10 JANUARY / FEBRUARY 2022 Emily Brooks Member Engagement Specialist Indiana Bankers Association ebrooks@indiana.bank COVER STORY Garry Kleer Leading two historic organizations Garry D. Kleer was officially elected 2022 chairman of the Indiana Bankers Association Board of Directors at the Annual Convention in French Lick on Aug. 16, succeeding Michael S. Zahn. He assumed duties as chairman on Jan. 1 of this year. Kleer is chairman, president and CEO of First Bank Richmond. He also is chairman, president and CEO of Richmond Mutual Bancorporation. He joined the bank in 1994 as vice president of commercial lending and was promoted in 2001 to president and CEO. Before joining First Bank Richmond, Kleer worked for Bank One, NA, in Richmond, Indiana. Active in the community, Kleer’s involvement includes service on the boards of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Wayne County, Reid Health Foundation, Richmond Symphony Orchestra and Wayne County Foundation. He has been recognized with the Indiana University East Chancellor’s Medallion, Junior Achievement Business Hall of Fame, Richmond/Wayne County Distinguished Community Leader, and Boys & Girls Clubs Man and Youth Award. In 2020, Kleer was awarded the Indiana University Bicentennial Medal for distinguished service. Previously, Kleer served the IBA as first vice chairman, second vice chairman and northeast region director. He has also served as an IBA committee member and as a legislative contact. He is currently a member of the Large Community Bank Council of the Independent Community Bankers of America. Kleer is a graduate of Indiana University, the Graduate School of Commercial Lending and the Stonier Graduate School of Banking. Hoosier Banker interviewed Kleer in the fall about his upcoming term as chairman. What are your goals as IBA chairman in 2022, especially as we’re emerging from a pandemic? “My primary goal is to make sure that our member banks and associate members know how important they are to our Association. They are why we exist. “I want them to be assured that the IBA is addressing the important legislative issues and meeting their educational needs to give them value. The IBA has done an excellent job of that in the past, and I want to reinforce that during my bank visits.” The IBA is celebrating its 125-year anniversary in 2022, and First Bank Richmond has been in operation for 135 years. What does it mean to you to lead these two longstanding institutions? “First Bank is celebrating its 135th anniversary in 2022. We have a rich history in Wayne County and have carried on that history as we have expanded to Shelby County in Indiana; to Shelby and Miami counties in Ohio; and to Columbus, Ohio. As the markets have
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