News
Customer Appreciation Day | Al Liestman Open House | Colter joins GRSB
Customer Appreciation Lunch - June 18
At Grand Rapids State Bank, every day is customer appreciation day!
To formally thank our customers, we hosted over 1,200 guests at our annual customer appreciation lunch on Wednesday, June 18 in the Downtown Office parking lot. GRSB staff and customers enjoyed great food from the Sawmill Inn, product demonstrations on internet banking, cash management and GRSBe-Deposit, and prize drawings.
Thank you for coming!!!
Open House Held to Welcome Al Liestman to Grand Rapids
Thank you to the community for the outstanding Open House turnout on June 11 to introduce Al Liestman, our new Senior Vice President – Lending, to Grand Rapids!
With over 20 years of banking experience, Al joins GRSB as a well-seasoned banker and commercial lender. Most recently, he served as the market president of KleinBank Victoria, a community near Lake Minnetonka in the southwestern Twin Cities area. Al and his family lived in Bemidji earlier in his career, and desired to move back to northern Minnesota for the quality of life we have to offer. Al has been involved in business development groups, Habitat for Humanity, and wildlife organizations throughout his career, and is eager to find opportunities to contribute to our community.
Cory Colter joins GRSB as Pokegama Office Manager
Cory Colter has been hired to manage Grand Rapids State Bank’s Pokegama Office, according to Noah Wilcox, President and CEO. “We were delighted to attract Cory to the Grand Rapids State Bank team,” stated Noah. “Cory will be a great addition to our experienced lending team, our Pokegama office location and our entire organization as we continue to grow and move forward. Cory’s lending background suits him perfectly as he joins one of the most experienced lending teams in northern Minnesota,” said Noah Wilcox, President/CEO.
Much of Cory’s professional experience was with Wells Fargo, most recently as store manager in the Mesabi market (Eveleth and Hoyt Lakes, Minnesota). He also worked in their Rochester and Duluth offices, and during his tenure with Wells Fargo he was recognized repeatedly as a top performer in sales activities.
Cory graduated from the University of Minnesota-Duluth in 2000 with a Bachelor of Science degree in business administration. He was a 1994 graduate of Grand Rapids High School where he distinguished himself on the hockey team and in the classroom.
“I believe my skills will be put to great use here at Grand Rapids State Bank,” stated Cory. “I always had hoped I would be able to return to the Grand Rapids area, and working at a great organization like Grand Rapids State Bank is a dream come true. I expect now, in my role as manager of the Pokegama Office, that I will be able to make our customers’ dreams come true, too. I look forward to the opportunity to renew acquaintances and make new friends here in the Grand Rapids area.”
Grand Rapids State Bank was founded in 1914. The locally owned and operated community bank has been serving Grand Rapids and the surrounding communities for more than 90 years. The Wilcox family maintains a commitment to affirming the bank’s mission: To be an industry-leading, independent financial institution that makes a positive difference in the financial lives of everyone we serve.
Zabinski joins GRSB as Senior Vice President
Grand Rapids State Bank is pleased to announce that Ed Zabinski recently joined the Grand Rapids State Bank senior management team as a senior vice president. Zabinski joins the bank as an employee with more than 12 years of service as a director of Grand Rapids State Bank.
“Ed has been a terrific director and has brought a great perspective to the board room during his time as a director. When the opportunity arose to add Ed to my executive team I was delighted," said Noah W. Wilcox, Grand Rapids State Bank President/CEO. “Ed has professional expertise in human resources, public affairs and communications, as well as real-life entrepreneurial experience, that qualifies him to be a great addition to the senior management team and our organization as we continue to grow and move forward.”
Steere selected as one of Finance and Commerce’s Top Women in Finance
Grand Rapids State Bank is pleased to announce that Shelly Steere, Senior Vice President of Operations, has been selected as one of Finance and Commerce’s Top Women in Finance of 2007. The Top Women in Finance award recognizes women who have made significant contributions in the financial services arena by positively influencing their business, industry or community. The award is limited to women who lead their organizations directly or by example from positions of critical importance.
“I could not be prouder of Shelly. She is a key player in our organization and a tremendous asset to our business. Her expertise and leadership have been essential to the continued success of our bank. Shelly serves as an outstanding role model to those within our bank and the Grand Rapids community. Seeing her receive this recognition is terrific,” said Noah Wilcox, CEO. In the 18 years she has been at the bank, Steere has worked in or managed almost every GRSB department.
