE: 62

NATIVE OF: Blytheville, Ark

NUMBER OF BRANCHES IN SOUTHEAST MISSOURI: 6

NUMBER OF ATMs: 18

HOW HE GOT HIS START IN BANKING: From the military, started working for UNISYS selling data processing systems to banks. Went to work for a bank I sold a computer system to.

WHAT'S SOMETHING YOU WISH YOU'D KNOWN WHEN YOU STARTED: I thought it was a 9 to 3 job (kind of kidding). Didn't realize what a marketing challenge it would become. There seems to be a bank on every corner. Competition is unbelievable, but it keeps the juices flowing.

WHAT'S THE FASTEST GROWING ASPECT OF YOUR BANK? Rapid expansion into Arkansas markets... both Paragould and Jonesboro, Ark. We now have 11 total locations. Five in Arkansas. I love it when the mega-banks change their signage.