Tom Klein, First National Bank of Omaha | Lincoln, recently received the Lincoln Independent Business Association (LIBA) Champion Award for his work improving the environment for small businesses. He serves the bank as a vice president in commercial lending.

Photo: Tom Klein

Bank of Dixon County | Ponca, helped sponsor an Estate Planning Lunch & Learn on April 7. The event was hosted by the Ponca Community Educational Foundation.

Cornerstone Bank | Franklin, recently donated $5,000 to Franklin EMTs to be used toward the purchase of a LUCAS Chest Compression System. The LUCAS System is designed to deliver automated, uninterrupted chest compressions so ambulance drivers may remain seated and safely buckled in during ambulance transport.

Cornerstone Bank | York, celebrated their 140th anniversary on April 22 with an open house. The bank was chartered in 1882. Refreshments and giveaways were available to attendees, including a drawing for a $1,400 cash grand prize to one lucky attendee. Additionally, 10 attendees won $140 each.

F&M Bank | Falls City, sponsored a free community shred day on April 22.

First Central Bank McCook | McCook, staff provided a car full of essential items for the Curtis Volunteer Fire Department to help support the firefighters during their effort to contain wildfires near Cambridge.

Five Points Bank of Hastings | Hastings, was inducted into Hastings College's Pro Rege Society, the College's highest non-academic honor, on April 21 at the Lochland Country Club. The bank was selected for its extraordinary service to Hastings College for over 20 years, including financing during the pandemic, hosting student interns, sponsoring many athletic programs and other campus initiatives, as well as employing about 25 alumni of Hastings College.

Home Federal Bank | Grand Island, provided prizes for the Central Nebraska Humane Society's (CNHS) "Fonner Bark: A Cause for Paws" event on April 24 at Fonner Park. The event included a doggie costume contest, a tricks contest and gifts for all dogs. A portion of the proceeds went to the CNHS.

Homestead Bank | Schuyler, recently sponsored the Classroom Makeover Contest for Schuyler Public Schools. The Contest was organized by bank employee Jose Rocha; the winning classroom will receive a $4,000 classroom makeover.

Brook Fischer, United Republic Bank | Elkhorn, deposit operations officer (pictured)

Jennifer Kermoade, United Republic Bank | Elkhorn, assistant vice president, cashier, information security officer (pictured)​

Jeff Marinovic, United Republic Bank | Elkhorn, assistant vice president, commercial loan officer (pictured)

Kristine Timmerman, United Republic Bank | Elkhorn, assistant vice president, retail banking, security officer (pictured)

Stormie Wright, United Republic Bank | Elkhorn, assistant vice president, loan operations officer (pictured)

Dave Pool, Home Federal Bank | Lincoln, loan officer

James "Jim" Huerter, III., Security National Bank | Omaha, board of directors (pictured)

James Landen, Jr., Security National Bank | Omaha, board of directors (pictured)

Bridgett Martinez-Johnson, F&M Bank | South Sioux City, customer service representative

Photos, L to R: Brook Fischer, Jennifer Kermoade, Jeff Marinovic, Kristine Timmerman, Stormie Wright, Dave Pool, James "Jim Huerter, III. and James Landen, Jr.

Chris Alt, Midwest Bank | Norfolk, recently celebrated his 10th anniversary with the bank. He is a chief lending officer. (pictured)

Photo: Chris Alt

Core Bank | Omaha, staff recently volunteered at the Open Door Mission in Omaha as part of National Volunteer Week. The Mission works to break the cycle of homelessness and poverty in Omaha.

Equitable Bank | Grand Island, sponsored the T-Rex Races at Fonner Park on April 16. Assistant Vice President-Commercial Lending Andy Gdowski competed in the event. The races featured local celebrities wearing inflatable T-Rex costumes while running.

F&M Bank | Wayne and West Point, held free community shred events on April 19.

