For this Commerce team member, Veterans Day has extra meaning.

“I got to surprise my niece and nephew during an assembly at their school,” she says. “They hadn’t seen me for six months, and they were so excited. That was something I’ll never forget, and because of that, Veterans Day has been kind of special for me.”

Barnes believes Veterans Day is an important opportunity to recognize everyone who has served in the nation’s armed forces. “The military teaches us to always be focused on helping others and not putting the spotlight on ourselves or taking credit for the things we do,” she explains. “It’s great that we have a day in honor of veterans who have sacrificed a lot. It’s good to focus on how much they’ve done for all of us, because veterans by nature will downplay that a lot.”

Barnes’ own journey with the National Guard got off to an early start. “I joined when I was 17, right before my senior year of high school,” she says. “Right after graduation, I went to Fort Leonard Wood to complete basic training and my advanced individual training to become a military police officer. I drilled here in Springfield while I was in college.”

Those college years also brought her to Commerce Bank, where she worked part-time as a personal banker in a Springfield-area branch location while pursuing her degree. She was later deployed to Guantanamo Bay for a year, after which she worked as a graphic designer before deciding to return to Commerce as a personal banker in late 2022.

“I came back for the culture and the opportunities for growth,” Barnes says. “I wanted to work someplace where I could build my career, and I knew I would find that here at Commerce. I love the culture and the people.”

At the beginning of 2024, Barnes moved to her current role with the Private Bank at Commerce Trust, which she describes as an ideal fit for her. “I really love working in private banking, because we create a team around every single one of our clients,” she says. “We support different aspects of their financial lives and help them work toward their goals. We focus on them as total human beings. I’m one piece of a big team that supports our clients. It’s a very cohesive approach, and I love being a part of it.”

Before her return to Commerce, Barnes left the Army National Guard, as she and her husband wanted to start a family. The couple has since had a son, who was born in 2023, and Barnes’ husband continues to serve as an engineer at Fort Leonard Wood.

Barnes looks back on her time in the National Guard fondly. “I loved the camaraderie, the people I got to work alongside, the experiences,” she says. “You always knew that if you had to be out in the rain or sweating your tail off, those hard times always made you stronger at the end of it. I was the strongest version of myself when I was in the military. I enjoyed the challenge that life in the military presented me.”

Several aspects of military life have had an influence on her working style today. “I’m a big team player,” she says. “I can work with all kinds of people and all kinds of teams. In the military, you really have to match with everybody — and I’m definitely one of those people who can do that. I’m also very flexible. I expect change and am always up for the challenge that comes with it.”

Charles Lontoc, a personal banker specialist with Commerce Bank, says Barnes is the most dependable person he knows. “When we worked at a branch together, if I needed something done, the first person I called was Sarah,” he says. “She does quality work, and if she was assigned to something, I never had to worry about it.”

Lontoc sees the influence of her military background in her work today. “She’s very meticulous and organized, which is beneficial because in her role there are many moving pieces all the time,” he says. “Her ability to keep everything on track and in order is incredible. Her experience living abroad also gives her a perspective that adds a level of understanding and empathy with anyone she interacts with. She always takes the time to understand what people need, whether they are a customer or a team member.”

In addition to being coworkers, Barnes and Lontoc serve as regional co-chairs for SALUTE, Commerce’s employee resource group dedicated to supporting veterans. “We really collaborate well together,” Lontoc explains. “I’m not a veteran; I’ve come into SALUTE as an ally, and I think our perspectives complement each other well because of that. It’s fun for us to bounce ideas off each other and watch those ideas grow into reality.”

For Barnes, the networking opportunities she experiences through her participation in SALUTE add to her enjoyment of working at Commerce. “I’ve met so many people — veterans and non-veterans — here in Springfield and in other cities,” she says. “It’s interesting because I’ve gotten to know people who I didn’t realize had a military background. It sparks joy in me to meet other veterans, because it connects to that feeling of camaraderie. That has been really special.”