Carter Leak IV
President
Age: 41
Hometown: St. Francisville
Education: Bachelor’s degree in accounting from LSU, Certified Public Accountant
In 2014, Carter Leak IV came home to St. Francisville join the bank his father built. His career began in KPMG’s Baton Rouge office in its financial audit practice. From there, he moved on to the Shaw Group and CB&I, serving six years at the latter as vice president and controller in the Engineering, Construction, and Maintenance Segment in Charlotte, North Carolina. In April, the board of directors elected him president of the Bank of St. Francisville. For Leak, the close friends and community left behind in Charlotte was difficult, but he couldn’t resist what awaited him in his hometown. “I thought the opportunity was very unique: to be able to be a part of a thriving community of young professionals in St. Francisville and to participate in the continuing progress we are making in the community.”
Where did your career start, and how did that previous experience prepare you for your current position?
I began my career in KPMG’s Baton Rouge office and worked with very talented individuals that were helpful in my growth. Weeks before starting my career at KPMG, I was diagnosed with advanced melanoma and had a couple of major surgeries and a year of treatments. I was young and a bit foolish, so I just kept on plugging away at studying for the CPA exam, while working at least 50 hours a week. I matured pretty quickly during that difficult year and a half; I believe I learned perseverance and to see every day as a gift from God.
Has your CPA experience helped you in your banking career?
In my career at KPMG, it was my responsibility to understand and document our client’s business activities, including evaluating their risks and whether they were managing them effectively. As a banker and lender, I believe I am responsible for doing the same thing to maintain a strong bank and to share my insights with our clients to help them become more successful.
What is one thing about your job people don’t expect or know about and hear about?
We don’t just make or deny loans. When working with a customer, our focus is on more than just economic need. We try to counsel people by providing comparative industry data and provide the benefit of our experience with many different types of companies.
You moved back to St. Francisville in 2014 after a stint in North Carolina. How good did it feel to return home?
It was hard to leave very close friends and an amazing community in Charlotte after spending six years there. However, I thought the opportunity was very unique to be able to be a part of a thriving community of young professionals in St. Francisville and to participate in the continuing progress we are making in the community.
What are your goals for your company?
While I would like to see our bank grow in size, our goals are to stay committed to relationships and pursue excellence in all that we do. We trust that an appropriate level of growth will follow.
What have been some of the unexpected challenges in your position?
The level of nontraditional competition has been incredible to me. The competition for loans as well as deposits and payments appears to be coming from every direction.
In an era of bank consolidation, how much harder is it for community banks like yours to survive?
The increased regulation from Dodd-Frank and other legislation that was designed to put controls around the largest banks in the country have created a significant cost increase for community banks. However, we believe that if we continue to separate ourselves through our relationships with our customers and focus on the long term, we will continue to thrive.
How have you separated the Bank of St. Francisville from other competition in the industry?
It is difficult to differentiate ourselves from other traditional financial institutions because we all offer essentially the same products. Our goal is to provide a unique customer experience. I have been very fortunate that my father Carter Leak III, Conville Lemoine and Jim Chaffin have been leading the bank for nearly 40 years and have established an excellent employee culture. We have long-term and loyal employees that continually strive to encourage our customers to become advocates for the bank.
If you had to choose one characteristic, what would you say is the most unique characteristic of the Bank of St. Francisville?
We are an integral part of the fabric of the community. Our level of broad participation in local activities has been a source of pride since the founding of the organization in 1978.
Do you feel you have big shoes to fill in following your father as the Bank of St. Francisville’s president?
I feel like I have huge shoes to fill as I transition into leading the bank. I hope to one day have earned a similar respect and love from the employees that they have for him. I could not be more thankful for the manner in which he has supported and encouraged me, and I expect that will continue for years into the future.
What lessons have you learned from your father about the Bank of St. Francisville?
The biggest lesson I am continuing to learn from him is to listen well before you speak and treat everyone like you would want to be treated. Also, I have learned from him that information that comes in the bank stays in the bank.
What is your favorite part about what you do? What makes you excited about going to work?
I get energized serving our customers and our employees in creative ways. Whether it is assisting a business customer making an expansion, counseling a consumer purchasing a new home, or coaching an employee to make our organization a better place, I truly enjoy helping and encouraging people to understand and grow in the gifts that God has given them to steward.
What is the greatest personal or professional obstacle you’ve overcome, and how did you overcome it?
Cancer was my greatest personal obstacle. However, I also believe that the suffering associated with it was a tremendous gift. The experience deepened my faith and dramatically changed my perspective on life. Professionally, my greatest obstacle remains maintaining a healthy balance between a very demanding professional life and being “present and active” as a husband and father of four children.
What professional accomplishment are you most proud of?
My time at The Shaw Group allowed me the opportunity to work alongside a leader named Ron McCall. He focused on relationships and “doing what you said you were going to do.” He organized a team to restructure a number of disordered businesses that were not living up their potential. We were able to develop them into a cohesive business unit that grew significantly in size, profitability, and strength.
What other leadership roles do you hold in the community and/or what volunteer efforts do you support?
Co-chair of West Feliciana Young Life, Board Member of the St. Francisville Area Foundation, Executive Committee of the Baton Rouge Area Chamber, and basketball coach for 9th grade at West Feliciana High School and recreational leagues in West Feliciana
What is a great piece of advice you personally received? Did you have occasion to put it to use?
I believe the best piece of advice I received from a mentor of mine that is applicable to my life is to “lead from the heart.” Whether it is at home or at work or in the community, I believe if you lead thinking about others first, you will leave the world better than you found it while finding joy and fulfillment.
What gets your workday off to a good start?
A good morning run followed by talking and praying with my kids as I drive them to school every morning.
What do you do to unwind?
While my natural reaction is to grab the newest, boldest IPA at Audubon Market, I am truly able to relax when sharing my life with my wife, our four kids, and our community of friends in St. Francisville.
What is an item on your “bucket list”?
I hope to travel internationally and serve on a mission trip with my wife and kids.
Where is your go-to spot in Baton Rouge during your free time?
With kids aged 15, 13, 12, and 9, my free time is usually spent in St. Francisville supporting their interests and activities. If my wife Brittany and I are in Baton Rouge with some free time, you would probably find us with one of our extended families or taking a run around the LSU Lakes then grabbing a burger and an IPA at Fat Cow.
