Saint Michael, Minn.-based Highland Bank elected Dan Lee and William Lehner as board directors in early December. Experienced in acquiring, managing and repurposing commercial properties, Lee started with Highland in 2009 as a special assets officer. A former pilot, Lee joined property management firm Wall Companies, expanding its acquisitions department by focusing on acquiring value-add … Read more
St. Paul-based Bremer Bank recently hired Trent Bowman as its first community impact manager. Bowman, who was also named vice president, most recently managed mortgage lending outreach in the Minneapolis area as VP, CRA business development officer at MidWestOne Bank, Iowa City, Iowa. His main office at Bremer will be in Brooklyn Center, Minn. At … Read more
Merrillville, Ind.-based Centier Bank promoted Dan Gibson to vice president, director of talent development in Merrillville, Ind. A former educator, Gibson joined the $6.2 billion bank in 2013 as an intern with Centier’s Learning Center. Gibson, who graduated from Purdue University Northwest, Hammond, Ind., was promoted to assistant vice president and manager of the bank’s … Read more
Nationally-recognized bank regulatory and M&A attorney Karen Grandstrand recently joined the board of directors of Saint Louis Park, Minn.-based Citizens Independent Bank. Grandstrand chairs the Bank & Finance Group at Minneapolis-based Fredrikson & Byron, P.A., advising clients on examination matters, compliance and enforcement actions, M&As and the recapitalization and acquisition of troubled banks. Before joining … Read more
The Graduate School of Banking at the University of Wisconsin-Madison promoted Erin Dunn from administrative assistant to student engagement and outreach coordinator. Dunn joined GSB in June 2014, and is often the initial point of contact for bankers who inquire about GSB online seminars and other programs. “[Dunn] is an outgoing, people person who does … Read more
Oregon, Wis.-based One Community Bank promoted Amy Bailey to vice president and director of treasury management. Bailey joined the bank in the summer of 2020. She has more than 30 years of financial services experience in retail, commercial and business banking, mortgage and consumer lending and operational and location management. “It’s rewarding being able to … Read more
Beloit, Wis.-based First National Bank and Trust Co. promoted Chelsea Ballou to executive vice president, director of bank operations. Ballou has nearly 15 years of experience in banking. She graduated from Lewis University, Romeoville, Ill., with a Bachelor of Science degree and received an MBA from Cardinal Stritch University, Milwaukee, in 2011. She is a … Read more
Lincoln-based West Gate Bank hired Tony Nienas as vice president, correspondent account executive. Nienas has more than 33 years of mortgage lending experience. He is involved with the Nebraska Mortgage Association and Iowa Mortgage Association. “Nienas will be responsible for developing long-term correspondent business relationships with financial institutions in the Central Plains region, increasing market … Read more
David Bochnowski will retire this year as executive board chair of Munster, Ind.-based Finward Bancorp. Bochnowski’s retirement is effective June 30. The board appointed his son, Finward Bancorp President and CEO Benjamin Bochnowski, to succeed him as chair. The changes at the holding company of Peoples Bank are considered part of its succession planning process. … Read more
Rosemont, Ill.-based Wintrust Financial will appoint President Timothy Crane to also serve as CEO, effective May 1. Crane was immediately appointed to the Wintrust board of directors. Wintrust Founder Edward Wehmer will continue as CEO through April 30. Wehmer, who established the now-$53 billion bank in 1991, will continue to serve on the board and become … Read more