Hoosier Banker 33 Centier Bank, Merrillville, was named a 2023 Best Place to Work by the Indiana Chamber of Commerce. The bank is one of 18 companies recognized in the Large Company category for organizations with 250-999 U.S. employees. In all, 125 companies were recognized. The rankings for each category will be announced at an awards event May 10. Community First Bank of Indiana, Kokomo, received two more recognitions to start the year. It was announced on Jan. 19 that the bank was named Large Business of the Year by the Westfield Chamber of Commerce for enhancing the town’s community “in significant and noticeable ways.” Then on Jan. 27, the bank was named the Best Bank in Kokomo for the 16th consecutive year in the Kokomo Tribune’s Readers’ Choice Awards, along with Best Place to Work and Best Teller for assistant branch manager Whitney Wright. First Merchants Bank, Muncie, was recognized for generating more than $5.6 million in SBA 504 loans with Indiana Statewide CDC, and Centier Bank, Merrillville, for the most SBA 504 projects with nine approved loans. HB Joe Howarth, market president for Lafayette at Centier Bank, Merrillville, was presented with the Bill DeFouw Campaign Leadership Award from United Way of Greater Lafayette. The award recognizes an individual who leads the way in promoting UWGL’s work with great care and compassion. When presenting Howarth with the award, 2022 UWGL Campaign Chair Jim Smith called him “a standout campaigner who redefined communication while energizing and engaging volunteers and donors in the community.” The Indiana Statewide Certified Development Corporation named Community First Bank of Indiana, Kokomo, Indiana’s Small-Business Lender of the Year for 2022. The award is given to the institution that generates the largest volume of loans with the Indiana Statewide CDC as a percentage of bank deposits. gbcBANK, Greenfield, was the runner-up. (from left) Community First Bank’s Bob Hickman, Robb Blume, Jeff Magginnis, Janelle Campbell, Scott Hammersley, Adrienne Riddle and Bonnie Riley accepted the Large Business of the Year award from Westfield Chamber’s Steve Latour and Steve Rupp on Jan. 19, 2023. (from left) Community First Bank’s Bob Hickman, Pete Needler, Jeff Magginnis, Greg Gordon, Scott Hammersley, Adam Pleva and Duane Kamminga accept the Indiana Small Business Lender of the Year award from Indiana Statewide CDC’s Jean Wojtowicz at the Wellington Fishers Banquet & Conference Center in Fishers, Ind., on Dec. 7, 2022. HONORABLE MENTIONS • Hoosier Banker, IBA's flagship publication, is distributed bimonthly to 7,000+ digital subscribers, plus 4,000+ hard copy subscribers. Please email feature articles for consideration, or items for Associate Members Corner, to EHoffmeyer@indiana. bank. Deadlines are the 20th of the month, two months before publication. Associate Member Publication Opportunities Associate members of the Indiana Bankers Association are invited to share information and news with Indiana bankers through Hoosier Banker magazine and the IBA Service Provider Showcase e-newsletter. Not sure who to contact? Email any one of us and we’ll follow up, or call 317-387-9380. • Service Provider Showcase, a monthly e-newsletter, keeps member banks connected with the service provider community. Associate members may submit current updates, company accolades and upcoming webinars/events. Email materials to EBrooks@indiana.bank.
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