Patrick Corrigan, ACCESSbank | Omaha, was recently honored at the 2022 50 Over 50 NE Awards on Sept. 24. The awards recognize top achievers who make a positive impact in the lives of those around them, across five categories: nonprofit, innovation, business, community and healthcare.

Haley Schweers, Midwest Bank | Wisner, recently celebrated her fifth anniversary with the bank. She is the head customer service representative.

Special Congratulations
The following bankers have recently graduated from the 25-month program at the Graduate School of Banking-Wisconsin. We appreciate your dedication to improving the banking industry in Nebraska. Congratulations on your achievement!

• Cory Albers, F&M Bank | South Sioux City
• Seth Bingham, Auburn State Bank | Auburn
• Molly Merrell, Foundation One Bank | Elkhorn
• Connor Peterson, First Bank and Trust Co. | Minden

American Interstate Bank | Elkhorn, hosted a customer appreciation lunch on Sept. 9. Bank employees served hot dogs, burgers, chips, cookies, macaroni salad and potato salad as a way to thank customers for their continued business.

Bruning Bank and Custer Federal State Bank and Nebraska State Bank & Trust Co.​ | Broken Bow, helped sponsor a presentation by Temple Grandin in Broken Bow on Sept. 25. Grandin, who is autistic, focused on recognizing the "three different types of thinkers" (visual, spatial and verbal) for their uniqueness.

Cornerstone Bank | Harvard, recently began construction on an expansion project at the main bank location at 302 North Clay. Once finished, the building's addition will house the bank's insurance department currently located at 215 North Clay in Harvard, and the old insurance office will close.

Cornerstone Bank | Malmo, First State Bank and Trust Co. | Fremont, and Union Bank & Trust Co. | Wahoo, partnered with the Nebraska Council on Economic Education and Funding the Future to help fund a financial literacy rock concert for 6th-12th grade students at Cedar Bluffs Public Schools. The rock band, GOODING, shared music with lessons about saving, budgeting and compound interest, among other things. GOODING's music has been featured in "CSI," "Criminal Minds," "The Daily Show," "Iron Man 2," "Walk the Line" and "Suicide Squad."

Midwest Bank | Wisner, held a groundbreaking ceremony at the end of August to celebrate the new bank building in Wisner. Construction is scheduled to begin soon.

Security Bank | Osmond, recently donated $2,500 each to the Osmond Community School and the City of Osmond.

Joe Grabowski, Western National Bank | Cairo, vice president of community relations / lending mentor

Shelly Ginn, NebraskaLand Bank | North Platte, celebrated her 15th anniversary with the bank this week. She is a commercial credit analyst officer. (pictured)

Angelica Morrow, Five Points Bank | Grand Island, was recently named to the Greater Grand Island Community Foundation board of trustees. She is the assistant marketing / digital media director at the bank. (pictured)

Angie Muhleisen, Union Bank & Trust Co. | Lincoln, was named Woman of the Year at this year's Inspire - Celebrating Women's Leadership Awards last week. She is the president and CEO of the bank and has worked at the bank for over 40 years. (pictured)​

Special Thanks:
Thank you to all of the bankers who volunteered at our Husker Harvest Days booth last week! We hope you had a great time representing the NBA and connecting with others in the ag and banking industries. (pictured below)

• LaTonna Brand, Five Points Bank | Grand Island
• Mary Clifton, York State Bank | York
• Vikki Daily, Five Points Bank | Grand Island
• Al Dlouhy, Security First Bank | Beatrice
• Corby Forbes, Midwest Bank | Plainview
• Hope Janitscheck, First National Bank of Omaha | Kearney
• Joe Libal, Flatwater Bank | Gothenburg
• Don & Vonnie Moore, First Central Bank McCook | McCook
• Tom Murphy, Exchange Bank | Gibbon
• Richard Nelson, Central National Bank | Superior
• Brett Oltman, Union Bank & Trust Co. | Auburn
• Stephen Postier, Henderson State Bank | York
• Emilie Schardt, Heartland Bank | Grand Island
• Clayton Suckstorf, Heritage Bank | Loup City
• Dave Van Pelt, Midwest Bank | Lincoln

Photos, L to R: Shelly Ginn, Angelica Morrow and Angie Muhleisen

Bank of the Valley | Schuyler, recently finished construction on the newest branch at 559 Road 11 in Schuyler. The location will open to the public on Sept. 26, with a grand opening celebration and ribbon cutting scheduled for Oct. 11.

