I find that looking to the future can be daunting, exciting, and frustrating. The future, it seems, doesn’t change as quickly as many might think or wish. I am someone who thrives in an environment of fast-paced change. I like not always knowing what comes next, and I love the thrill of anticipating and strategizing for various possibilities. 

Some things remain fairly predictable. Most people still will commute to work, use cash, and read paper books, despite the rapid changes in technology. Communities will still wrestle with the age-old public vs. private hiccups, and corporations will continue to be seen as the community heroes while at the same time perceived to be the barrier to all things progressive.

With this awareness, I look to my journal, which I have filled with both professional and personal wishes, ideas big and small, quotes heard in passing conversations, irritations for things I can’t fix, and that pesky, ever-growing to-do list. 

I keep a journal as a barometer; I look back year over year to see what carries forward and what simply falls off the list. The wishes, ideas, and challenges help me formulate what I hope to see in the future for my children, my community, my company and those I hold dear both personally and professionally.

It is safe to say that over the next five years, banking will change. Not overnight, not drastically, but will change nonetheless. Some of the change we can predict. We can visualize that smart phone technology will continue to take us to cashless transactions, and we can safely say the days of large, grandiose bank branches will become a thing of the past. 

We will see people wearing rings that actually act as debit cards, and all you have to do is hold your ring up to the chip reader to complete a transaction. I predict you will see branches become advisory centers where you not only meet with your banker to talk about finances, but also life insurance, health insurance, and house cleaners. The role of a future banker will be a cross between adviser and concierge.

Tracking legal, regulatory, and policy issues surrounding our industry is a full-time job. As our bank does business in Washington and three other states where adult-use marijuana is legal, the conflict between the state and federal law brings to light one of the single biggest policy issues facing the banking industry. Most banks have concluded that because marijuana remains illegal federally, there is too much risk in providing banking services to marijuana-related businesses, which leaves an entire business sector to operate mostly with cash.

Only about 4 percent of America’s financial institutions, including both banks and credit unions, have decided to take on the risk of providing banking services to the cannabis industry, leaving a legitimate business to operate mostly using cash. Regardless of how you feel about the legalization, I think we can all agree that our communities would be safer if marijuana-related businesses weren’t forced to operate solely in cash.

Trying to predict what kind of political, environmental, and economic moods swings our community will encounter is difficult. Businesses will expand and contract, local governments will turn over, and diverse local initiatives will find their way onto ballots. All these pieces shape our community in positive and negative ways. 

It’s important to remember that real, sustainable, positive change takes hard work by many. Change made “in the moment” can be fleeting and may not have the desired effect. We must set to work on broad, long-term, sustainable change, lest we tend to whiplash our community. 

With that in mind, I focus on projects, people, and foundational elements that have stood the test of time in navigating the ever-changing waters of Spokane. My belief is that our higher education institutions will continue to be economic and innovation drivers behind our region’s growth. Without those institutions, Spokane limits itself and its positive growth. It’s critical that we leverage each of our institutions’ individual strengths and niches to ensure balanced growth and prosperity for all. This is not a time for bravado, but a time for bold partnership.

Spokane is fortunate for the brainpower, research, talent, out-of-the-box thinkers, and diverse thought-leadership that stems from our diverse college communities. Our higher education institutions have a “cool factor” that attracts and engages with our business community. That synergy must be coveted, and more importantly influence, where Spokane and our region make their mark in years to come.

I wish that all Spokane citizens would take a moment to relish in why this area is a great place to live, play, and raise a family. 

Become proud and outspoken Spokane voices. Offer solutions, get involved, and take advantage of your voice being heard. I hope that we as a community limit the distractions of the next “shiny object” and that we hone in on the gems we sit on today. This community is full of gems; Spokane has exactly what it needs to make its future bright. 

To wish is to desire for something. My desires, for both my industry and my community, is stability with a touch of unpredictability, a passion to help others, the ability to look around the corner, and a strong sense of curiosity of what can and will be. Oh, the possibilities.

Marty Dickinson is the Spokane-based executive vice president of cultural enhancement and government relations at Umpqua Bank.