40 Under 40: 2025's Community Bank Leaders

Edited by Rachel Hatcher and Tarra Willox

Efficiency strategists

Smarter ways to work

Efficiency is key to success in both the back office and customer-facing activities. These 40 Under 40 honorees have creatively eliminated roadblocks and implemented new technology to optimize operations at their banks. By Susan K. Thomas

Q: Describe a past or current project that increased efficiency at your community bank. 

Chase Thomas: At small community banks, there are a lot of processes that are manual, tedious and time-consuming, such as data entry. So, I introduced robotic process automation to the bank. I’ve built bots to do repetitive tasks like updating loan records or scraping websites for data, such as ensuring taxes are paid on our collateral. So far, I’ve built 16 and have run them thousands of times, saving over 167 days of FTE time. It only takes two to four hours to build a bot, and it does the work no one wants to do perfectly and efficiently every time. 

Tiffany Lewis: I’ve researched our usual processes and procedures, figured out how to do them efficiently and then documented them so we’re ready to do the tasks next time. These documents have been helpful for new employee training so they can quickly learn how to do their job efficiently.

Ashley Yocum: We recently overhauled our technical infrastructure. We completely updated hardware and software and revamped our internet infrastructure. Two years ago, we lost connectivity over a holiday weekend, which prompted us to make these improvements. Now if the bank loses connectivity, we have the correct redundancy to recover. We’ve definitely noticed a decrease in downtime and better overall operational efficiency and customer service. 

Chase Thomas, 31

VP of finance and analytics
Clear Mountain Bank
Bruceton Mills, West Virginia

Chase Thomas is committed to finding new and more efficient processes. He’s led various projects throughout his career, including the development and implementation of a robotic process automation tool for Clear Mountain Bank.

Tiffany Lewis, 38

Vice president and compliance/BSA officer
Richland State Bank
Bruce, South Dakota

Tiffany Lewis, a banker who wears many hats, brings a strong attention to detail and experience to every project she’s on. She was instrumental in developing operating processes during the pandemic and updating Richland State Bank’s website and mobile services, making things safer and more efficient for the bank and its customers.

Ashley Yocum, 38

SVP, COO and compliance officer
PBK Bank
Stanford, Kentucky

Just 12 months into her SVP/COO role, Ashley Yocum oversaw a network conversion, teller capture equipment upgrade and ATM replacements at six branches. And thanks to Yocum’s contributions during these projects, PBK Bank significantly reduced connectivity issues and increased bank efficiency.

Q: What are some common roadblocks that can interfere with community bank operations?

Thomas: The biggest roadblock is unlocking legacy data so we can use it. Legacy cores weren’t built for today’s data possibilities. So, we’re working with a couple of paid student interns from West Virginia University’s data science school to help clean our data and create a real-world data strategy. Targeted marketing is a good use case. For example, we’d like to monitor how our customers are transacting to make product suggestions that could make the best of their community banking experience.

Lewis: We’ve been in regulation whiplash lately. Who knows what will happen with 1071? Keeping track of on-again, off-again regulations is time consuming. We get notifications from a variety of entities, including ICBA’s NewsWatch Today, about what regulations are coming out to keep us ahead of the game. We need to be ready to handle compliance, yet regulations have been chaotic.

Yocum: Definitely 1071. It’s so volatile. I’m not only the COO but the compliance officer too, so I have to try to keep up with the regulatory field and ask, “What’s new coming down the pike? What’s going to be repealed?” For a strong compliance management system, we need to show examiners that we are being proactive and having conversations within our bank to stay up to speed. It’s hard on a lot of levels just to keep up. 

Kelsey Bailey, 37

VP and branch administration manager
First National Bank of Michigan
Kalamazoo, Michigan

Kelsey Bailey makes sure First National Bank of Michigan gets the most out of every software program it uses. After her bank’s challenging core conversion, she ensured all processes and procedures were updated to fully support the new core.

Miranda Schultz, 38

Executive vice president, chief financial officer and chief operations officer
Wolf River Community Bank
Hortonville, Wisconsin

Miranda Schultz’s leadership and emphasis on technology has created effective and efficient processes throughout the bank. She led a successful core conversion with minimal customer impact, fostered rapid development within her team and inspired a program benefiting more than 35 local charitable organizations.

