Growth is a popular and challenging word for today’s banks. With customers having myriad options for financial services and banks facing shrinking margins, the key to growth is taking new approaches and looking beyond a bank’s traditional services. At least that’s the philosophy of Banterra Bank, a $1.3 billion bank in Illinois, and so far, it’s working. The bank has grown assets significantly in recent years, and its ROA and ROE—1.1 percent and 11.2 percent, respectively—are above industry average. According to Jeff May, Banterra’s president, the bank’s focus on geographic expansion, lending diversification and cost control has allowed it to achieve these impressive results. He also believes that digital banking has reached its tipping point and that community banks must rise to th

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