Portage Names C. Joseph Assid EVP, CFO
RAVENNA, Ohio,—Portage Community Bank, the wholly-owned bank subsidiary of Portage Bancshares, Inc., has appointed C. Joseph (“Joe”) Assid as Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Portage Community Bank. With over twenty-five years of professional experience specializing in financial institution accounting, audit, and assurance services and a proven track record of leadership, Assid brings…
Matthew Bower Joins Northwest Bank
COLUMBUS, Ohio,—Northwest Bank has appointed Matthew Bower as managing director, wealth management. In this newly created role, Bower will lead Northwest’s wealth management team of more than 100 associates, with a focus on enhancing and growing its offerings, which currently include private banking, investment management, estate planning, and trust services. This new leadership role is…
Bank of America Names Maria Serravalle Community Relations Manager
DETROIT,—Detroit native Maria Serravalle has been named Bank of America’s Community Relations Manager for the Detroit market. Serravalle will lead efforts to strengthen the bank’s impact across clients, colleagues, and communities. She succeeds Dwanette Williams, who has taken on a new role with Bank of America’s Employee Banking & Investments team. “Maria brings not only…
F&M Bank Names Mike Benson SVP
ARCHBOLD, Ohio,—F&M Bank, subsidiary of Farmers & Merchants Bancorp, Inc., has added Mike Benson as Senior Vice President, Senior Small Business Banking Manager. This newly created position will facilitate F&M’s strategy to support small businesses across its growing footprint in Ohio, Indiana, and Michigan. With 40 years of banking experience, Benson brings a wealth of…
Evolve Recognized for Cannabis Payment Solution
ST. PAUL, Minn.,—As cannabis legalization expands across the U.S., including Minnesota, many consumers are surprised to learn that credit card payments are still prohibited at dispensaries. The complexity of this financial environment is what makes the work of Don Raleigh III, Revenue Operations Manager at Evolve Payment (a division of Evolve Systems), so critical. Because…
First Federal Celebrates 121 Years
EVANSVILLE, Ind.,—First Federal Savings Bank began with a simple mission: to provide accessible, reliable financial services to hardworking individuals and families. Today, the bank has grown to ten branches, 135 employees. “As we reflect on 121 years of serving our customers, we are filled with gratitude for the generations who have trusted us with their…
Consumers National Opens Canton Branch
MINERVA, Ohio—Consumers National Bank has its new Canton branch located in the Millennium Centre and has appointed Tony Klonowski as the Branch Relationship Manager. The new branch is the bank’s 23rd full-service branch location and 10th branch in Stark County. “We will provide a refreshing local banking alternative for the downtown businesses and residents as…
Questions that Banks Should Ask About AI
By David Eads As new artificial intelligence (AI) solutions and products enter the market, financial institutions should do their due diligence before investing. AI brings a world of possibilities for enhancing efficiency when done right. But adopting AI isn’t just about automating a process or adding a new tool. It’s about trust, transparency and long-term…
Why Banking & Fintech Companies Should Be Located Near Research & Innovation Resources
By Jessica Del Vecchio Why Banking & Fintech Companies Should Be Located Near Research & Innovation Resources In the race to advance financial services and digital banking, location is more than a pin on a map — it’s a position within an ecosystem. For decades, executives making expansion or relocation decisions considered factors like tax…
Your Digital Roadmap Is Worthless Without Execution
How to Build a Digital Roadmap That Actually Gets Executed By Ryan Taphouse Nearly every financial institution has a digital strategy, but only a handful actually see it through to completion. The reality? Banks often spend months (sometimes years) building impressive roadmaps only to watch priorities shift, technology stall in procurement, and execution grind to…