Community Banking

PKM and its friends in the community banking field share a common value proposition – we both appeal to customers who seek the broad capabilities of a larger institution, but who desire the familiarity and accessibility of a smaller organization. Perhaps this mutual attribute is why PKM has grown into one of the leading public accounting firms in the nation to specialize in the community banking industry. Like your own banking customers, you will never feel like "just another account" at PKM.

Today, PKM works with more than 100 bank clients in 26 states, ranging in size from $20 million to more than $8 billion in assets. These statistics have earned PKM a place on Public Accounting Report’s national list of "Public Community Bank Audit Leaders," where our firm is ranked second in the nation in terms of revenue audited and sixth in terms of client share. Indeed, our community banking expertise is so deep that it includes several specialty areas: specifically Banks and Bank Holding Companies Registered with the SEC, S Corporation banks, and De Novo banks.

Leveraging Relationships to Enhance Knowledge

With such a large banking clientele, PKM is in a unique position to offers its banking clients a variety of opportunities to enhance their knowledge of financial and accounting issues relevant to the industry. Through The Financial Institutions Forum, a nonprofit organization, PKM co-hosts seminars on a variety of topics to address questions commonly asked of its professionals. Events have included the Annual S Corporation Conference, which helps bankers gain perspective from industry experts on the topic of S Corporations; "Taking Stock: Linking Executive Compensation to Company Performance" seminar, which demonstrated the pros and cons of various long-term incentive programs popular with companies today; and "Going Private, Staying Private" seminar to address the benefits of deregistering from the SEC.

PKM also offers six additional educational and networking opportunities specifically for bankers via three peer groups.

The Bank CFO/Controller Peer Group is meets three times a year to provide bank financial executives with a forum to obtain continuing professional education (CPE) credit and participate in roundtable discussions on a variety of financial topics.
The De Novo Bank Peer Group also meets three times a year to provide a forum for executives of banks in operation five years or less in which they can share ideas and concerns specific to start-up years.
The Audit Committee Peer Group meets twice a year to educate audit committee members on their responsibilities, keep them abreast of industry happenings and regulatory changes and provide them with peer-to-peer networking opportunities.

Participating in the Banking Community

PKM believes in supporting the community it serves. As such, we are active associate members of numerous state banking associations. In addition to being highly visible at meetings and conventions, legislative receptions, and leadership counsel seminars, PKM sponsors events including golf outings, receptions, Political Action Committees and public relations funds. PKM also assists these associations by offering seminars and programs to educate bankers. Recent classes have included: Internal Audit School, Bank Financial Officer School and Board of Directors Training.

The firm also is involved with three organizations dedicated solely to accounting issues for community banks:

The Financial Institutions Committee of PKF North American Network, an international organization of CPA firms of which PKM Partner Tim Keadle, served as past Chairman and PKM Partner David Wood is currently a member.
Community Bank Advisory Network (CBAN), a national organization of CPA firms specializing in community banks, for which PKM Partner Sal Inserra, serves as past President of the Board of Directors.
Financial Institutions Forum, an organization that conducts seminars, lectures, and conferences to instruct and educate the public on industry regulations and other issues concerning financial institutions. PKM Partner Pat Tuley serves as a Director and PKM Director of Marketing Laura Snyder serves as the organization’s secretary/treasurer.

These organizations provide PKM with forums to exchange ideas, obtain continuing education and stay abreast of the latest industry developments on issues that affect community banks.