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Premier Banking Consultants
Community Bank Consulting · Est. 1994

Trusted Advisors to Community Banks Since 1994

Premier Banking Consultants is an independent firm of senior-level advisors — not a rotating bench of junior staff. We bring decades of hands-on regulatory, credit, and cybersecurity experience to community banks and credit unions across Kentucky, Indiana, Ohio, and Tennessee.

150+Years combined experience
19Banks led out of enforcement action
4States served: KY, IN, OH, TN
Firm Overview

Founded on a simple idea

Premier Banking Consultants was founded in 1994 to give community banks and credit unions access to the same caliber of regulatory and risk expertise as much larger institutions, without paying for the overhead of a national consulting or accounting firm. We've stayed a small, independent practice on purpose — it's what lets senior consultants do the actual work, rather than manage a team of juniors doing it for them.

Capabilities

How we help banks

Loan Review

An independent, senior-led review that catches credit weaknesses early — before they become losses.

Regulatory Advisory

Hands-on guidance before, during, and after examination, so your team walks in prepared.

Internal, BSA, ACH, IT & IRR/Liquidity Audits

Independent audit coverage across your highest-risk operational areas.

IT Network & Vulnerability Assessments

Practical, affordable testing led by certified security professionals.

Compliance Services

A compliance program sized right for a community bank — training, monitoring, and reporting.

CECL & ACL Audit Readiness

Independent validation so your CECL and ACL practices withstand examiner scrutiny.

Why PBC

Senior expertise on every engagement.

As an independent firm, you avoid the overhead of larger consulting and accounting firms while still getting decades of real, hands-on banking experience. Personalized service is our trademark — satisfied clients remain our best advertisement.

  1. 01

    Independent Advice

    We work for you — not an audit firm's broader book of business or a software vendor's roadmap. Recommendations are shaped by your institution's needs alone.

  2. 02

    Credentialed Consultants

    Every engagement is led by senior consultants with real industry credentials, not staff still building their first few years of experience.

  3. 03

    Community Banking Specialization

    We work exclusively with community banks and credit unions, so every recommendation is sized and priced for an institution like yours.

  4. 04

    Long-Term Relationships

    Many client relationships span a decade or more. We're a phone call away between engagements, not just during exam season.

  5. 05

    Regulatory Expertise

    Decades spent on both sides of the exam table give us a practical, current view of what examiners expect — and how to get there.

Our Team

Consultant roster

Full bios and certifications: premierbankingconsultants.com/credentials

Robert H. "Bob" DownsPresidentRegulatory relations, credit administration, and problem bank turnarounds
Sheila R. BunchSenior Associate ConsultantCompliance, BSA, and deposit review
Raymond C. Schnur, IIISenior Associate ConsultantLoan operations, branch management, and investment advising
Melissa VincentAssociate ConsultantEnterprise risk, internal audit, and BSA leadership
Kevan William AgeeAssociate IT & Security ConsultantIT security, network vulnerability, and fraud examination
Carrie R. McGrawAssociate Compliance ConsultantCompliance, loan review, and banking center management
References

Institutional relationships built on results

Many client relationships span a decade or more. Specific contacts are shared during your evaluation — see premierbankingconsultants.com/references.

First National Bank of Kentucky — Carrollton, KY — $250MM in assets
Farmers Bank of Milton — Milton, KY — $425MM in assets
Morgantown Bank & Trust — Morgantown, KY — $400MM in assets
Scottsburg Building and Loan Association — Scottsburg, IN — $100MM in assets
State Bank of Medora — Medora, IN — $75MM in assets
First State Bank — Middlebury, IN — $650MM in assets
Freedom Bank — Jasper / Huntingburg, IN — $500MM in assets
West End Bank — Richmond, IN — $400MM in assets prior to sale
Your Community Bank — New Albany, IN — $850MM in assets prior to sale
Richwood Bank — Richwood, OH — $1 billion in assets
Wayne County Bank — Waynesboro, TN — $500MM in assets
Community Bank — Lexington, TN — $375MM in assets
Let's Talk

Let's discuss your institution's needs.

No pitch, no pressure — just a conversation with a senior consultant about where your institution stands today and where an independent set of eyes could help.

Schedule a Consultation