GENE DIKEMAN IS KBA’S NEW CHAIRMAN

by Krista Norton | October 10, 2024

Darrell Gene Dikeman II (Gene), has recently been named the Kansas Bankers Association’s 2024-2025 chairman. The mission of the KBA is “Together we support our member banks and bankers with leadership, advocacy, and education to benefit the communities and customers they serve”.
Born and raised in Syracuse, Dikeman is the son of the late Darrell and Lois Dikeman. He is a 1971 graduate of SHS, attended Garden City Community College where he received a scholarship to play basketball and golf. 
Transferring to Kansas State University, he graduated with a business law degree and returned to his roots on the family farm in Hamilton County.  
“Syracuse was a wonderful school to ‘grow up in’ so to speak,” said Dikeman. He remembers learning real life things in shop class, taught by Virgil Hecker, “How to weld, use a cutting torch, a drill, and we even dressed a beef!” 
He recalls working on the yearbook and learning to box in P.E. “I wasn’t too good at it, maybe because of my height.” He also helped coach elementary students in sports they were involved in. 
Being a basketball player, he remembers the huge crowds who would gather at the gym, affectionately called the “snake pit” (the old gym today). “The visiting team did not like to play there; we definitely had the home court advantage because it was noisy!”   
After returning to the family farm for about a year and a half, Farm Credit of Garden City reached out to Dikeman to see if he would like to go to work for them in the field department. It was an opportunity he could not pass up. 
“At the time, there were no feedyards in Hamilton County or irrigation, and Garden had both. I saw this as an opportunity to see different kinds of agriculture,” said Dikeman. Since he graduated from GCCC, he knew a lot of people there. It was close to an airport, and he loved to fly. So those two things were an advantage. 
He admits he never really left the farm. “I returned to help harvest, drill wheat and do things around the farm, since I was an hour away,” he said. “And our four daughters had to opportunity to spend time in the harvest field. One even brought a load of wheat to town by herself!” 
When asked if he misses the wide-open fields of western Kanas, he replied, “Without a doubt!” He is proud to have learned a good work ethic on the farm. “It drives some people crazy today. It is in my system and becomes a part of you.”
Dikeman has seen many changes in the banking industry over the years, just like here in Hamilton County. He says, it is not only in banking, but businesses in general. 
“Take a look at farming in Hamilton County, the size of the operations has continued to grow. A lot of it has to do with the cost of equipment, the cost of land and labor,” said Dikeman. 
“To be efficient and profitable you must be in a position to scale, or gradually build up your position size,” he explained. “In the banking industry, a lot of times it means investing in technology. 
“For example, an ATM machine costs $50,000 so banks must be in a position to have enough accounts to handle that!” said Dikeman.”
But the positive side is bill pay, online account opening, all the internet-based products. These kinds of activity require technology, making sure when you are out of town, you can get your necessary funds, and provide liquidity when you need to write checks or wire money. 
Something we may not think about in the banking industry today is general regulatory requirements and the Bank Secrecy Act, “That is why bankers are trying hard and are successful in taking care of the regulatory requirements and above all taking care of customers and their confidential information,” he explained. 
It takes a lot of manpower, not just a computer. “The risk is, not doing it right, can cost you your business,” explained Dikeman. 
Dikeman is familiar with both banks in Syracuse. “They are good banks!” He explains that in the banking industry there is what is called the merger of equals, where you have two really good banks who do not want to grow individually, but they can put themselves together and take advantage of scale.
“It is sad to see some of the ownership that was there 80, 90 or 100 years ago. But on the other hand, the business on Main Street, farmers in the field, livestock, the medical industry need to be cared for,” he explained. “The alternative is to not have a bank.”  
This keeps competitive interest rates, spreads the cost of technology over more accounts. Dikeman admits these changes have come fast. “At the end of the day, you want the people in your community to be well served and in some cases, they end up with more products and services than what they had before.”
Another challenge in the banking industry down the road will be artificial intelligence. He said banks are not only going to have to understand it, but be proficient at it, which could promote more growth to manage the cost of that, all while taking care of customers.
“It’s a lot of hard work, but I believe communities like Syracuse and Hamilton County are survivors. Things will be different but you will have the services necessary to take care of your business,” he said. 
Accepting the position as KBA Chaiman shows he is not slowing down! “I have always tried to give back to the industry and community,” said Dikeman. “It’s fun to see people learn, get introduced into different kinds of businesses and that is why I am trying to give back to the 202 banks in Kansas.” 
Dikeman has been involved with the KBA, serving on several different committees within the organization. “It’s a challenge, but we have a really good Kansas Bankers Association, recognized as one of the best in the country.”
The KBA has joined forces with two groups, Central States group that has 19 states involved, and the American Bankers Association. “We talk about things we need to help support each other with,” said Dikeman.  
The KBA travels to Washington D.C two times a year, bringing along some of the Kansas staff in addition to officers of KBA. “We have a good cross section of people for the whole state who meet with senators, representatives.” 
Not only does the KBA serve the 202 banks in Kansas, but all the businesses they serve. “We play a part way more than people realize and have for a long time,” explained Dikeman. 
Dikeman unfortunately lost his wife when she was young but he remarried and gained another daughter and son. They enjoy spending time with their nine grandchildren, when they can track them down. “They are so busy with all their activities!”  
Growing up in Syracuse, Dikeman recalls a lot of people having jeeps and four-wheel vehicles. “Mary and I have a jeep, and we enjoy traveling with a family run organization called Jeep Jamboree.” 
His passion for planes was inherited from his grandpa Fred and his father. “I don’t get to fly as much as I would like but one of my favorite pictures hanging in my office is one of my dad in his P-51, taking off at their grass runway at the farm which was covered with about three inches of snow.” 
“I think my dad was going to Kansas City for something and his good friend Gano Schmidt was at the farm and took the picture,” said Dikeman.
Not long ago, Dikeman was asked to speak to high school seniors and college freshman, and they were curious what the job prospects are today. He responded by saying, “From my perspective, it’s probably one of the best environments to start a career that has been around for a long time.” 
“But people who are trying to run a business are looking for hard working, honest, responsible people who can communicate and be team players.” He added, “I can assure you if you do that, you are going to get noticed and have a great career with whatever company you would like to work with.” 
These careers, he feels, do not require a college education. “In today’s world, we spend a lot of effort training people we bring in. Some may have been selling shoes but have the right personality, right work ethic, and willingness to work hard. We will train them!”   
People recognize growing up in Syracuse as a huge benefit, and today Dikeman feels it is still that way, although it may not be recognized until you are 30 years old. “I don’t think the benefits of growing up in a small town, gets talked about enough!”