Just out of college, Hjalma went to work for a division of Proctor and Gamble, then IBM, earning his law degree at the same time. Yet armed with his law degree, he joined Regions Bank rather than a law firm and made the career move that would bring him to the presidency of the American Bankers Association. Now with the ABA presidency a reality, Johnson is ready for a whirlwind year as the chief spokesperson for bankers throughout the nation. Johnson s enthusiasm for the job shows when he talks about his goals for the year. While we use the magnificent power of the information age, we must maintain the trust of banks and bankers.
People trust their banker.
We must use the power of the computer to enhance trust. The challenge for bankers is going to be combining the two very different cultures, one of cold, hard technology with warm, personal relationships. The scope of the challenge is daunting. For bankers, Johnson believes the challenge is going to be in providing what the customers want when they want it. Technology should be able to make that happen, too.