Unit 7: Strategies for Growth

In the seventh installment of our Online Training Series, Steven Kent, president of the investment banking firm River Branch Capital LLC in Chicago, examines an extremely important issue that just about every bank struggles with in today’s highly competitive market, which is how to grow and what the board’s role should be in that endeavor.

Topics Include:

• Forces Impacting Growth
• Foundations for Growth
• Organic Growth
• Growth Through M&A

A glossary of banking terms is included with each video unit.

About The Presenter:

Steve Kent is the president of River Branch Capital LLC. He joined River Branch Holdings LLC in May 2011 after a 13-year career at Keefe, Bruyette & Woods, Inc. At KBW, Mr. Kent led the Chicago office in transactions for banks, thrifts and finance companies during his tenure, focusing on mergers and acquisitions and capital markets activities for Midwestern region banks. Mr. Kent was also involved with mergers and acquisitions and capital market activities for non-bank financial service companies including the insurance, mortgage banking and specialty finance industries. He joined KBW in August 1998 as a managing director of the firm’s newly established Chicago office.

Prior to joining KBW, he was a managing director and head of the financial institutions group at Robert W. Baird & Co. with responsibilities including mergers and acquisitions advisory, equity and fixed income capital markets and involvement in project financings. Mr. Kent acted as a member of Baird’s board of directors and operating and capital commitment committees. Prior to joining Baird in 1982, he was vice president of investments for Firstar Corporation.

Mr. Kent received a BA in economics with honors from Ripon College and an MBA from the University of Wisconsin.