ABA Insurance Services Inc. / Shaker Heights, OH
American Bankers Mutual Insurance Ltd. (ABMI), the reinsurer for the insurance program co-endorsed by the American Bankers Association and Indiana Bankers Association, declared a $3.8 million annual distribution to be shared by qualified ABA-member banks through ABA Insurance Services, a member of Great American Insurance Group. Indiana banks collectively received $65,290 as part of the distribution. This is the 35th consecutive year for ABMI to declare a distribution for qualified banks that purchase their directors and officers (D&O), bond, cyber, property & casualty and related insurances from the program.
Graduate School of Banking / University of Wisconsin-Madison
Olivia Luster has joined the school in the newly created role of marketing coordinator. She most recently served as a marketing communications generalist for a Wisconsin-based manufacturing company. Luster holds a bachelor’s degree from Luther College in Decorah, Iowa.
Kruggel Lawton CPAs / Elkhart
Brandon Gritton joined the firm as director of its state and local tax practice with 12 years of accounting experience, nine specializing in state and local tax. He is a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and the Indiana CPA Society. Gritton earned his bachelor’s degree from Ferris State University and holds the certified public accountant professional designation.
Cody Newport was selected as a 2025 Michiana Forty Under 40 honoree by the South Bend Regional Chamber, Young Professionals Network South Bend, and community sponsors. Honorees are chosen not only based on excellence in their fields but also dedication of their time and talent to enriching the Michiana region through service and innovation. Newport was named a partner at Kruggel Lawton in 2024, becoming one of the youngest professionals to be promoted to the partner level in firm history. He also serves as treasurer of the Goshen Community Schools Foundation Board, and past board president and current board member for the Goshen Public Library. Newport received the Indiana CPA Society’s Emerging Leader Award in 2022. He is a member of the Indiana CPA Society as well as the Association of International Certified Public Accountants. Newport earned his bachelor’s degree from Valparaiso University, holds an active certified public accountant license, and graduated from the Elkhart Chamber Leadership Academy and Indiana CPA Society’s Young Professionals Leadership Academy.
United Bankers’ Bank / Bloomington, MN
Jim Nowak retired from the company on May 31. He joined its securities team in 2002 with eight years of prior experience in asset liability management. Nowak developed and managed the company’s asset/liability model, growing it to serve more than 200 community banks across 15 states. He is a former faculty member at the Graduate School of Banking at the University of Wisconsin-Madison and a banking columnist for Great Lakes Banker magazine.
David Krause and Brian Young joined the company’s board of directors at its holding company’s annual meeting in April. Krause is CEO of Pioneer Bank, Mankato, Minnesota. He started his banking career in 1984 and has been with the bank since 1986. Young is president and CEO of United Bancshares and The Union Bank Company, Columbus Grove, Ohio. At the same meeting, Dean Miller, president and CEO of First National Bank, Bellevue, Ohio, retired from the company’s board after completing a nine-year term.
NEW ASSOCIATE MEMBERS
Andrews Hooper Pavlik PLC
Traci Belt, (989) 497-5300
AHPplc.com
AHP is a leading CPA firm specializing in audit, tax, internal audit, regulatory compliance, consulting and information technology for financial institutions. With deep industry expertise, we help navigate complex regulations, enhance operational efficiency and mitigate risk.
Artificial Intelligence Risk Inc.
Joe McMann, (617) 271-4387
AICRisk.com
Artificial Intelligence Risk Inc. is at the forefront of AI governance, risk management, regulatory compliance and cybersecurity. Founded by industry veterans Alec Crawford and Frank Fitzgerald, the company’s mission is to provide a safe, private and compliant AI platform, deployed via a quick 14-minute ARM script, for agnostic GRCC integration with any LLM, any data repository and any AI agent, inside a company’s internal private cloud infrastructure.
Computershare Communication Services
Christi Schachte, (704) 491-5704
ComputerShare.com/US/Communication-Services
Computershare Communication Services partners with clients to transform and deliver compliant, secure customer communications that shift customer behavior to align with business goals. The company has partnered with hundreds of clients in the financial services industry over the past three decades, enhancing communications to create deeper relationships with their customers.
FIS Global
Chris Crone, (704) 230-8523
FISglobal.com
For more than 50 years, leading financial institutions and businesses have relied on FIS financial technology to power their mission-critical operations. Today, our technology helps our clients unlock new growth opportunities by cutting through complexity and bringing harmony in how they store, move and put money back to work.
Louisville Geek
James Goatley, (859) 576-2912
LouisvilleGeek.com
Louisville Geek is a full-service IT MSP providing businesses with managed IT services, cybersecurity, cloud solutions and 24/7 IT support. Our strategic technology consulting, network management, and custom IT solutions help organizations improve efficiency, security and growth. Our expert team delivers reliable, scalable IT solutions tailored to client needs.
Midwest Security Services Inc.
Rick Wrightsman, (463) 777-6745
MWSecurityServices.com
Midwest Security Services is a full-service provider of superior electronic security solutions, focusing on banking institutions’ needs. The company provides a number of services including intrusion detection, video surveillance, access control systems, fire alarm and intercom systems.
Premier Banking Consultants LLC
Bob Downs, (877) 394-8410
PremierBankingConsultants.com
Premier provides consulting and auditing services to community banks that value a high level of expertise and personalized attention. The company has served community banks since 1994, entering the Indiana market in 2007. Premier offers loan review, internal audit, compliance audit, BSA audit, ALM audit, ACH audit, IT audit & pen testing, and regulatory advisory services through its experienced team of past bankers, examiners and business owners.
Rehmann
Molly Reid, (616) 301-6334
Rehmann.com
Rehmann’s Financial Institutions Group provides services such as assurance, audit, information/technology and compliance to help you thrive in today’s marketplace and beyond. As one of the largest CPA, business consulting and financial services firms in the Midwest, Rehmann works with community banks as well as multi-state institutions.
