Meet Our Chairman

  Kendell G. Holthus

   NBA Chairman

Kendell G. Holthus, executive vice president of Cornerstone Bank in York, was elected chairman of the Nebraska Bankers Association during the NBA Annual Convention on Friday, April 29, 2011, at The Cornhusker Marriott in Lincoln.

Before starting his career in banking, Holthus studied business at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and Nebraska Wesleyan University, and owned and operated a farm in Sherman County for 12 years. He joined the family banking business in York in 1994 as a commercial and agricultural loan officer. Today, he serves the bank as executive vice president and is a member of the bank’s board of directors, executive committee, and senior loan committee.

Holthus is a graduate of the American Bankers Association’s Commercial Lending School, the Kansas and Nebraska Bankers Association’s Advanced School of Banking, and the Graduate School of Banking at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. He also is a graduate of Class XV of the Nebraska LEAD program and Class II of the Nebraska Bankers Association’s Leadership Program.

Having served in many volunteer leadership roles, Holthus is making a positive impact on his community and the state of Nebraska. He has served on the board of directors for the Nebraska Independent College Foundation (NICF), also serving on the NICF Executive Committee; Concordia University Foundation; York County Ag Society; York Municipal Airport Authority; York Community Builders; and as chairman of the board for Wessels Living History Farm. In addition, Holthus is a member of the York Rotary, past president of the United Way, and past executive director of Faith Lutheran Church. He also has participated on numerous committees, serving Faith Lutheran Church, York Public Schools, and York Country Club.

Holthus’ involvement in the banking industry includes service on various Nebraska Bankers Association boards and committees, including the NBA Board of Directors, NBA Executive Management Committee, NBA Government Relations Committee, and NBA Voluntary Employees Beneficiary Association (VEBA) Board of Trustees.

In 2005, NorthWestern Financial Review magazine presented Holthus with its Rising Star in Banking award. He also was honored with the 2001 NBA/Prochnow Educational Foundation Scholarship to the Graduate School of Banking at the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

Holthus and wife Amy have three children: Lilly, Baylie, and Tatum.