Skyler Kanipe, 28

Project manager
Community Financial Services Bank (CFSB)
Benton, Kentucky

Skyler Kanipe consistently streamlines processes as a project manager. She analyzes existing software, ensures smooth implementation of new systems and follows up to support long-term success. Because of her work, CFSB’s teams can adopt technology with confidence. —Ben Wagner

Q: What emerging technology could play a role in bank efficiency?

Thomas: Our 2025 strategic plan has a solid team of folks diving deep into what AI could mean for us. We’re using AI for the back office now but haven’t deployed it customer facing, because we’re not sure yet what will be the best for them. The goal is to make customer interactions more meaningful and efficient. I’m most excited about the ability to build predictive models and use Power BI [Microsoft’s cloud-based business intelligence tool] to analyze our data. 

Lewis: AI is going to change banking. It’s already started in some in bigger banks. There’s a lot AI can do for us, including monitoring for [fraud and] BSA/AML [compliance]. Since we are smaller, we rely on our vendors to [provide new technologies and the bank uses various resources to] know what’s new and could be efficient for us. We don’t want to lose our personal touch because, as community bankers, that’s our bread and butter. So, we need to find a good combination of personal touch and AI that fits the comfort level of our customer base. We keep the efficiency ratio in mind: What is the cost of AI, and how much more efficient will we be with it versus without it?  

Yocum: We’re exploring how artificial intelligence can introduce efficiencies through third-party software, including detecting fraudulent activity and red flags. I’m looking at one software that can detect check fraud [and provide automations with BSA/AML] in real time, so that would definitely [provide efficiencies]. Another can streamline processes so we don’t have to invest much manual time.

Digital leaders

Taking a high-tech approach

These digital-minded bankers implement tech to revamp a variety of bank processes.

Cameron Nofi, 38

CFO
VeraBank, N.A.
Henderson, Texas

Cameron Nofi has made it his mission to identify local market needs and monitor key financial trends to tailor bank offerings and ensure VeraBank remains competitive. He helped establish profit centers and enabled more precise analysis of bank performance, identification of successful markets and indicators for success.

Sophia Pocrnich, 29

EVP and CFO
Woodland Bank
Deer River, Minnesota

As overseer of Woodland Bank’s IT and operations, Sophia Pocrnich aims to reduce inefficiencies and ensure a smooth experience for both customers and employees. With a focus on digital transformation, she has streamlined back-office operations to allow frontline staff to focus more on day-to-day customer interactions.

Peggy Stebbins, 39

EVP, COO and interim CFO
PremierBank
Fort Atkinson, Wisconsin

Peggy Stebbins works to ensure PremierBank is using the best technology, so that it can adapt to new challenges and meet evolving customer expectations. She insisted on reassessing the bank’s technological options, which led a to comprehensive review of potential systems and better operational efficiency.

Wesley Martin, 39

President and CEO
Bank of Oak Ridge
Oak Ridge, Louisiana

Wesley Martin has helped Bank of Oak Ridge transform into a thriving, multiple-location bank with the technology to compete against other banks. He led a core conversion, converted the community bank to new loan production software and implemented the bank’s first mobile and online banking platform.

Jason C. Patout, 39

SVP
Gulf Coast Bank
Abbeville, Louisiana

Jason C. Patout is dedicated to ensuring the best experience for customers and employees—something he kept in mind as he led the launch of Gulf Coast Bank’s mobile banking app. Using the bank’s new mobile banking capabilities, he also established a new partnership with Spiral, which permits customers to donate to local nonprofits digitally.

Marla Lance, 32

AVP and deposit operations manager
Citizens Bank of Edmond
Edmond, Oklahoma

Marla Lance is committed to integrating cutting-edge technology with traditional banking values. She has introduced Citizens Bank of Edmond to a new bookkeeping solution, international wires and faster payment solutions, improving operation efficiency and customer satisfaction. She also led the implementation of a credit reporting and monitoring service for customers, enhancing their banking experience.

