Centier Bank / Merrillville
Chimere Griggs has been promoted to branch manager. She has been with the bank for nine years, with 18 total years of financial industry experience. Griggs graduated from both Ivy Tech and Indiana University.
Steven Swingler has joined the bank as an investment executive for Centier Investment Services. He earned his bachelor’s degree from Indiana University and is a registered broker and investment advisor. Swingler also holds insurance licenses in Indiana, Illinois and Michigan.
Heather Foster has joined the bank as a mortgage loan officer. She has 16 years of community banking experience.
Dean Niepokoj has joined the bank as a mortgage loan officer. He has more than 30 years of mortgage and banking experience. Niepokoj is a board member of the Crossroads YMCA and the Northwest Indiana Mortgage Bankers Association, is a member of the Crown Point Lions Club and Crown Point High School Football Chain Gang, and is the gym manager for St. Mary School CYO Sports.
First Federal Savings Bank / Evansville
Michael Carter has been promoted from senior vice president, commercial credit & operations manager to executive vice president, chief commercial lending officer. He has been with the bank for all 16 years of his career. Carter serves as vice president for his local chapter of the Risk Management Association and is a baseball coach. He earned his bachelor’s degree from the University of Southern Indiana and graduated from the IBA Leadership Development Program.
Sarah Cox has been promoted from senior vice president, risk manager to executive vice president, chief risk management officer. She has 20 years of experience, including seven with the bank. Cox earned her bachelor’s degree from Ashford University and has obtained the certified community bank internal auditor (CCBIA) and certified community bank compliance officer (CCBCO) professional designations.
Chris Head has been promoted from senior vice president, retail banking manager to executive vice president, chief retail banking officer.
Jeff Kniese has joined the bank as first vice president, business development officer with 36 years of banking experience. He has served on numerous boards over the years, including the Evansville Museum; Evansville Chamber of Commerce; YMCA of Southwest Indiana Downtown and YMCA Dunigan; WNIN, Evansville’s PBS and NPR member station; Junior Achievement of Southwest Indiana; and the Evansville City Council, among others. Kniese earned bachelor’s degrees from Western Kentucky University and the University of Southern Indiana and graduated from the ABA National Banking School.
Austin Edge has been promoted from assistant vice president, eBanking services officer to vice president, eBanking services officer. He has been with the bank since joining the industry nearly four years ago. Edge earned a bachelor’s degree from the University of Southern Indiana and the accredited ACH professional (AAP) designation.
Adam Quiroz has been promoted from assistant vice president, deposit operations support & fraud officer to vice president, deposit operations support & fraud officer.
Beth Ramsey has been promoted from vice president, loan servicing assistant manager to vice president, loan servicing manager.
Lynn Vincent has been promoted from human resources generalist to assistant vice president, human resources generalist. She has been with the bank for two years. Vincent volunteers with the Boys and Girls Club, Meals on Wheels, the Autism Awareness Association and her local Parent Teacher Association. She has certifications in medical billing and coding, graphic design, medication management, crisis prevention and case management.
First Federal Savings Bank / Huntington
Travis A. Penrod has joined the bank as senior vice president, chief financial officer. He has more than 18 years of financial services experience, including 10 years as a CFO. Penrod volunteers in the New Life Food Ministry of St. Paul’s County Line Church and coaches basketball for the YMCA’s Kim League, Junior Vikes Boys Basketball and Andrews Elementary. He earned a bachelor’s and master’s degree from Manchester College and holds a certified public accountant license in Indiana.
First Financial Bank, Na / Terre Haute
Norman D. Lowery has been promoted to president and CEO of the bank, effective Jan. 1, 2024. He takes over from his father, Norman L. Lowery. Norman D. has been with the bank for 33 years, most recently serving as senior vice president, chief operating officer.
GBC Bank / Greenfield
Justin R. Proctor has joined the bank as senior vice president, chief operating officer. He has five years of banking experience plus six years of bank consulting with IBA associate member BKD CPAs & Advisors, now known as FORVIS, in Indianapolis. Proctor earned both a bachelor’s and master’s degree from Ball State University. He also obtained a CFIRS (certified fiduciary & investment risk specialist) professional designation after completing a three-year course program and is currently attending the Graduate School of Banking in Madison, Wisconsin.
Horizon Bank / Michigan City
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Joel Mikolich has joined the bank as president of its new equipment finance division. He has more than 20 years of experience in banking and equipment finance. Mikolich earned his bachelor’s degree from Concordia University – St. Paul.
Tammy Kerr has been promoted to senior vice president, director of Treasury management. She has been with the bank since 2016 and has more than two decades of experience overall including Treasury management, business development and training.
Lake City Bank / Warsaw
Eric J. Frappier has been promoted to vice president, senior investment representative. He has been with the bank for almost two years. Frappier earned his bachelor’s degree from Purdue University. He also holds the AAMS (accredited asset management specialist) professional designation, Series 7 and Series 66 registrations, as well as the Indiana Life and Health Insurance license.
Meghan C. Marrello has joined the bank as vice president, commercial banking officer. She has more than 25 years of financial services experience. Marrello is on the board of the International Talent Academy, a member of the National Association of Women Business Owners, and volunteers for Junior Achievement, JA BizTown, the Indiana State University Alumni Association, WYSI Girls Travel Softball and her church. She earned her bachelor’s degree from Indiana State University and is a member of the Dean’s Executive Council at ISU’s Scott College of Business.
Leslie R. Rutherford has been promoted to vice president, deposit operations & document services manager. She has been with the bank for 12 years. Rutherford volunteers with the bank’s Reality Store. She earned her bachelor’s degree from Indiana Tech.
Jordan D. Smith has been promoted to assistant vice president, commercial portfolio management officer. He has been with the bank for three years. Smith is a member of the Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) Society of Indianapolis and the Urban Land Institute, and he volunteers with College Park Church. He earned his bachelor’s degree from Western Governors University and a master’s degree from the University of Iowa.
Branden P. Wildey has been promoted to credit administration officer. He has been with the bank for three years. Wildey volunteers with Junior Achievement, the United Way Day of Caring for Allen County and teaches MoneySmart classes at Lutheran Social Services of Indiana. He earned his bachelor’s degree from Indiana University – Purdue University Fort Wayne.
Ashley N. Brewer has been promoted to licensed sales assistant. She has been with the bank for eight years and volunteers with Junior Achievement. Brewer studied at Indiana University – Purdue University Fort Wayne. She also holds the FINRA (Financial Industry Regulatory Authority) licenses 7 and 66.
Northwest Bank / Warren, PA
Brittany Howey has joined the bank as office manager in Marion. She has more than 10 years of experience in banking plus additional experience in the nonprofit sector, where she served as executive director for an affordable housing agency. Howey volunteers with many community organizations, including Thriving Grant County, The Community Foundation of Grant County, Rotary Club of Grant County and Greater Grant County.
