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
Former Independent Community Bankers of America President and CEO Ken Guenther died Jan. 25. Guenther led the organization from 1982-2004 during an era of many industrywide changes. His first few years in the CEO role came as hundreds of small banks failed amid the farm foreclosure crisis of the 1980s. During the early 1990s, Guenther … Read more
Aberdeen, S.D.-based Dacotah Bank promoted Kimberly Bowman to senior vice president and chief talent officer. Bowman began her career with the $3.5 billion bank in 2005. She’s been with Dacotah Bank’s human resources department for the last 15 years. Bowman graduated in 2008 from Northern State University, Aberdeen, with a double major in economics and … Read more
Treynor, Iowa-based TS Bank hired Kelli Hecker as manager for a soon-to-open full-service branch in the central Iowa town of Ames. According to a press release, a soft opening for the branch is slated for April 1, with a grand opening expected later this fall. The $390 million bank began exploring an expansion to Ames … Read more
Brookfield, Wis.-based North Shore Bank named Jay McKenna president and CEO. McKenna, previously the bank’s president and chief operating officer, assumed the CEO position from his father, Jim McKenna, who is continuing as the bank’s executive chair. McKenna, 54, started his career at an international accounting firm. He was hired by the $2.6 billion North … Read more
Merrillville, Ind.-based Centier Bank promoted Sharon O’Dell to vice president, manager of closing and disclosures. O’Dell was hired by the $6.2 billion bank in the summer of 2019 after working in the mortgage industry for nearly three decades at other financial institutions. “I am thrilled to be given this promotion and to be recognized for … Read more
Meg Martin joined the wealth management division of Fargo, N.D.-based Bell Bank as vice president/senior wealth and fiduciary adviser. Martin, who is based in Minneapolis, has been in banking and legal services since 2014. She mainly works with high-net-worth customers, multigenerational families and owners of family-owned and closely held businesses. “She draws on her experience … Read more
Charles City, Iowa-based First Security Bank & Trust hired Chris Corcoran as a senior ag/commercial lender in Charles City. A community banker for nearly 25 years, Corcoran has a Bachelor of Science degree from Iowa State University, Ames. He has completed the Iowa Bankers Association’s Commercial Lending School and the Iowa School of Banking. He’s … Read more
Lincoln, Neb.-based West Gate Bank elected Chad Tettenborn to senior vice president of commercial lending. Tettenborn joined the bank in August 2020. He has a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Nebraska Wesleyan University, Lincoln, and an MBA from Creighton University, Omaha. “Tettenborn will continue to develop relationships in the Omaha market to assist commercial … Read more