Sturgis, Mich.-based Sturgis Bancorp recently announced the retirement of President and CEO Eric Eishen after a 45-year career at subsidiary Sturgis Bank. The Sturgis Bancorp board of directors unanimously approved Jason Hyska to serve as president and CEO, effective immediately.
The Jan. 15 announcement marks the completion of a succession process that started in July 2022 when Eishen turned over daily operations of the community bank to Hyska as CEO. At the time, Matt Scheske was named president and chief operating officer. Eishen had kept the roles of Sturgis Bancorp president and CEO and added the roles of executive vice president and chief strategy officer at Sturgis Bank during the transition period
Eishen, whose father, Leonard, once served as Sturgis Bank president and CEO, began his own banking career as a teller at age 15. He served in roles of increasing responsibility until he was named president, CEO and a director of Sturgis Bancorp in 2002 and of Sturgis Bank the following year.
Eishen is past chair and board member of the Michigan Bankers Association, which named him Banker of the Year in 2014. He’s also served in leadership roles with the Michigan League of Savings Banks, Michigan Bankers PAC, Robert M. Perry School of Banking, America’s Community Bankers as well as on American Bankers Association committees.
“We owe a tremendous debt of gratitude to Eric for his decades of service to Sturgis Bank and to our community,” said Board Chair David Franks. “His leadership and vision have enabled us to grow in every sense of the word. During his tenure, we have added new banking centers and ATM locations, new products and services and new employees to support new customers.”