First National Bank of Omaha | Norfolk, recently donated $100,000 to the North Fork Development Project, which aims to create a recreational, residential, entertainment and business corridor in Norfolk. (pictured)

First State Bank | Gothenburg, hosted an Easter egg hunt at the four plex in Gothenburg on April 16. The baseball fields were covered with eggs, and community kids hunted them; local businesses and organizations provided prizes for the event.

Henderson State Bank | Henderson, recently presented lessons on saving money to the third-grade class at Giltner Public Schools.
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Homestead Bank | Cozad and Lexington, recently $500 from their jeans fund to the Elwood Volunteer Fire Department in memory of Fire Chief Darren Krull who was killed in an accident while responding to a fire near Elwood. (pictured)

Lincoln Federal Savings Bank | Lincoln, has partnered with Two Men and A Truck to collect donations for the organization's Movers for Moms campaign to support Friendship Home of Lincoln. Movers for Moms helps arrange Mother's Day gifts of essential care items to moms living in local domestic abuse and homeless shelters.

State Nebraska Bank & Trust | Wayne, wore teal to help Haven House raise awareness and support Sexual Assault Awareness Month in April. Located in Wayne and Sioux City, Haven House offers crisis intervention and prevention services for survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault. (pictured)

Carol Ostendorf, Nebraska State Bank & Trust Co. | Broken Bow, assistant vice president of residential and consumer lending (pictured)

​Jacob Parsons, Nebraska State Bank & Trust Co. | Broken Bow, vice president of ag and commercial lending (pictured)

Tyler Fuchtman, Midwest Bank | Creighton, market president (pictured)

Nikki Beatty, First State Bank & Trust Co. | Fremont, training & development manager (pictured)

Darcy Ray, Pathway Bank | Grand Island, chief financial officer (pictured)

Scott Erickson, NebraskaLand Bank | North Platte, board of directors (pictured)

Mary Jacobson, NebraskaLand Bank | North Platte, board of directors​ (pictured)

Photos, L to R: Carol Ostendorf, Jacob Parsons, Tyler Fuchtman, Nikki Beatty, Darcy Ray, Scott Erickson and Mary Jacobson

Laurie Hill, First State Bank | Holdrege, retired on April 1 after exactly 35 years, to the day, with the bank. She most recently was the bank's BSA officer. The bank held an open house reception to celebrate her long career.

Photo: Joyce Maxted

Linda Dailey, FirstBank of Nebraska | Wahoo, recently marked a milestone anniversary of 45 years with the bank. She is a personal banking officer. (pictured)

Grace Gilmore, Cornhusker Bank | Lincoln, celebrated her 5th anniversary of service with the bank this month. She is a retail banking operations manger.

Johnny Nesbit, First National Bank of Omaha | Omaha, has been named 2022 Mentor of the Year by MENTOR Nebraska. In addition to serving the bank as a senior associate in commercial payments, he is also involved with many local organizations and sits on multiple nonprofit boards. (pictured)

Jennifer Swartz, MNB Bank | McCook, recently celebrated her 5th anniversary with the bank. (pictured)

Photos, L to R: Linda Dailey, Johnny Nesbit and Jennifer Swartz

American National Bank | Omaha, and other local businesses are partners for the Siena Francis House tiny home project named "The Cottages." The groundbreaking ceremony was held on April 12. Siena Francis House provides low-barrier, trauma-informed emergency overnight shelter, meals and other emergency assistance to individuals experiencing homelessness.

Cornerstone Bank | Creighton, recently donated $1,000 to Creighton Ambulance Service to help update some of the life-saving equipment, specifically fetal monitors and infant oxygen sensors.

Cornhusker Bank | Lincoln, hosted its annual One Day Without Shoes Awareness Walk on April 6 to kick off their shoe collection effort for People's City Mission in Lincoln. The Walk event also included a free lunch at the 8310 O Street branch. The bank and 100 other Lincoln businesses will collect new and gently-worn shoes until April 16.

