Contact: Scott Hines President and CEO For Immediate Release 269.679.5291
KCSB Mourns Loss of Great Leader, Mentor Jim MacPhee
Schoolcraft, Mich. (September 14, 2020) – It is with deep sympathy that Kalamazoo County State Bank (KCSB) relates the loss of a great leader and mentor. James D. MacPhee crossed over to Heaven Friday, September 11 after his brave yearlong battle with brain cancer.
“It is with a profound sense of grief and sadness that I share the passing of Jim MacPhee, our passionate, community bank leader,” said KCSB President and CEO Scott Hines. “Mac, as we fondly called him, was a fierce advocate for community banking and well respected among his peers. He was totally devoted to his family, friends and our community. Mac always said that he found the most pleasure when he was helping the families and businesses in our small communities reach their financial goals and dreams.”
MacPhee joined KCSB in 1972. He was promoted to Senior Vice President in 1981 and named Chief Executive Officer and appointed to the Board of Directors of KCSB in 1990. MacPhee retired from the Bank in 2015 and continued to sit on the Board of Directors for KCSB, First State Bank in Decatur, the ICBA Federal Board, and committees. MacPhee also served on the Boards of Federal Home Loan Bank of Indianapolis and United Bankers’ Bank.
During his banking career, MacPhee had been a state and national community bank leader entrusted by his fellow community bankers to ensure that community bankers have a voice in Lansing and Washington. He made it his mission to take the community bank message to policymakers, so they understood the unique role of community banking.
With his passion and commitment to community banking early in his career, MacPhee became involved in Independent Community Bankers of America (ICBA) in 1984. Over the years, he was elected to the Association’s board of directors in 1997 and appointed in 1998 to serve as an at-large director. In 2010, MacPhee served as the Chairman of ICBA. His ICBA assignments would span nearly every standing and ICBA services corporation board – including the Congressional Affairs, Policy Development, Tax, Lending, Membership and Strategic Planning, Education and ICBPAC committees.
MacPhee had been elected to the Board of Directors of the Federal Home Loan Bank of Indianapolis (FHLBI). The FHLBI is a wholesale funding source for mortgages by its member institutions in Indiana and Michigan. It is part of a system of 12 such banks across the United States established in 1932. MacPhee was elected to the position by over 200 banks in Michigan that are members of the FHLBI. MacPhee finished his time with FHLBI serving as Chairman of the Board.
The Community Bankers of Michigan (CBM), was also an important part of MacPhee’s career. He was a member of the Association since he joined KCSB in 1972. He was elected vice president of the Association’s board of directors in 1994 and chairman in 1996.
Leaving a tremendous legacy to the community banking franchise, MacPhee is also known for his enduring motto that he shared with all he befriended, “Always remember to have a little fun every day.”
“With a steadfast belief in community banking and a passion for our local community bank, I know I speak for everyone in our banking family – both within our KCSB family and throughout the nation, we will miss our great leader,” said Hines. “Most of all, we send our love and support to Mac’s family. He always said he was the luckiest guy on earth because of his wife and daughters. We were the luckiest bankers to have Mac as our leader. Rest in peace dear friend.”
About Kalamazoo County State Bank (KCSB)
For more than a century, KCSB and its employees have been committed to providing exceptional financial services to its customers and loyal support to its communities. Founded in 1908, Kalamazoo County State Bank is the oldest independently owned and operated community bank in Kalamazoo County. KCSB has offices in Schoolcraft, Mattawan and Vicksburg. For more information, please call 269.679.5291 or visit www.kcsbank.com. Member FDIC.
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