Winona, Minn.-based Merchants Bank hired Erick Maki as regional president-south in the Minnesota communities of Caledonia, Lanesboro, La Crescent, Rochester, Rushford, Spring Grove and St. Charles, as well as Onalaska, Wis.
Maki will be a member of the company’s Executive Leadership Team. He has more than 20 years of experience in banking and sales to Merchants Bank, including the last five as market president for Bremer Bank in La Crosse, Wis. He was vice president of commercial and nonprofit banking at Bremer for 10 years before his tenure as market president. Maki was an intern for Thrivent Financial, Winona, while he attended college at Winona State University. He spent 16 years in the financial industry in the Twin Cities metro area before returning to the area in 2017.
“We are thrilled that Erick made the choice to join our team,” said President/CEO Greg Evans. “He has proven to be a difference-maker throughout his career, with a passion for meeting the needs of customers and co-workers. He also brings to Merchants a strong reputation for being actively engaged in community activities and will work with our teams to build on our position of strength as an engaged business leader in the communities of our south region.”
Maki has a Bachelor of Science degree in finance from Winona State University and an MBA from Saint Mary’s University, Winona. “One of the main reasons I wanted to join Merchants was the opportunity to be part of a community-minded, local organization,” Maki noted. “The culture, focus on local and overall community banking philosophy all stood out to me as well. I’m looking forward to supporting my co-workers and the important work they do serving customers and community members.”