Bankers Are Reappointed to the Kansas Housing and Kansas Development Finance Authority
KDFA president Rebecca Floyd and KHRC Executive Director Ryan Vincent announced that Suchitra Padmanabhan and Chris Donnelly were reappointed to serve another term on the Kansas Development Finance Authority (KDFA) and Kansas Housing Resources Corporation (KHRC) board of directors. In addition, two new members were appointed by Governor Laura Kelly and confirmed by the Kansas Senate Confirmation Oversight Committee last year. They are Wichita nonprofit director Moniqueka Holloway and Topeka attorney Jonathan Small.
Suchitra Padmanabhan serves as chair of the KDFA and KHRC boards and was reappointed this year, becoming the first board member in the group’s history to serve three terms. A certified financial analyst, she currently works for BC Capital, where she created an asset management platform for fixed income investments and provides advisory services to private equity funds. Previously, she served with Security Benefit Group, Deutsche Bank and Lehman Brothers. She holds degrees from Dartmouth College and the University of Chicago.
Chris Donnelly, a banking executive from Tonganoxie, was reappointed for a four-year term. Recently retired as president and CEO of the Bank of the Prairie in Olathe, he has held executive leadership roles with Country Club Bank of Kansas City, Mo., First State Bank and Trust of Tonganoxie, First Security Bank of Overbrook, and Home State Bank of Hobart, OK. He is a graduate of Oklahoma State University.
Hays banking expert, Alan Deines, was appointed to the board in 2020 and continues his service.
Neal Kaiser New Ag Lender at The Citizens State Bank
Neal Kaiser has joined The Citizens State Bank as an ag lender. Working at its Goessel branch, Kaiser is a graduate of Kansas State University with a Bachelor of Science degree in Agronomy. He grew up in Lehigh but has Goessel ties as both of his mother’s parents were born near there.
“I’ve heard very good things about The Citizen State Bank through friends and family,” he said. “It feels like the right move to become a part of that experience for myself and also to help others with their agriculture needs.”
Kaiser will handle a variety of ag lending needs for area customers, including operating lines of credit, input lines and equipment.
“Neal’s experience in the field of agriculture will make him an important part of our lending team,” said Kirby Smith, market president in Goessel. “He understands the unique skills it takes to operate an agri-business.”
In addition to his banking role, Kaiser helps manage a 2,000-acre farming operation that includes crops, hay and pasture.
Bankers from Bank of Labor in KC Recognized for Sponsorship
During a National Association of Asian American Professionals-Kansas City (NAAAP-KC) Holiday Soiree on Dec. 2, 2021, Bank of Labor bankers Pang Lo, Mai Lee, Mary Buche (SVP) and Piia Perales were honored to be recognized for Bank of Labor’s sponsorship of NAAAP-KC. Buche found this group to provide ERG support for some minority employees but found a lack of representation in senior and board positions of Asian American females and males in the banking industry. She has seen increases in the east and west coast, but the Midwest is behind in representation.
The NAAAP-KC is a nonprofit, all-volunteer organization that promotes career advancement opportunities and professional leadership development of Asian American professionals in all fields. The Kansas City Chapter hosts various activities (Happy Hours, networking dinners, cultural events, workshops, etc.) throughout the year to allow members to engage with NAAAP-KC and accomplish everything they can to become part of their organization.
“As an Asian American female in banking, yes, I have felt a lack of belonging,” Buche said. “This group provides a sense of belonging. It was especially important after the increase in violence against the Asian community, and Asian Americans are still being labeled as foreigners.”
Buche said communities need to acknowledge what is happening in our communities that affect employees and the bank, and if the bank doesn’t have those resources, they can find groups to provide support through organizations such as NAAAP-KC or Young Latino Professionals, for example.
Barta Joins Citizens State Bank
Rachael Barta joined the staff as a loan officer at the Citizens State Bank & Trust Co. in Ellsworth as of Nov. 1. Barta brings 12 years of bank experience from a previous bank where she worked in the accounting and operation departments. At Citizens Bank, she will be offering all types of lending, including consumer, business, personal and agriculture.
“We are very pleased to have Rachael join us,” said David Brownback, CSB&T president. “She has hit the ground running and will be a tremendous asset to our team.”
Barta and her husband, Brad, have two children: Coulson, 11, and Kynzie, 9. In her spare time, she enjoys golfing, attending her children’s sporting events and being outside whenever possible.
Two Banks Come Together to Serve Local Market
Community Bancshares, Inc. (CBI), the parent corporation of Community National Bank, announced they completed the acquisition whereby BOTS, Inc. has become a part of Community Bancshares’ Banking Organization. BOTS, Inc. is the parent company of VisionBank. Community National Bank (CNB) President and CEO Dorsey Hall said, “We are very happy to complete this transaction and have the professional team of VisionBank join our company. The leadership and board have operated a very successful bank. VisionBank will be a great addition allowing CBI/CNB to expand our Kansas family of customers. As we stated in our original announcement, we believe the culture, the customers and the staff of VisionBank fit into CNB’s culture perfectly.” CBI plans to merge the two banks midyear 2022. Gary Yager, President/CEO of VisionBank, reiterated, “I personally take pride in this transaction as I believe it the best for both our customers, we work so hard for and our staff.”
Alden State Bank Celebrates Retirements of Rowland, Frederick with Open House
The Alden State Bank celebrated the retirement of Tom Frederick and Janiece Rowland with an Open House Friday, Dec. 10. Alden State Bank President Todd Rowland shared some history of the bank, noting that his grandfather, Fred L. Fair began working for the Alden State Bank as a cashier in December, 1939. He purchased controlling interest from J.H. (Jim) Fair in 1947 after returning from his service in World War II. Fair hired T.N. (Tom) Frederick March 1, 1958, after Frederick returned to Alden from his service in Germany.
Frederick started as an Executive Vice President and focused on lending and selling insurance through the Alden State Agency. He was awarded the prestigious Kansas Bankers Association “50 Year Club” in 2008. Since 2008, Frederick has been selling insurance through the Alden State Agency in Alden.
“Tom has always been a part of the Alden State Bank family and has been walking in and out of the doors in Alden for over 60 years. Tom’s many hats that he wore at the bank and his decades of service to the Alden community on the city council make his knowledge of local history unparalleled,” Todd Rowland said.
Janiece (Fair) Rowland started at the Alden State Bank in her youth, cleaning the bank with her sisters Sondra and Arlene. As she grew older, she would work the teller line in the summers and during school breaks. Janiece and her husband Chuck Rowland returned to the Alden community in August 1984 to run the Alden State Bank when Fred (and his wife Alma) retired. Prior to returning to banking in 1984, Janiece Rowland had been a music teacher for 12 years in Wichita, Sylvia, St. John and Lewis. Janiece Rowland has been a Vice President and Board Director for the Alden State Bank for 38 years and will continue in her role as Chairman of the Board at the Alden State Bank.
Nichols Retires from Denison State Bank in Topeka
Bill Nichols, General Counsel/Assistant Compliance Officer from Denison State Bank in Topeka, retired December 30 after working there for the past nine years and having a well-established legal and banking career before then. He was elected a member of the bank’s Board of Directors in December.
Holt to Retire from Union State Bank
On Thursday, January 23, a celebration was held to honor and celebrate Randall C. Holt’s 42 years of service and retirement from Union State Bank in Fort Scott, KS. He held the title of EVP and started his career at the bank in Uniontown in 1979. He managed the Fort Scott branch from its opening in 1991 until his retirement in late 2021. Holt has held the role of security officer through the years and will remain the chairman of the Board of Directors of Union State Bank. We wish Holt the best in his retirement!
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