Shelli Navarro graduates from banking school

Shelli Navarro, Central National Bank field manager, at Mankato has completed the 2019-2020 Advanced School of Banking. The second year session of this course was held Oct. 5 through 9, in Manhattan. The Advanced School of Banking is sponsored by the Kansas and Nebraska Bankers Associations and is endorsed by the Colorado, Louisiana, South Dakota and Wyoming Bankers Associations.

The primary teaching tool in Year 2 is a computer-generated bank management simulation program. During this project, students worked in teams as "banks," making management decisions required to operate a commercial bank.

"I enjoyed the simulation experience," said Navarro. "At times it was intense. There are many factors to consider in regards to being a community bank and taking care of customers, abiding by regulations and doing it all while still being a profitable business. I enjoyed working with our bank school team. Our success was dependent on our ability to communicate and work together. The opportunity was priceless in its value, displaying the bigger picture and giving me a greater understanding of how all the pieces work in unison."

Graduation from this two-week school represents more than 60 hours of classroom study and 50 hours of independent study to complete banking research projects. This intense course of study is designed to assist bankers in developing operational and managerial skills to better serve the needs of their banks and their communities.

Navarro was recently promoted to field manager. She has been with the bank ten years. Navarro serves the communities of Mankato, Beloit, Concordia and Superior.

The Schools of Banking, located in Lincoln, Neb., is a jointly owned subsidiary of the Kansas and Nebraska Bankers Associations.