On September 27, Steere attended a breakfast honoring the awardees. Steere states, “The breakfast was a wonderful event, and meeting such distinguished women was a very rewarding experience.” In November, the seventh annual dinner and networking event will be held in Minneapolis to recognize the award recipients. Steere will also be featured in Finance and Commerce’s special Top Women in Finance editorial section. Steere continues, “This award is such an honor. The support I’ve received over the years from the bank and my family has given me so many opportunities to grow professionally while being able to contribute to the community and balance my family life. I’m very appreciative of the Wilcox family and Grand Rapids State Bank.” Steere holds a bachelor’s degree from the University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, and a master’s degree from the College of St. Scholastica.
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Grand Rapids State Bank Announces Promotions and Customer-centered Restructuring
Grand Rapids State Bank announced today the formation of two new departments: Business Banking and Personal Banking. Dale Rosier and Wayne Bruns assumed leadership over the areas effective September 20. Rosier, Vice President of Personal Banking, began his career with Grand Rapids State Bank nine years ago. As an alumna of Itasca County Community College and the city’s current fire chief, Rosier is well integrated into the Grand Rapids community. “Throughout my career at GRSB as well as my service on the Grand Rapids fire department for the past 17 years, I’ve been in a position to help people – whether it was providing the financing to purchase a first home or helping someone safely escape danger,” Rosier says. “Our new structure will allow me and my team to assist customers with all of their banking needs. From opening accounts to financing real estate, one person will be able to usher them through any process.” In addition to Rosier, members of the Personal Banking team include Steve Levar, Vice President – Personal Banker, and David Wigfield, Vice President – Personal Banker.
Bruns will lead GRSB’s commercial portfolio as Vice President of Business Banking. With over 18 years of banking experience and five years at GRSB, Bruns understands the banking needs of businesses. “We want our customers to have the best support possible. By providing one contact that can serve all of their needs, we believe that we will be able to understand their business more thoroughly and, ultimately, help their business be the best it can,” Bruns says. “We’re committed to helping Grand Rapids grow and that’s achieved through helping our local businesses, new and old, succeed,” Bruns adds. Bruns is also active in the Grand Rapids community and will be joining the Grand Rapids Area Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors in 2008. Jared Pink, Pokegama Office Manager and Loan Officer, will report to Bruns and will be able to provide the same personal and business banking services at the Pokegama Office as offered at the main location. CEO Noah Wilcox states, “I’m very excited about the immediate impact these promotions and the customer-focused restructuring will have in our community. Dale, Wayne and their teams are seasoned professionals that always have our boss, the customer, as their top priority.” The new departments will continue to be supported by GRSB’s current loan administration and new accounts staff.
Pictured: GRSB Business and Personal Bankers: Seated - Shen Adams; Standing Left to Right - Wayne Bruns, Dale Rosier, David Wigfield , Jared Pink and Steve Levar
Grand Rapids State Bank Hosts 2nd Annual Kids Carnival
Grand Rapids State Bank hosted its 2nd Annual Kids Carnival on Saturday, September 9. According to Noah Wilcox, CEO, over 100 attendees braved the rain and enjoyed the event. Wilcox states, “Our goal has been to make the event fun as well as educational for Grand Rapids’ youngest residents. By providing free “play dollars” for children to budget and “pay” for games, popcorn and more, the kids were hopefully able to gain a better respect for the value of the dollar.”
Grand Rapids State Bank offers a Smart Savers Club account where children 12 and under can receive a piggy bank and sticker book when they open an account. Upon visiting the bank, the young account holders are rewarded with stickers. Wilcox says that the purpose of these incentives is to help children gain familiarity with banking processes and understand the power of saving. New accounts representative Nancy Gemmill says, “It’s great to see the kids at ease in a bank, which can be an intimidating process for even some adults. We try to make saving money an easy and rewarding experience for everyone, including the kids.”
Grand Rapids State Bank is committed to making a positive difference in the community and in the financial lives of everyone they serve. With three locations in the Grand Rapids area, the Bank has approximately $250 million in assets.
Pictured: Grand Rapids State Bank mascot, Smartie the Squirrel, with carnival participant
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