Field Notes from a Community Banker: Starting Summer with Fireworks and Focus
What grilling for the team, planning for the future, and showing up for local business all have in common
A note from Keith Costello, CEO of Locality Bank:
We’re starting something new here.
Every month or so, I’ll be sharing a few thoughts from the frontlines of community banking. Not a spreadsheet or a shareholder report. Just the real stuff: what we’re seeing, what we’re learning, and how we’re working to better serve South Florida businesses.
These are my “Field Notes,” a kind of working journal. The goal? To give you a look behind the scenes and maybe offer something helpful along the way.
Let’s dive in.
August 7, 2025
Today I was doing a CrossFit workout and I found myself pushing through 100 burpees, just thinking about doing the next one, then the next. It hit me how much that mirrors running a business. There’s no secret. Just showing up, doing the hard things, and staying in it.
Most business owners get that. And so do we.
That’s part of why we’re launching Field Notes… to share what we’re learning as we try to build something better for local business owners.
July 13
We’re deep in strategic planning mode now. Mapping out the next three years. As someone who’s been in banking for decades, here’s what I know for sure: planning is only as good as your execution.
That’s why we’ve put a spotlight on something we’re calling the Locality Way. Not just a set of procedures, but a repeatable experience that customers can feel. A system for showing up, solving problems, and keeping our promises.
That’s how we build trust. And trust, for any business, is everything.
July 6
Fourth of July weekend. Fireworks, cookouts, families together. There’s something grounding about it.
Back at the office, Leo Tepedino, one of our team members (and a low-key chef), grilled for the branch team. That’s the kind of culture we have here. It’s not something you put on a poster. It’s what you feel when someone steps up for the group, without being asked.
Lately, we’ve been seeing the impact of sharper focus. Our team has been listening better, responding faster, and building stronger relationships with local business owners. Not just opening accounts, but solving real problems. That’s what matters most.
As we grow, we’ll keep asking this: Are we making things better for the local business owner? If not, it doesn’t belong in our plan.
June 29
The South Florida Business Journal recognized us as one of the fastest-growing companies in the region. I’m proud of that. Not because of what it says about us, but because of what it means: there is real demand for a better kind of bank.
One that feels like a partner. One that doesn’t make you explain yourself five times before giving you an answer.
This week I’m putting together a new prospect list, local businesses I think we can genuinely help. If we’ve never met, but you’re feeling stuck or overlooked by your current bank, I hope we cross paths.
June 11
This month, I was officially introduced as Chair of the Florida Bankers Association. It’s an honor, but also a responsibility I take seriously.
The more time I spend in rooms like that, with regulators, national banking associations, and fellow CEOs, the more I realize how important it is to protect the role of community banks. Especially in an era where everything is becoming automated and impersonal.
Also, quick moment of perspective. One of the keynote speakers this week was Aron Ralston, the hiker who had to cut off his own arm with a pocketknife to survive. That story hits you. Makes the average business “crisis” feel a lot smaller. Most of our problems are solvable. We just have to be brave enough to move.
June 9
Corey LeBlanc, one of our co-founders and our head of tech and operations, and I attended the Digital Banking Conference. I always walk away from those events with a few good takeaways. This year, it hit me again: fintech didn’t take customers from banks. It just showed up where banks weren’t.
We can’t let that happen. Locality exists to be the opposite of that. To be present, helpful, and fast when it matters.
Also met with a fast-growing design and manufacturing business. What they needed wasn’t a flashy pitch. They needed a banker who could move. We made it happen. No red tape. No runaround.
June 1
Summer starts fast in Florida, and so did June.
Met with the family behind a beloved neighborhood restaurant group. They’re bringing their accounts over. Not because of a promotion or incentive. Just because they wanted to talk to someone who listens. That’s what we aim to be.
We also had some internal changes this week, restructuring roles so that people spend more time doing what they love and do best. That includes giving our Chief Revenue Officer, Gerry Litrento, more time to do what he’s truly best at: building relationships.
There’s power in putting people in the right seats. You feel it in the energy of the team.
And one more thing: I had a call with someone out West who’s trying to start a community bank of their own. Some would call that a competitor. I call it a win for small business. The more banks that care, the better.
Final Thought
We’re not perfect. But we’re in it.
We’re building this bank the same way many of you built your business, step by step, with a lot of heart and a little grit.
If you’re tired of the big-bank runaround and want something that feels more local, more human, and more responsive, come by. No scripts. No hotlines. Just real people, solving real problems.
Here’s to a strong second half.
~Keith
Disclaimer: The information provided in this content is for general educational purposes only and does not constitute professional advice. Locality Bank makes no warranty, express or implied, nor assumes any legal liability or any responsibility for the accuracy, correctness, completeness, or any actions taken based on the information provided. Loan programs, terms, and requirements are subject to change. Deposit accounts are subject to account opening requirements. Always consult a qualified professional for specific guidance related to your situation.