Core Bank | Papillion, opened a new branch at 11305 Cumberland Drive in Papillion on Sept. 1.

First Interstate Bank | all branches, held its fifth annual Volunteer Day on Sept. 14. Bank employees helped at nearly 400 separate service projects throughout their communities across Nebraska. Additionally, the Lexington branch recently donated $25,000 to L2 for Kids to help the organization purchase clothing for school-aged children in need.

Heartland Bank | Aurora, competed in the Memorial Community Health Golf Benefit fundraising competition on Sept. 17 in Aurora. The bank's team placed second in the first flight of teams. The event raised over $15,000 towards the Memorial Foundation's new ultrasound system purchase.

Henderson State Bank | Henderson, recently received a 50-year Appreciation Award from Computer Services, Inc. (CSI).

Pathway Bank | Grand Island, recently hosted a food truck rally outside of the bank to celebrate the completion of recent renovations and the bank's updated logo.

Platte Valley Bank | Chadron, recently moved locations and is now located at 141 W 3rd Street in Chadron.

Union Bank & Trust Co. | Lincoln, recently donated $100,000 each to 10 area nonprofits. Online public voting from Aug. 12-26 helped narrow down the list of 58 finalists to find the winners.

Washington County Bank | Blair, has announced plans to open a fourth location at 205 E Erie Street in Missouri Valley, IA. The bank is currently renovating the building and will announce the opening date at a later time.

West Gate Bank | Omaha, recently opened a new branch at 17617 Manderson Street in Omaha.

Western States Bank | Gering, will be temporarily closing the branch at 1940 10th Street for a remodeling project to make the building compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). The reopening is planned to coincide with the bank's conversion to First National Bank of Omaha in early Nov.

Richard "Andy" McMullen | Stella (age 87), passed away on Sept. 19. He was part-owner of the State Bank of Stella, now Frontier Bank.

Ernest Thayer | Grand Island (age 87), passed away on Sept. 15. He was a U.S. Army veteran and a graduate of the Graduate School of Banking-Wisconsin. Ernest worked at First National Bank of Omaha and Commercial National Bank, now U.S. Bank, in Grand Island for many years.

Bridgette Thompson | North Platte (age 40), passed away on Sept. 20. She had previously worked at NebraskaLand Bank and Adams Bank & Trust before changing jobs.

Jeryl Hellerich, Homestead Bank | Schuyler, celebrated her 25th anniversary of service with the bank. She is the VP head of information technology.

Guad Marino, Homestead Bank | Schuyler, recently celebrated her 15th anniversary with the bank. She is a teller.

Joyce Navrkal, Homestead Bank | Schuyler, celebrated 40 years with the bank at the end of Aug. She is a teller / proof operator.

Bank of the West | Omaha, recently sent staff to volunteer at Food Bank for the Heartland in Omaha. 

Wes Cole, Union Bank & Trust Co. | Omaha, vice president - business banking manager

LuAnne Stang, Union Bank & Trust Co. | Omaha, mortgage loan officer

Terry Tonkinson, CharterWest Bank | La Vista, recently retired after 17 years with the bank. He worked in the bank's Mortgage Center.

Vivian Anderson | Central City (age 89), passed away on Sept. 7. Following a few years of retirement, she worked as a teller at Cornerstone Bank.

