Durand installed as new LBA chairman

Paul A. Durand, president and chief executive officer of St. Martin Bank and Trust Company, was installed as the 2014-15 chairman of the Louisiana Bankers Association during the 114th Annual LBA Convention and Exposition held May 7-9 in New Orleans.

Durand is a 42-year banker. He earned a graduate banking degree from the Graduate School of Banking at LSU and a bachelor’s degree in foreign languages from UL at Lafayette.

He served the LBA as chairman-elect and treasurer before ascending to chairman. He also serves on the ABA Government Relations Council Administrative Committee.

He is active in his community with the Rotary Club of St. Martinville, serves as a board member for the Acadiana Memorial Foundation, is active on the Planning Commission and Industrial Development Board for St. Martin Parish, serves on the Nominating Committee for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society and is a past member of the board of directors of the Greater Lafayette Chamber of Commerce.  

In his acceptance remarks, Durand offered three themes for his term as LBA chairman.

First, encourage bankers to actively recruit and mentor young people who are entering banking. Banks must have succession plans for future survival.

Second, make your voices heard. When Durand entered banking in the early ’70s, there were 234 banks in Louisiana; today there are only 142 banks. With fewer banks and bankers, today’s bankers must speak out with loud voices for their industry in Washington, D.C., in Baton Rouge and in their local communities, and provide financial support when asked.

Third, take pride in being a banker.

He said: “It’s still an honorable profession. The general public does not differentiate between types of bankers. So it is now more important than ever that the ‘Main Street’ bankers continue to support the economic growth of their communities.” 

St. Martin Bank and Trust Company has 12 offices throughout Acadiana from St. Martinville and Lafayette on west to Jennings and Welsh.