Leslie Sedlock, 40

President and CEO
The First National Bank of Eagle Lake
Eagle Lake, Texas

Leslie Sedlock anticipates challenges and adapts to industry trends, balancing technological progress and customer-centric service. She led the implementation of a new integrated core banking system at The First National Bank of Eagle Lake, improving efficiency and cybersecurity while reducing operational costs. —Ben Wagner

Community changemakers

A virtuous circle

Whether locally or nationwide, community bankers are motivated to make a difference in the communities they serve. Meet three exceptional leaders who want to create waves of change where it matters. By Don Sadler

Luke Kneeshaw, director of legal and government affairs for $52 billion-asset Umpqua Bank in Lake Oswego, Oregon, believes that at their core, community banks serve “as the fuel in the economic engine of the cities and towns where we operate.” 

He adds, “By prioritizing local decision-making and putting our customers first, we create a virtuous circle of economic prosperity that promotes not only the success of our customers but of the bank itself.”

This sentiment is held by many community bankers, but it’s especially true for these 40 Under 40 winners, who are taking it upon themselves to be the change they want to see in the world.

Luke Kneeshaw, 33

Director of legal and government affairs
Umpqua Bank
Lake Oswego, Oregon

Luke Kneeshaw has led transformative regulatory and government affairs programs at Umpqua Bank, while also making a difference in the community through his close work with nonprofits focused on mental health advocacy and financial-crisis relief.

Derek Shelnutt, 38

Chief financial officer and executive vice president
Colony Bank
Fitzgerald, Georgia

Derek Shelnutt aligns Colony Bank with meaningful community initiatives like the Georgia HEART Program, which provides critical funding to rural hospitals. He also mentors and shares valuable banking insights with students from his alma mater, the University of West Georgia.

Kayla Gagnon, 36

AVP and branch officer
Dean Bank
Franklin, Massachusetts

Kayla Gagnon fosters a positive work culture at Dean Bank through various workplace committees, including one focused on wellness. She organizes, fundraises and actively participates in charity events like Project Smile, which helps raise funds for individuals in need.

From healthcare to education

Derek Shelnutt, CFO and EVP of $3 billion-asset Colony Bank in Fitzgerald, Georgia, serves his community in several ways. He spearheads the bank’s involvement in the Georgia HEART program, which provides critical funding to 10 different rural hospitals in the area. Colony Bank, with Shelnutt’s help, has donated hundreds of thousands of dollars to this program.

“[Georgia HEART] directs much-needed financial resources to healthcare providers in underserved areas,” Shelnutt says, “ensuring that citizens in rural communities have access to quality medical care.”

He also leads Colony Bank’s commitment to Fostering Success, a program that helps find accessible education, housing and career opportunities for young adults who are aging out of the foster care system. He also champions the bank’s support of the Georgia GOAL Scholarship program, which funds scholarships for students to attend accredited private schools and career academies.

Shelnutt’s charitable works also extends to the community banking industry. To help educate and inspire the next generation of leaders, Shelnutt serves on the board of advisors for the Richards College of Business at his alma mater, the University of West Georgia. In this role, he mentors students and provides insight into the evolving financial landscape. “This is a great way to educate business and finance students about community banking and potential career paths,” he says.

Valerie Martinez, 39

Vice president and commercial banker
InBank
Pueblo, Colorado

Valerie Martinez, a champion for underserved communities, spent two decades leading a mortgage program designed for low- to moderate-income buyers—and it's still thriving today. She also helped secure over $1 million in scholarships in one year as the treasurer of the Pueblo Community College Foundation.

Kaylyn Peterson, 34

VP of operations
Anderson State Bank
Oneida, Illinois

Kaylyn Peterson integrates her responsibilities as a mother, engaged community member and relationship-driven banker. Her awareness of customers' financial needs was highlighted during her leadership of Anderson State Bank’s Paycheck Protection Program loan initiative, which has played a crucial role in supporting local businesses.

Abby Delaney, 33

SVP and senior marketing and communications officer
Bankers Trust
Des Moines, Iowa

Abby Delaney fosters an engaged and collaborative environment in her team, encouraging employees to share and test new strategic ideas in their work. A vocal advocate for contributing to the community, Delaney has also introduced employee incentives for volunteering and helped address disparities and other barriers to homeownership.

