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ESB Financial is pleased to welcome Jeff Longbine as one of the newest members of the ESB Financial Board of Directors.

Jeff Longbine, owner of Longbine Auto Plaza, brings decades of business experience and community leadership to the board. A fourth-generation auto dealer, his family has been part of the Emporia business community since 1965.

“I grew up in the business,” Longbine said. “I worked in the dealership through high school and my years at Emporia State, and officially joined full time in 1982. Being part of the automotive industry has always been in my DNA.”

As a long-standing business owner, Longbine appreciates the strong sense of connection that comes from operating in a close-knit community like Emporia.

“We’re fortunate to really know our customers—they’re not just clients, they’re our family, friends, neighbors, and fellow business owners,” he said. “That’s something you don’t get in bigger cities, and it’s one of the reasons I love doing business in Kansas.”

With more than 40 years of business ownership under his belt, Longbine emphasizes the vital role financial management and local banking relationships play in long-term success.

“Any business has its challenges. Financial management and having a good relationship with your bank is essential to growing your business,” he said. “To succeed, you need a great banker—someone who can help provide capital for growth and support business planning to ensure long-term profitability.”

Longbine’s business values align closely with ESB’s mission. “Our success depends on taking care of our customers first and our employees second. We must do an exceptional job with both to be successful,” he said.

When asked what advice he’d give to other small business owners, Longbine offered this: “Don’t leave home without your banker.”

In his role on the ESB Board, Longbine hopes to apply both his business knowledge and his public service experience—particularly his time as chair of the Kansas Senate Banking Committee—to contribute to the bank’s continued growth and service.

“I’m excited to bring my perspective to the board and help ESB continue building a strong financial future for our communities,” Longbine said.

The 2025 ESB Board of Directors includes: James C Wayman, Karen W Sommers, Kent Glasscock, Lyle A Butler, Michael Black, Jeremy Rusco, Cory Haag, Ryan Arndt, and Jeff Longbine.

About ESB Financial

ESB Financial has been serving the banking needs of Kansans since 1901. They are proud to be a family-owned bank that has had a tradition of helping family, friends, and neighbors for four generations.