This article was originally published in the Independent Community Bankers of South Dakota’s magazine, “The Bottom Line.”

Originally from the small town of Newcastle, Nebraska, Adam Lamprecht’s path led him to a career in community banking after he earned his degree in business administration with a concentration in accounting from Wayne State College in 2008.

He started his journey in the banking world at the Sioux City courthouse before moving to Sioux Falls in 2009, where he began working as a personal banker at The First National Bank in Sioux Falls.

He spent four years as a customer relationship manager and personal banker before transitioning to his current role at The Advantage Network, which operates within First National Bank, more than 11 years ago.

As the chargeback and adjustments specialist at The Advantage Network, Adam processes checkcard disputes and handles fraud mitigation. He’s seen a lot of changes over the years.

“The dispute process has really improved, leading to higher success rates,” he notes. “Fraud mitigation has also improved tremendously from what it was 11 years ago. The chip card has helped drop counterfeit card fraud, where hackers used to steal the card information and put them on blank cards. Now, fraud has largely transitioned to online and e-commerce fraud, as the chips are much more difficult to recreate.”

Education is key when it comes to preventing fraud, according to Adam.

“The best line of defense is an educated cardholder. Check your accounts often, set up alerts, and take advantage of tools like SecurLOCK and consumer alerts that can detect potential fraud.”

His role involves not just disputes, but all aspects of card processing — taking calls from member institutions, opening tickets, billing, and more.

“Fraud mitigation has also improved tremendously since 11 years ago. The chip card has really helped drop counterfeit card fraud where hackers used to get the numbers and put them on blank cards.”

For Adam, the importance of community banking can’t be overstated.

“At a community bank, you’re not just a number. They know you and are a part of your life. It’s all about relationships and being hands-on.”

Many community banks, such as First National Bank, even offer specialty cards where a portion of every transaction goes back to support local schools.

When he’s not at the bank, you might find Adam throwing darts — something he’s done locally for a decade.

He also has a longtime hobby of drag racing with his dad and family, a tradition more than 20 years in the making.

A true community banking professional, Adam Lamprecht is committed to helping financial institutions serve and protect their customers.