Dianne Hoppes, Lincoln Federal Savings Bank | Lincoln, is celebrating her 35th anniversary with the bank this month. She is a vice president of administration. (pictured)

Rochelle Reavis, Cornhusker Bank | Lincoln, recently celebrated five years with the bank. She serves on the human resources team. (pictured)

Special Congratulations:
The following sixteen Nebraska bankers recently graduated from the Graduate School of Banking at Colorado (GSBC). Bankers complete three annual two-week sessions of classroom training in Boulder, Colorado, focused on Financial Management & Strategy, Innovation & Engagement, Leadership & Culture, and Lending. Congratulations on your achievement!

• Travis Anderson, First State Bank | Gothenburg
• Grant Badertscher, State Bank of Table Rock | Roca
• Chad Gonka, First National Bank of Omaha | Columbus
• Isaiah Graham, Homestead Bank | St. Paul
• Jarrod Hamik, Nebraska Bank | Atkinson
• Mitchell Hamik | First Bank & Trust of Fullerton | Fullerton
• Brent Hogan, Security Bank & Trust | Laurel
• Adam Lammers, Equitable Bank | Omaha
• Lyndsay McClung, Points West Community Bank | Sydney
• Jill McClure, American National Bank | Omaha
• Mandy Mellott, Dundee Bank | Omaha
• Carol Pelster, NebraskaLand Bank | Kearney
• Jose Salinas, Nebraska Department of Banking & Finance | Omaha
• Nicholas Schaffer, Cornhusker Bank | Lincoln
• Elizabeth Smith, Dundee Bank | Omaha
• Ashton Spieker, Midwest Bank | Norfolk

Photos, L to R: Dianne Hoppes and Rochelle Reavis

FirstBank of Nebraska | Syracuse, celebrated its 20th year hosting the bank-to-school lunch for Syracuse Dunbar Avoca schools faculty, staff and administrators last month.

First National Bank of Omaha | Omaha, volunteered at Habitat for Humanity of Omaha last month. (pictured)

Washington County Bank | Blair, recently traveled to Blair Community Schools, Fort Calhoun Schools and Tekamah-Herman Community Schools with the bank's grill trailer, "Blazing Banker," to host back-to-school cookouts for the teachers and staff. (pictured)

West Gate Bank | Lincoln, recently donated $50,000 to CenterPointe to help fund the organization's renovations of Trabert Hall at 11th and South streets in Lincoln. The updated building will house a fully integrated health clinic offering mental health, substance care, primary care, and pharmacy services, as well as other supportive services. (pictured)

West Gate Bank | Omaha, volunteered at Project Houseworks' annual BRUSH UP event. The community effort coordinates volunteers to help paint homes for low-income seniors in the Omaha metropolitan area.

Above: Staff from Washington County Bank thanked local teachers and staff for their hard work and helped kick off the new school year with a cookout.

Charlie Ahrenholtz, i3 Bank | Omaha, commercial lines account manager (pictured)

Lisa Boryca, First Bank & Trust of Fullerton | Fullerton, vice president

Lori Cornwell, First Bank & Trust of Fullerton | Fullerton, cashier and director - First Heritage Club

Clint Leffler, Great Plains State Bank | Columbus, vice president and branch manager

Beth Sonderup, First State Bank & Trust of Fullerton | Fullerton, assistant director - First Heritage Club

Chris Wiedenfeld, United Republic Bank | Elkhorn, president and CEO (effective spring 2023) (pictured)

Photos, L to R: Charlie Ahrenholtz and Chris Wiedenfeld

Stephen McCown, United Republic Bank | Elkhorn, has announced his upcoming retirement. Currently he is the President & CEO of the bank and will step down in the spring of 2023.

Photo: Steve McCown

Brett Bridge | Kearney (age 51), passed away on Sept. 1. He had previously worked at Cornhusker Bank in Lincoln for over 10 years before changing companies and later moving with his family to Kearney.