Citizens Alliance names interim president

Chad Forkrud

Chad Forkrud was named interim president of Citizens Alliance Bank, Clara City, Minn., following the death of former president and CEO John Gill, Sr. 

Forkrud has been with the organization for over 25 years. He began his career in the fall of 1995 as an intern in backroom operations. He spent time in investments before moving to lending, most recently as senior vice president and chief lending officer.

Forkrud is a member of the Clara City Economic Development Authority and recently retired from the Clara City Fire Department after 23 years of service. He has a bachelor’s degree in political science from St. John’s University, Collegeville. In 2016, he graduated from the Graduate School of Banking at the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

A CPA, Gill had been president of the bank since 2014 before dying unexpectedly this fall. Prior to that, he was an executive vice president, chief operating officer and chief financial officer at Western Bank, St. Paul, Minn. He previously worked at Highland Bank, St. Paul, Richfield Bank & Trust, Richfield, Minn., and RSM McGladrey.

Gill had a Bachelor of Arts degree in accountancy from the University of North Dakota, Grand Forks, and was a graduate of American Bankers Association’s Stonier Graduate School of Banking/Wharton Leadership program.

The $924 million Citizens Alliance has nine offices in Minnesota and three in Montana.