Midwest Bank | Pierce, hosted a small petting zoo in the bank on April 12 for local preschool, kindergarten and first-grade students. Animals ranged from a cat, puppies and rabbits to sheep, goats and a calf.

Nebraska Bank | Carroll, hosted the Easter Egg Hunt on April 10 in Carroll Park for kids ages 0-12.

Pathway Bank | Grand Island, celebrated its reopening and expansion at 3333 W State Street with a ribbon-cutting ceremony on April 7. (pictured)

Security First Bank | Crawford, recently donated $10,000 to the Crawford Area Fund's unrestricted endowment as a bonus for the community exceeding the $40,000 fundraising goal during the bank's challenge grant. (pictured)

Left: Nebraska Lt. Governor Mike Foley (left) was present at Pathway Bank's re-opening in Grand Island.

Left: Security First Bank staff Sindy Schultz, Jenifer Barry and Shirley Schafer presented a check to the representatives from the Crawford Area Fund.

Sheri Laudenklos, Columbus Bank and Trust Co. | Columbus, will retire at the end of the month after 22 years of service with the bank. The bank is planning a retirement open house on April 27 to celebrate.

Matt Biggs, Cornhusker Bank | Lincoln, celebrated his 10th anniversary of service at the bank this month. He is a vice president/relationship expert.

Morgan Shandera, West Gate Bank | Lincoln, celebrated her 5th anniversary with the bank in March. She is the assistant branch manager at the South Street location. (pictured)

Photos, from left: Matt Biggs; Morgan Shandera (right) recently celebrated her 5th anniversary with the South Street branch of West Gate Bank in Lincoln.

American National Bank | Omaha, is a partner of the Carver Legacy Center which recently held a ribbon-cutting at its newly renovated building. The building formerly housed Nebraska's first Black-owned financial institution the Carver Savings and Loan Association.

Ashton State Bank | Ashton, recently donated $1,135 to the Arcadia-Loup City (ALC) Boosters following the ALC Basketball Challenge. The girls' and boys' basketball teams participated; the bank paid $2 per free-throw and $3 per three-point shots made.

Banner Capitol Bank | Alma, officially broke ground for their newest branch on South Street in Alma. The groundbreaking ceremony was held on March 16.

Hershey State Bank | Hershey, opened an in-school savings bank branch at Hershey Elementary School on March 30. The program is a collaboration between the Nebraska Council on Economic Education, the bank and Hershey Public Schools.

i3 Bank | Bennington, recently presented curriculum on budgeting and banking to Arlington Public School students last week. Richelle Johannes, vice president of operations and retail at the Bennington branch, made the presentation.

Andi DeWolf, F&M Bank | South Sioux City, customer service team (pictured)

Photo: Andi DeWolf

Denese Becker, Cornerstone Bank | York, retired on April 4 after 14 years of service with the bank. She has worked in the banking industry for over 48 years and ended her career at Cornerstone Bank as a credit review officer. (pictured)

Deb Filipi, Farmers and Merchants Bank | Milligan, retired in April after 45 years of service with the bank. She ended her long career as vice president and cashier. The bank held a retirement celebration on April 2.

Lowell Thrasher, Security National Bank of Omaha | Omaha, retired recently after 11 years of service with the bank, where he was the senior vice president of business banking. His career in banking spanned nearly 50 years. The bank held a retirement celebration on March 29.

Barb Vrbka, American National Bank | Tecumseh, retired on March 31 after 45 years with the bank. The bank held a week-long open house celebration for her retirement from March 28-31. She began as a bookkeeper in 1976 when the bank was known as Johnson County Bank and there were not any computers; she ended her career as assistant vice president. (pictured)

Ron Winquest, Cornerstone Bank | York, retired on April 1 after 47 years with the bank. An open house was held on Friday to celebrate his long career, which started as a part-time student teller during high school. For the past 35 years, he worked in the bank's technology department, where he most recently served as the vice president of technology. (pictured)

Photos: Denese Becker, Barb Vrbka and Ron Winquest