Nelson retires from 40-year banking career

Greenfield banker Paul Nelson is closing the books at the end of this month on his career of 40 years in banking.

A well-attended reception was held at Union State Bank Wednesday, June 14 in Nelson’s honor. He has most recently served as President there.

“It has been really good to help people over the years with their finances. It’s a touchy subject at times with people, but yet you can help people buy a house, buy a vehicle, buy a farm, start a business,” Nelson said. “It makes you feel good when you can help people with what they’re needing.”

Nelson explained that beyond helping people, his working in banking has been all about relationships you form through the years. The conversations that were shared at the open house reception were a testament to that.

“It’s been a blessing to get to know people and in some cases work with three generations, because in some farm situations I’ve worked with grandfather, father and son, and it’s neat to have that longevity in an operation,” Nelson said.

Growing up on a farm five miles southeast of Greenfield, his father raised hogs, cattle, chickens and grew corn, soybeans and hay. As a kid, he would work on the farm and enjoy it. During his junior year of high school, in 1977, his father had a very poor crop and advised Paul to not go into farming, though he wanted to.

Nelson attended Iowa State University after graduating from Greenfield High School, pursuing an agricultural business degree. His first banking job was in the northeast Iowa town of Waukon.

He accepted a position in Jefferson to be closer to his family here, where his father was battling cancer. The night before he was to start there, his father passed away. The neighborhood came to help harvest the crops, and Nelson will never forget the neighborly feel that was exhibited to his family in that difficult time.

After spending a year and a half in Jefferson, Paul and his wife Jina moved to Greenfield in 1989, where they continued raising their family. Nelson went to work at First Interstate Bank here, then it became Boatmen’s Bank. He then went to work for Ron Kniep, who was then President of Union State Bank, and he has been there for 30 1/2 years.

“From my experience growing up on a farm, I could hopefully advise people at times. As you experience things, you learn from that experience. Hopefully that will help you make decisions with people in the future,” Nelson said. “I’m very conservative, and hopefully that has helped people throughout the years too. I love the farm and have a passion for people who choose to farm because between the weather, insects, markets and government programs, it’s a risky business and those are things you can’t control. You have to be flexible with farmers, realize there’s ups and downs, and ask yourself whether you’re going to stay with them through the good and bad times.”

Nelson not only cemented himself in banking, he did so in the community. Throughout the years he was a member of many organizations and boards.

He was a longtime member of the Lions and Optimist Clubs, served on the Extension Council, Greenfield Library Board, was an Adair County Memorial Hospital Trustee and an Adair County Health Foundation Board member. He served on the Greenfield Development Corporation Board, was Greenfield Chamber President, served on the Senior Housing Board, Pancake Day Committee, July Fourth Committee and is on the leadership team at Cornerstone Fellowship Church.

On a wider scale, Nelson also served on boards for Southern Iowa Rural Housing Authority Board and Southern Iowa Council of Governments.

Nelson ran the clock at basketball games for a long time and loved coaching AAU soccer and basketball. He remains very active today, still doing 375 pushups and running 3.1 miles daily. He used the same calculator for the first 37 years of his career and has moved the same piano 14 times to various houses his family has called home.

“One thing about doing any job is that people can tell if you care about them, versus just doing the job or task. Hopefully it has shown that I do truly care about people and how they’re doing,” Nelson said. “I think it bodes well in relationships when they know that you feel their lives do matter. That was part of the celebration. It was neat to hear you have a positive impact on people. It’s not just the job you do, it’s the relationships you have.”