Community banks tend to have an aversion to hiring professionals from outside the banking industry, executive recruiters say. The reluctance is understandable, as numerous banking regulations require personnel who understand policies, procedures, risk assessments and vendor management. Furthermore, hiring IT veterans uncommitted to the banking industry can get expensive, as doing so will have employers competing with higher-paying offers from other tech employers. However, if small banks wish to stay competitive, particularly when it comes to their technology, these are issues that will soon need to be addressed.