October 18 - 24

Bankers in the News

Joann Hulme, Heartland Bank | Kearney, celebrated five years with the bank. She is the assistant branch manager and vice president.

Julie Knauss, Waypoint Bank | Cozad, celebrated her 50th anniversary with the bank earlier this month. She works in the bookkeeping department and is the longest-tenured employee in the bank's history. (pictured)

Luke Mitchell, Cornhusker Bank | Lincoln, was elected to the Nebraska Mortgage Association Board of Directors. He is a vice president of mortgage lending.

Brenda Watson, First State Bank Nebraska | Lincoln, received the Patriot Award from the Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve. The award honors supervisors for their superior support of employees who are members of the National Guard and Reserve.

Julie Knauss (middle) was honored for her 50th anniversary of service with the bank at the bank's 140th anniversary celebration earlier in October.

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Banks in the News

First National Bank of Omaha | Omaha, awarded over $1 million in Impact Grants to 50 organizations across Nebraska. View the full list of organizations here.

Midwest Bank | Norfolk, employees packaged 127,000 meals at Mercy Meals in Norfolk. The meals will be delivered to children in need across the world. (pictured)

NebraskaLand Bank | North Platte, sponsored a community-wide movie night on Oct. 19. The bank also provided hot dogs and hamburgers for attendees. Admission to the event was a freewill donation, with over $600 raised to help the North Platte High School journalism class purchase new cameras.

Union Bank & Trust Co. | Lincoln, received a Governor's Wellness Award from the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services and Gov. Jim Pillen. The bank was awarded a Grower Award, which honors businesses and organizations that demonstrate significant improvement in employee health behaviors.

Waypoint Bank | Cozad, celebrated its 140th anniversary of service to the community earlier in Oct. Additionally, the bank opened an in-school savings bank at Cozad Elementary School on Oct. 11. The bank and school celebrated the grand opening with a ribbon-cutting ceremony. (pictured)

Left: Staff from Midwest Bank in Norfolk packed 127,000 meals for children in need.

Waypoint Bank stockholders, L to R: Kevin Olson, Becky Akers, Jeff Svajgr, Keith Olson, Al Svajgr and Kirk Riley (NBA Past Chair) celebrated the bank's 140th anniversary at an after-hours event on Oct. 12. Not pictured: Ginny Olson.

Staff from Waypoint Bank and students from Cozad Elementary School celebrated the grand opening of a new in-school savings bank earlier this month.

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Bankers on the Move

Recent Hires:

• Justin Lange, Security Bank | Hartington, ag lender (pictured)
• Stephanie McIlnay, i3 Bank | Bennington, assistant vice president, retail banking manager (pictured)

Justin Lange

Stephanie McIlnay

Photos, L to R: Justin Lange and Stephanie McIlnay

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Deaths

Susan Haberman (age 67) | Lincoln, passed away on Oct. 12. She worked at Union Bank & Trust Co. for over 25 years.

James "Jim" Jensen (age 89) | Omaha, passed away on Oct. 11. He was a former Nebraska state senator, as well as a part-owner and 30-year board member of First Westroads Bank in Omaha. Jim also served for seven years in the Army National Guard. (pictured)

Jody Stenehjem (age 73) | Kearney, passed away on Oct. 14. She was a long-time employee of First National Bank of Omaha in Kearney and worked her way up from loan administrator to vice president.

James "Jim" Jensen

Photo: James "Jim" Jensen