Bankers on the Move
First Resource Bank is pleased to announce the promotion of Heather Unger to AVP – Finance. In her role, Unger will play an integral part in managing the financial reporting to the Bank’s board of directors, auditors and regulators. Unger joined the Bank in 2014. She has over 18 years of banking experience.
Border State Bank announces Kelly Engstrom, licensed mortgage loan officer, has been selected to represent the bank at their newly established Loan Production Office in Fargo, ND. She brings ten years of experience in the Fargo/Moorhead area real estate industry to Border Bank. 
WNB Financial is pleased to announce Andrew Kieffer, Vice President and Financial Advisor, as the recipient of its 2019 fourth quarter Community PRIDE Award. Community PRIDE Awards recognize WNB employees for exceptional volunteer service to programs, organizations, and initiatives that contribute to the strength and vitality of the communities served. This includes volunteering efforts made during and outside of work hours. Kieffer received $100 to donate to the non-profit organization of his choice, Winona Family YMCA youth sports scholarships.
Northeast Bank is proud to welcome Christopher Clapham as Assistant Vice President – Commercial Lender. Clapham will be responsible for soliciting loans, deposits, cash management, and other financial products. He will also be responsible for originating, processing, and servicing commercial loans, with specialization in conventional and SBA loans. Clapham brings with him over twenty years of experience in finance, sales, marketing, and business development.
Citizens Bank & Trust Co. announced that Anthony R. Hanson was elected to the Board of Directors and has been promoted to President of the organization. Hanson will be the 6th President of the Bank, which was organized in 1886. Anthony is a graduate of the Minnesota Bankers Association Leadership Academy and serves as a member of the Minnesota Bankers Association Insurance & Services Board.
Citizens Bank & Trust Co. announced that Timothy B. Ulrich has been promoted to Chief Executive Officer of the organization. Tim is a member of the Board of Directors where he serves as Vice Chairman/Secretary. Citizens Bank is a $216 million locally-owned bank located in Hutchinson, Minnesota that was organized in 1886. A native of Hutchinson, Tim is a graduate of the Blandin Community Leadership Program and is also a member of The Bank CEO Network, which is a peer group of bank executives from across the country.
Locally owned and operated Community Bank Owatonna and its Board of Directors are pleased to announce the promotion of Todd Cordes to Senior Vice President/Operations and Information Technology. Cordes is a lifelong Minnesota resident with nearly 25 years of banking experience, including the last two years at Community Bank Owatonna where he served as the Vice President/Operations and Information Technology.
Citizens Bank Minnesota is pleased to announce the promotion of Mark Denn to President/Chief Executive Officer. Denn joined Citizens, La Salle Branch, in 2000 as the Branch Manager. In addition to his banking career, Denn operates a corn/soybean farm near Madelia and serves on the Madelia Fire Department.
Nathaniel W. Dunn, President, F & M Bank, is pleased to announce that Jeff Lee has joined F & M Bank as a Vice President. Lee brings over 15 years of banking expertise with recognized success in business banking, most recently 12 years at US Bank. He will help F & M grow its presence in Anoka, Ramsey and Washington Counties. 
The Board of Directors of Lake City Federal Bank have selected Jim Mack to succeed existing President, Bruce Carlstrom. Bruce plans to step down on February 6, 2020. Jim has 37 years of banking experience starting with Eastwood Bank, Eyota & Rochester as VP – Branch Manager. Jim has worked for Independent Community Banks in communities surrounding Rochester including Stewartville, Pine Island, and Plainview.
Unity Bank, a local community bank with 15 locations across Minnesota and Wisconsin, is pleased to announce the hiring of Laura Benson as their Human Resources Manager. Ms. Benson comes to Unity Bank with more than 10 years of experience working in the Human Resources field. Laura graduated from Rasmussen College in St. Cloud with a BS in Business Management and AAS in Human Resources and Organizational Development. Laura currently lives in the Becker area and works primarily out of Unity Bank’s Genola office. 
The Board of Directors of First Resource Bank, one of the fastest growing banks in the State of Minnesota, is pleased to announce the next phase of a Strategic Growth and Planned Succession Program. Effective January 1, 2020, John Seidel will transition from CEO to Senior Credit Advisor/Director of Special Assets, and Timothy Siegle will be named CEO.  Siegle will work alongside Seidel through a transition period ending April 1, 2020.  After the transition, Seidel will remain a member of the Board of Directors, he will advise on credit risk selection, and he will oversee Special Assets.

   Thank You for Your Years of Service!

The MBA wishes to extend a hearty thank you to David Schlitter, Vice President of First State Bank of Fountain. David was trustee of the MBA Employee Benefits Trust from 2015 to 2019 and served as Chair in 2018 - 2019. We appreciate his leadership and dedication to the banking industry!

   Retirements

Lou Geistfeld, President and CEO of Citizens Bank Minnesota, New Ulm, and former member of the MBA Board of Directors, retired on Tuesday, December 31, 2019 after forty-four years in the banking industry; thirty-eight of those with Citizens. Geistfeld began his career in 1975 as an Assistant Bank Examiner for the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation and later became a Commissioned Bank Examiner. He joined Citizens in 1981 as an Assistant Vice President and was promoted to President/CEO in 1987. After his retirement from Citizens, he will remain an active member of the Board of Directors.
After twenty-seven years, Kevin Yager, Senior Vice President of Citizens Bank Minnesota, Lafayette Branch, retired on Tuesday, December 31, 2019. Yager joined Citizens, Lafayette Branch, in December 1992 as a Vice President, Agricultural Lender. He was a graduate of the Graduate School of Banking at the University of Colorado and was most recently promoted to Senior Vice President in January of 2019. Kevin is retiring with 44 years of Agricultural Lending experience including Crop Insurance Sales. Citizens would like to thank Kevin for his dedicated service throughout the years. Kevin and his wife, Cheri, will continue to reside in New Ulm after his retirement.

   Announcements

Woodland Bank turns 100 this year and is marking its centennial anniversary with a year-long celebration of events, giving back and thanking customers. Woodland Bank is a family-owned bank that traces its roots back to the logging boom days in Northern Minnesota. Woodland Bank now centers its focus on Itasca County and surrounding area of Minnesota.
American Bank of the North, a full service financial institution, announced that it has opened a new loan production office on January 20th in St. Paul, MN. The office is located in the Court International Building at 2550 University Avenue West, off of I-280 and I- 94. The loan production office is not a full-service branch office. For full-service banking, customers can visit the bank's website at www.ambnk.com to find a convenient location.

   In Memory of...

Fred "Skip", Laing II, Age 68, sadly passed away suddenly at his home in Elk River November 27. Skip was born on August 26 in Coronado, California, attended high school in Hopkins, Minnesota, and graduated from Moorhead State College. His professional career was spent leading a non-profit electronic payments association (UMACHA), as President and CEO for 35 years before retiring on September 1 of last year. Fred was the life of the party and made sure that when you came to UMACHA you felt welcome, appreciated and like a guest in his home. He touched the lives of the thousands who knew him, including financial institution leaders across the country.

  Board Appointments

 Bridgewater Bancshares, Inc., the holding company of Bridgewater Bank, announced the appointment of Lisa M. Brezonik to its Board of Directors. Ms. Brezonik currently serves as President of Salo, LLC, a leading staffing and consulting firm for finance, accounting and human resources. As an accomplished leader with over 25 years of experience, Lisa brings expertise in talent acquisition, human resources and leadership development to Bridgewater.
We want to hear about your Bankers on the Move! If you have an announcement you would like to include, please send it to Carla Bush at carlab@minnbankers.com.