When he was a teenager during the 1980s, Dan Robb started his banking career as a maintenance man.

Now, he’s enjoying a successful banking career that includes a 20-year tenure with Jonesburg State Bank and a three-year run in the “chairs” of leadership at the American Bankers Association.

Robb is the president and CEO of Jonesburg State Bank, which has locations in Montgomery City, Jonesburg and Warrenton. He recently completed his one-year term as ABA chairman.

“It’s been a wonderful career,” Robb said. “It’s been a wonderful experience. I love Jonesburg State Bank. I love Jonesburg, Montgomery City and Warrenton, the three locations that we have. There are great people in this area. I want to stand out for our customers.”

Robb gave his outgoing speech as ABA president during the organization’s annual convention in October in Nashville, Tenn. During his 10-minute speech, he talked about his plans on continuing being an advocate for the banking industry.

“We as bankers have got to raise our voice in Washington, D.C., and actually tell our members in Congress what is wrong with overregulation and what is wrong with rules that have been put into place that are not necessarily for the smallest of the banks,” Robb said. “It’s important that we speak up and say something about that. If I don’t say something, who’s going to say it? It’s got to be somebody.”

Robb also brought his Buckeye tree with him during the trip to Tennessee. He said the Buckeye tree, which his father kept for many years until his passing two years ago, helps him become a strong promoter for banks.

“The Buckeye tree is very tenacious,” Robb said. “The Buckeye tree grows in places that other trees won’t necessarily grow. It’s poisonous. You don’t want to eat a buckeye.”

While working as a maintenance man four decades ago at a local bank in Cairo, Robb performed duties such as sweeping the parking lot, washing the windows and transporting coins between branches. He went on to work as a part-time teller. In 2003, he started working at Jonesburg State Bank, which is now a $130-million institution.

“Banking is all I’ve ever done since I was 18 years old,” Robb said.

Robb’s road to ABA chairman began nearly 10 years ago, when he was chairman of the Missouri Bankers Association.

“That led me to be on committees at the national level with the American Bankers Association,” Robb said. “I was on the Community Bankers Council. I was on the Government Relations Council, which is made of about 100 bankers from across the United States. I served on that for three years and they asked me to become vice-chair and chair of the Government Relations Council. It basically works with our legislators and works with anything that is going on in legislation that affects banks.”

In 2020, Robb went on a Zoom interview for ABA vice-chair and was selected for the position. He served as chair-elect in 2021 before being named chairman the following year. During his time as chairman, he traveled around the country to talk about the issues of the banking industry.

Robb said he enjoys having his wife, Dianna, traveling with him. Dianna works part-time at Jonesburg State Bank.

“I wouldn’t have done it if Dianna wouldn’t have said, ‘I want to go with you. I think it’s very important and I want to be by your side.’ She did not miss one trip,” Robb said. “She went to everything with me. She was all across the United States as well. It’s great to have a partner like that and it’s great to have somebody on your side and by your side. It’s a blessing to have her in my life.”

On Nov. 8, Robb and his wife will be going on a nine-day trip to Dubai to represent the ABA at an international monetary conference.

“For a little country boy from Missouri, it’s going to be a great time to be in Dubai,” Robb said.