5 Minutes With the Financial Institutions Chair

 

What’s happening with financial institutions in the equipment finance space? Equipment Leasing & Finance magazine recently caught up with Kirk Phillips, Chair of the Financial Institutions Business Council Steering Committee (BCSC), to take the pulse of this sector. Phillips, who is President & CEO of Wintrust Commercial Finance, is currently serving his first year as Chair of the committee, which represents bank-related organizations and other financial institutions involved in single transactions over $5 million. 

What is the Financial Institutions BCSC focused on this year? 

For the upcoming Bank Roundtable on April 9 in Chicago, immediately preceding the Funding Conference, the Financial Institutions BCSC is exploring several timely topics to discuss, including the current economic environment and its impact on the industry, business email compromise and fraud prevention. In addition to our roundtable discussion, the group will continue to build on the progress that has been made to engage early career professionals with the equipment financing industry by completing 12 Guest Lecture Programs at universities and colleges across the country and engaging our elected officials by completing at least two in-district visits with members of Congress. 

What do you like best about serving on a BCSC?

The Council is made up of a very talented and experienced group of individuals who represent a broad cross section of financial institutions that serve our industry. I enjoy working with these business leaders to expand the reach and value of ELFA and our industry. We learn from each other and many times we’re able to work together on business opportunities. 

What’s the last book you read?

Mornings on Horseback by David McCullough covering the childhood and early career of Theodore Roosevelt prior to his ascendancy to the President of the United States.

About the BCSCs

The BCSCs represent ELFA’s five key business segments: Captive and Vendor Finance, Financial Institutions, Independent Middle Market, Service Providers and Small Ticket. Learn more at www.elfaonline.org/BCSCs. Interested in joining? Contact Ed Rosen at [email protected].