Pub. 11 2022 Issue 1 25 “As an Asian American female in banking, yes, I have felt a lack of belonging,” Buche said. “This group provides a sense of belonging. It was especially important after the increase in violence against the Asian community, and Asian Americans are still being labeled as foreigners.” Buche said communities need to acknowledge what is happening in our communities that affect employees and the bank, and if the bank doesn’t have those resources, they can find groups to provide support through organizations such as NAAAP-KC or Young Latino Professionals, for example. Barta Joins Citizens State Bank Rachael Barta joined the staff as a loan officer at the Citizens State Bank & Trust Co. in Ellsworth as of Nov. 1. Barta brings 12 years of bank experience from a previous bank where she worked in the accounting and operation departments. At Citizens Bank, she will be offering all types of lending, including consumer, business, personal and agriculture. “We are very pleased to have Rachael join us,” said David Brownback, CSB&T president. “She has hit the ground running and will be a tremendous asset to our team.” Barta and her husband, Brad, have two children: Coulson, 11, and Kynzie, 9. In her spare time, she enjoys golfing, attending her children’s sporting events and being outside whenever possible. Two Banks Come Together to Serve Local Market Community Bancshares, Inc. (CBI), the parent corporation of Community National Bank, announced they completed the acquisition whereby BOTS, Inc. has become a part of Community Bancshares’ Banking Organization. BOTS, Inc. is the parent company of VisionBank. Community National Bank (CNB) President and CEO Dorsey Hall said, “We are very happy to complete this transaction and have the professional team of VisionBank join our company. The leadership and board have operated a very successful bank. VisionBank will be a great addition allowing CBI/CNB to expand our Kansas family of customers. As we stated in our original announcement, we believe the culture, the customers and the staff of VisionBank fit into CNB’s culture perfectly.” CBI plans to merge the two banks midyear 2022. Gary Yager, President/CEO of VisionBank, reiterated, “I personally take pride in this transaction as I believe it the best for both our customers, we work so hard for and our staff.” Alden State Bank Celebrates Retirements of Rowland, Frederick with Open House The Alden State Bank celebrated the retirement of Tom Frederick and Janiece Rowland with an Open House Friday, Dec. 10. Alden State Bank President Todd Rowland shared some history of the bank, noting that his grandfather, Fred L. Fair began working for the Alden State Bank as a cashier in December, 1939. He purchased controlling interest from J.H. (Jim) Fair in 1947 after returning from his service in World War II. Fair hired T.N. (Tom) Frederick March 1, 1958, after Frederick returned to Alden from his service in Germany. Frederick started as an Executive Vice President and focused on lending and selling insurance through the Alden State Agency. He was awarded the prestigious Kansas Bankers Association “50 Year Club” in 2008. Since 2008, Frederick has been selling insurance through the Alden State Agency in Alden. “Tom has always been a part of the Alden State Bank family and has been walking in and out of the doors in Alden for over 60 years. Tom’s many hats that he wore at the bank and his decades of service to the Alden community on the city council make his knowledge of local history unparalleled,” Todd Rowland said. Janiece (Fair) Rowland started at the Alden State Bank in her youth, cleaning the bank with her sisters Sondra and Arlene. As she grew older, she would work the teller line in the summers and during school breaks. Janiece and her husband Chuck Rowland returned to the Alden community in August 1984 to run the Alden State Bank when Fred (and his wife Alma) Continued on page 26
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