Kent Needham was born in Pratt, Kansas on May 10, 1953, the first child of Leslie L. and Bobbie R. Needham. He has one sister, Kim, who currently lives in Oklahoma. Raised in Northwest Kansas and graduating from Decatur Community High School, in Oberlin, Kansas in the Spring of 1971, Kent was very active in music, sports, and many other clubs and organizations. In the Fall, he attended Fort Hays State University where he graduated with a B.S. in Business with majors in finance and economics. Kent continued his education by attaining an MBA with an emphasis in banking and finance from Wichita State University. Additionally, he is a 1984 graduate of the Colorado Graduate School of Banking held at the University of Colorado, in Boulder, Colorado. A lifetime learner, Kent has received various other licenses and certifications along the way. Terry and Kent married after graduation from college in January of 1977. They are blessed with three children, Michael, Matthew and Megan. All are married to Andrea, Amanda and Russ respectively. Additionally, Kent and Terry have two granddaughters, Avarie and Ella, with their first grandson expected in June.

Kent grew up in the banking business as it runs through the family for several generations. Starting at an early age, he dumped the trash and filed checks after school. Involvement in the bank continued through high school. While attending college, he worked several jobs including banking, farming, the oil field, a mattress factory, sold clothes, insurance and several other part time and full time jobs. All helped to reinforce his interest and appreciation of the banking industry. His first employer after graduate school was Western National Bank in Amarillo, Texas where he worked for approximately four years. Wanting to return to Kansas, he accepted a job with Farmers Bank & Trust in Great Bend where he was the Executive Vice-President and on the board of directors for approximately 12 years. An opportunity developed that took the Needham family to Tonganoxie where Kent was President and CEO and member of the board of directors of the First State Bank and Trust in Tonganoxie for 15 years. Recently, an opportunity arose that allowed Kent to assume the position of Chairman of the Board, President and CEO of the First Security Bank in Overbrook, Kansas.

Kent has been a very active advocate for his profession. He has been actively involved with the Kansas Bankers Association, having served on several committees, the governing council, the board of directors, and had the honor of being selected to serve as the Chairman in 2005. Additionally, Kent has served on several committees, a task force, and the board of directors of the Kansas/Nebraska School of Banking. For seven years, he was on the board of trustees of the Graduate School of Banking at Colorado. During that time, he accepted the responsibility of serving on several committees including the Strategic Planning Committee where he served as Chairman from 1995-1997 and was the Chairman of the Board of Trustees in 1998. In 2000, Kent was asked to represent the American Bankers Association in Washington, D.C. by serving as the State Membership Chairman for Kansas. He continues to be involved with the ABA by serving on the Administrative Committee of the America’s Community Bankers Council. Finally, Kent has worked with the Financial Services Volunteer Corporation in New York City, New York as a volunteer to Russia by providing a presentation on Strategic Planning for the banking industry of Russia in Moscow and St. Petersburg.

Community service has long been a passion of Kent’s. His involvement has extended for many years and includes being a member of various civic groups, chambers of commerce, booster clubs, and children’s coach for recreational sports. He has worked with the local schools districts by serving on foundations, facilities committees, and patron advisory councils. Kent was heavily involved with the Boy Scouts of America taking on such responsibilities as cubmaster, webelos leader, assistant scout master, merit badge counselor, district committee, ethics-in-action committee chairman and council executive board member. On a broader scale, Kent has been very active in economic development by being a member of an organization board of the Central Kansas Business Development Center and of the Board of Western Kansas Technology Corporation, and the KTEC Industrial Liaison Program for Western Kansas. Most recently he participated in the Tonganoxie Bio-Science initiative and on the KTEC Bio-Science Authority Animal Science Hot Team. As a Deacon on the Finance Committee of the Tonganoxie Christian Church and a member of the Board of Trustees of Manhattan Christian College, Kent has been actively involved in his churches and the Christian faith. Youth and education continue to be a focus as Kent has and continues to serve on several foundations. Kent recently accepted an invitation to serve on the Fort Hays State University Foundation Board of Trustees and serves on the Finance Committee. Previously, he was a member of the Board of Trustees of Barton County Community College Foundation for 6 years holding the positions of Treasurer, Vice-President and President.

Kent was raised a Master Mason at San Jacinto Lodge #1330 in Amarillo, Texas on February 20, 1979. He also received his York Rite and Scottish Rite Degrees while living in Texas. Moving back to Kansas, he transferred his memberships to Great Bend Lodge #15, Mt. Nebo Chapter #36, R.A.M., Golden Belt Council #21, R. & S.M. and St. Omer Commandery #14, K.T. all of Great Bend and Scottish Rite to the Valley of Salina. Kent was Master of Great Bend Lodge #15 in 1988, High Priest in 1992, Illustrious Master in 1995 and Commander in 1990. He was honored with his Knight of the York Cross of Honour in 1996. Kent joined the ISIS Shrine, A.A.O.N.M.S. of Salina, Kansas in 1989. When work required a move to Tonganoxie, Kent became a plural member with Henri #190 in Tonganoxie. He is a perpetual life member of both Great Bend #15 and Henri #190. Kent has received his Order of High Priesthood, Order of the Silver Trowel, and is a member of the Kansas Association of Past Commanders. He has represented the Grand York Rite by serving the Grand Chapter on the York Rite Perpetual Membership Committee and is the Grand Representative to Scotland. He also represented the Grand Commandery as Chairman of the York Rite Computer Committee for eleven years, was the Grand Guard for two years and Grand Sword Bearer for one year. He is a member of King David No. LX, Holy Royal Arch Knights Templar Priests and currently serves as Deputy Preceptor. He is also a member of the Kansas York Rite College #125, National Sojourners, Inc., and the St. Augustine Conclave of the Order of Knights of the Red Cross of Constantine where he is currently Senior General. Kent, as a Senior DeMolay, is a recipient of the Legion of Honor awarded by DeMolay International. M:.W:. J. Steven Molstad selected Kent as Grand Senior Deacon in 2006 and he was asked to serve as the Chairman of the Strategic Planning Committee by M:.W:. Jimmie L. Grassi, Sr. in 2007. Kent is currently a member of the Board of Trustees of the Kansas Masonic Foundation, Inc. and has been on the Board of Directors of the Kansas Masonic Home for two years during his time as a Grand Lodge Officer.