October 2-8

Bankers in the News

Travis Beguin, Security First Bank | Rushville, celebrated five years with the bank. He is a customer service representative.

Brenda Boyer, First Nebraska Bank | Weeping Water, celebrated her 25th anniversary with the bank. She works with accounts payable/loan escrow.
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Amanda Haller, Security First Bank | Hay Springs, celebrated 10 years with the bank. She is an insurance managing agent.

Sara Hofpar, First Nebraska Bank | Brainard, celebrated her 10th anniversary with the bank. She is a loan officer.

Baylee Kasik, First Nebraska Bank | Valley, celebrated five years with the bank. She is a mortgage loan originator.

Sharon Polak, First Nebraska Bank | Elkhorn, celebrated 10 years with the bank. She is a video teller.

Dave Van Pelt, Midwest Bank | Lincoln, celebrated his 10th anniversary with the bank. He is a vice president/loan officer.

Travis Beguin

Brenda Boyer

Amanda Haller

Sara Hofpar

Baylee Kasik

Dave Van Pelt

Photos, L to R: Travis Beguin, Brenda Boyer, Amanda Haller, Sara Hofpar, Baylee Kasik and Dave Van Pelt

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Banks in the News

ACCESSbank and Union Bank & Trust Co. | Omaha, each received the BBB Torch Award for Ethics from the Better Business Bureau of the Midwest Plains (BBB) during an award luncheon on Sept. 24. The Torch Awards recognize local organizations' outstanding ethical practices and commitment to character, culture, customers and community.

CharterWest Bank | Gretna, held a ribbon-cutting ceremony and “Meat & Greet” celebration on Sept. 26 for the grand opening of a new branch at 921 Village Square in Gretna. The bank celebrated with grilling, yard games and an ice cream truck.

First National Bank of Omaha | Lincoln, received the 2024 Advancing Affordable Housing Award from NeighborWorks Lincoln for the bank’s dedication to promoting, advancing and advocating for affordable housing.

Flatwater Bank | Gothenburg, received the award for Best Business for its float in the parade during the Gothenburg Harvest Festival last month.

Security National Bank | Omaha, received the IDEAL Award from the Human Resource Association of the Midlands (HRAM) at the Greater Omaha Chamber CODE Conference on Oct. 2. The award recognizes Omaha-based organizations for embracing and promoting inclusion, diversity, equity, advocacy and leadership (IDEAL) in business strategies, policies, decisions and practices.

Left: ACCESSbank received the Better Business Bureau (BBB) Torch Award for Ethics during a ceremony on Sept. 24.

Left: CharterWest Bank recently opened a new branch in Gretna and celebrated with a ribbon-cutting ceremony and community-wide "Meat & Greet" with food and games.

Left: Security National Bank of Omaha received the IDEAL Award from the HR Association of the Midlands for outstanding DEI efforts at the bank.

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Bankers on the Move

Recent Hires:

• Cooper Grabenstein, First State Bank of Loomis | Loomis, ag & commercial loan officer

Promotions:

• Clint Bryant, First Central Bank McCook | McCook, branch president
• Jim Murphy, CharterWest Bank | West Point, president
  
• Justin Sabatka, Cornerstone Bank | Malmo, loan officer

Cooper Grabenstein

Photo: Cooper Grabenstein

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Retirements

Kevin Larson | West Point, retired from his position of bank president, effective Oct. 1. He will continue to serve as executive vice president into 2025 until his transition to full-time retirement.

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Deaths

Robinette “Robin” Artz (age 62) | Hildreth, passed away on Sept. 24. She had previously worked at the Iowa-Nebraska State Bank, now Cornerstone Bank, in Wilcox.