April 16-22

4/23/2025

Bankers in the News

Jen Arens, Midwest Bank | Norfolk, received the Don and Jolene Wisnieski Spirit Award from the Norfolk Area Chamber of Commerce for making a lasting impact on the Chamber. She is a treasury services/cash management representative at the bank.

Stuart Fox, Nebraska State Bank & Trust Co. | Broken Bow, received the 2025 Local Businessperson of the Year award from the Broken Bow FBLA chapter at the organization’s state conference this month. He is the president and CEO of the bank.

Brooke Gates, First National Bank of Gordon | Gordon, and Suzanne Mendlik, Core Bank | Omaha, completed the Graduate School of Banking at Colorado’s Executive Development Institute for Community Bankers last week.

Photos, L to R: Jen Arens, Stuart Fox, Brooke Gates and Suzanne Mendlik

Banks in the News

Nebraska Bank | all branches, awarded $1,000 scholarships to 11 high school seniors in communities the bank serves to put toward their 2025-2026 academic year at Nebraska colleges or universities.

Bankers on the Move

Recent Hires:

Joel Falk, Core Bank | Omaha, director of commercial banking
Tara Schleif, Midwest Bank | Deshler, personal banker

Promotions:

Nichole Hazen, First Bank and Trust Co. | Minden, senior vice president
Tom Jara, Union Bank & Trust Co. | Lincoln, vice president of business development
Connor Peterson, First Bank and Trust Co. | Minden, senior vice president
Rebecca Thornburg, First Bank and Trust Co. | Minden, president

Photos, L to R: Joel Falk, Tara Schleif, Nichole Hazen, Tom Jara, Connor Peterson and Rebecca Thornburg

Retirements

Blake Howsden, Custer Federal State Bank | Kearney, will retire at the end of April after a 39-year career in banking, including positions as a loan officer and later president at Nebraska State Bank in Oshkosh and as the director of lending at Custer Federal State Bank in Kearney.

Lorie Lewis, American National Bank | Omaha, retired after 45 years in banking. She was an executive vice president, corporate advancement officer.

Sue Swim, West Plains Bank | Springview, retired on April 18 after 24 years with the bank. The bank hosted an open house to celebrate. She was a customer service representative.