Mainebiz Special Editions

P r o f i l e s i n e x c e l l e n c e M a i n e — A P h oto P o rt r A i t o f t h e P i n e t r ee S tAt e 125 us all focused on serving our customer-owners with the right blend of efficient modern banking technology — and a highly personal touch," says Chief Executive Officer and President Ray Nowak. In addition to delivering services with a personal touch, Farm Credit loan officers make it their busi- ness to understand industry cycles and offer flexible terms that reflect seasonal needs and match busi- ness cash flows. Decision-making rests at a local level. Farm Credit uses a traditional "relationship lending" model — where a customer's loan officer will handle the transaction from the first "hello" to beyond the closing. All Farm Credit business is transacted with the convenience of rural-based family businesses in mind. Farm Credit's lenders are often on the road, meeting their customers throughout all of rural Maine — on the farm, in the woods, or on the waterfront. "This not only saves time and expense for our customers, but it also keeps us in tune with the day-to-day challenges and rewards of running a business in rural Maine," says Chief Lending Officer Fred Morton, a Farm Credit em- ployee for over 30 years. While Farm Credit's focus is always on the best loan structure for its customers, it's not only about lending. In response to customer need, Farm Credit offers related services through its carefully chosen business partners that provide leasing and crop insur- ance. Farm Credit's licensed appraisers provide pro- fessional commercial and rural property appraisals. Denver-based CoBank, which is also an indepen- dent cooperative and federally chartered for whole- sale and retail lending, is an important Farm Credit of Maine partner and the primary funding source for the Maine cooperative. CoBank is the largest institution within the national cooperative Farm Credit System. "The combination of a financially strong wholesale lender like CoBank and a financially strong retail lend- er like us, plus the fact that we are both owned by our customers, makes for an efficient, focused, and stable banking business model. It's simply a great way to do business," says Nowak. This way of doing business even returns prof- its to the customer-owners of the cooperative. Every year since 1996 Farm Credit of Maine has consistently shared its profits with its members through patronage distributions totaling more than $26 million. "At the core of everything we do," says Nowak, "it's still about people." Farm Credit customers are served and supported by a dedicated staff of professionals, many holding lengthy tenures at the company. It is not uncommon for employ- ees to retire from Farm Credit having worked there for more than 25-30 years. "As employees, we know that traditional natural resource industries are the economic and social foundation of rural Maine, and we're proud to be helping with the success of these businesses so rural Maine can prosper and the state's strong and diverse ru- ral heritage and values can live on well into the future" says Dick Robertson, Chief Risk Officer and a 39-year Farm Credit employee. Combine industry and banking expertise with the traditional cooperative principals that keep the cus- tomer as the focal point for everything, add some mo- bile technology and some unique partnerships, and it's a recipe for success — for nearly 100 years. Farm Credit of Maine has built its success on a firm foundation: a solid mix of industry and banking expertise, traditional cooperative principles, mobile technology, unique partnerships – and the belief that the customer should be the focal point of every service and every decision. P h o t o B y s h a ~ l a M P h o t o G r a P h y Farm Credit's office in Presque Isle serves members and rural communities in Maine's northern region – Aroostook County and parts of Penobscot and Washington counties.

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