For Justin Mahoney, President of First Business Bank’s Kansas City region, life is all about balancing leadership with family, hard work with community, and even business with the occasional round of golf. A native of Kansas City and proud Loch Lloyd resident, he is deeply connected to the place he calls home.
Mahoney’s career in banking spans more than two decades, though it wasn’t exactly a planned path.
“I have lived in Kansas City my entire life on the 816 side,” says Mahoney. “I graduated from Northwest Missouri State about six months after the 9/11 attacks, and the country was in a hiring freeze which didn’t bode well for recent college grads. After stumbling across a UMB Bank booth at a career fair, my first job ended up in banking by pure accident. I worked as a retail banker inside of a Price Chopper in Gladstone in a full suit and tie for $9/hr every day! For a recent college grad, this was a humbling yet incredibly valuable experience, giving me insight into how the consumer side of banking works.
“A couple years later, I began my commercial banking career that took a very traditional path up the corporate ladder, spanning over a couple decades to my most recent role as President of First Business Bank’s KC region. Now entering my 24th year, my favorite aspect of being a banker has always been the relationships I’ve made along the way with clients and colleagues.”
Today, as president of the Kansas City region, Mahoney leads with the same perspective he’s carried since those early days—relationships come first. Clients, colleagues, and the community are at the heart of everything he does.
That philosophy is reflected in the bank he leads. First Business Bank isn’t a traditional retail bank with a branch on every corner.
“We are a commercial bank, which means we focus solely on banking businesses and their owners and families. Not only that, but our market headquarters is actually in Leawood. Being commercially focused, we don’t have a branch network, so our local Leawood headquarters on College and State Line is our sole location. This business model makes us lean, nimble, and allows us to focus on what we do best: commercial loans, treasury management, and private wealth.”
Mahoney and his wife, Candace, have two daughters, Payton and Sofia. They’re expecting their third child, a baby boy named Grant “Banks” Mahoney, in the spring of 2026. Family is central to his life, and Loch Lloyd has provided the perfect backdrop for creating memories.
“The comfort, sense of security, and amazing community are all reasons why I have built two homes in Loch Lloyd over the past decade and why we’ll probably call it home for many more to come. We have a beautiful golf course, peaceful lake, and awesome wildlife—it feels like you’re an hour outside the city, yet you’re literally only a couple minutes from Leawood. I couldn’t think of anywhere else we’d rather live in Kansas City!”
Golf plays a special role for the Mahoney family. The game has become both a pastime and a tool for building relationships.
“As a good friend of mine once said, I’m very fond of the game of golf, but it is not so fond of me. As a “bogie” golfer, I have a lot of fun playing but also utilize the golf course frequently to build and maintain strong business relationships. Golf is also a family sport in our home, as Candace has recently picked up the game (and is a natural) and our girls love playing in the Jr PGA League at our club.”
Whether he’s on the golf course, at work leading his team, or at home with his family, Mahoney embodies the idea of balance and is proof that success in business doesn’t mean sacrificing family or community. Instead, it can mean using strong relationships, a supportive home, and a connected neighborhood as the foundation for both personal and professional growth.
As President of First Business Bank, Mahoney brings that same outlook to his clients. It’s not just about numbers or transactions, but it’s about people, relationships, and building something lasting. Just like Loch Lloyd, it’s about finding a place, and a partner, you can truly trust.
First Business Bank is located at 11141 Overbrook Road in Leawood. For more information, visit firstbusiness.bank.com.
Article by Allison Swan
Photography by Janie Jones
Originally published in Leawood City Lifestyle