Making a difference

Like Shelnutt, Kneeshaw dedicates his time to service both inside and outside of work. He previously served as vice president of Columbia Cares, a nonprofit that provided grants to community citizens who were experiencing financial crises, and he is one of the founding directors on the board of a nonprofit psychotherapy clinic aiming to expand mental healthcare access, regardless of a patient’s ability to pay. 

Sometimes jokingly referred to as the “bank whisperer,” Kneeshaw enjoys digging into projects to figure out how things work and connect it to Umpqua Bank’s broader mission of serving the community. Since 2018, he has been a leader in the bank’s government affairs program. The program’s goal, he says, is to “advocate with elected officials at every level of government for the best interests of the bank and our customers.”

Kayla Gagnon, AVP and branch officer at $479 million-asset Dean Bank in Franklin, Massachusetts, demonstrates her commitment to building a strong, connected community and workplace by participating in several bank committees. These include the Act, Build and Communicate (ABC) committee; the Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging (DEIB) committee; and the Wellness Committee, which she now chairs.

“It’s my passion to see people happy, thriving and working on team projects together,” says Gagnon. She started at Dean Bank in 2010 and later joined the Wellness Committee, stepping up to lead the committee four years ago when the previous human resources officer had other obligations. “I didn’t want to lose the momentum and positivity that had been built up,” she says. 

The Wellness Committee plans a wide range of activities that enhance employee engagement and workplace culture. Each month, Gagnon and her team develop a structured agenda of activities that help promote a positive work environment. Recent events have included employee fun nights, spirit weeks and health engagement programs. On Wellness Wednesday, the committee sends tips to employees about ways they can boost their mental and physical health.

The impact of the Wellness Committee extends to the community, too, as members and employees are encouraged to get involved in outreach activities. For example, the committee has participated in events to support the American Heart Association, local food pantries and monthly “casual for a cause” donations to a local charity. In addition, Gagnon mentors a young child through Mentor Rhode Island.

“As community bankers, we cannot lose sight of the humanity of our business—the dreams underpinning a business plan or the family that goes grocery shopping knowing that Mom’s paycheck was reliably delivered on payday,” says Kneeshaw. “With these kinds of relationships as our baseline, we have a great deal of freedom to deliver banking services in a way that fits our unique communities.”

Colten Grau, 37

Vice president
American Heritage Bank
Clovis, New Mexico

Colten Grau spearheaded and oversees the bank’s monthly newsletter and Community Chest, a bimonthly donation fund that helps local people during times of hardship. Grau, president of the local school board, also volunteers as coach of the Little Dribblers basketball team.

Haylie Calicott, 29

VP and business development officer
First Security Bank & Trust Company
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma

Inspired by her current work with a minority depository institution, Haylie Calicott focuses on advancing financial literacy and community empowerment. To support this mission, she has helped revise policies and procedures to benefit customers and connected underserved communities to key educational resources. —Tarra Willox

Risk mitigators

Leaders in the fight against fraud

Bad actors and risk exposure abound for community banks. These leaders have taken steps to implement policies, procedures and trainings to mitigate risk and protect their banks’ assets. By Katie Kuehner-Hebert

Having someone closely monitoring risk within operations, lending and fraud concerns helps contribute to the longevity and well-being of each community bank. Risk-related losses come right off the bottom line, which cannot absorb a huge loss without having a deep impact on the bank’s day-to-day operations and its overall financial health, says Amanda Gravely, senior vice president and director of in-market banking at $3.7 billion-asset Primis Bank in Ashland, Virginia.

Therefore, she says, “It is essential to have an ironclad risk program with mitigation processes to help reduce and eliminate risk exposure at its source.”

These 40 Under 40 winners, including Gravely, have made a difference in risk management efforts at their banks through insightful knowledge, best practices and a keen eye.

Amanda Gravely, 38

Senior vice president and director of in-market banking
Primis Bank
Ashland, Virginia

Following a recent rise in fraud, Amanda Gravely took it upon herself to make a difference. She first implemented a daily manual check review and has since developed a “Watch Dog” incentive, which rewards employees for spotting and stopping fraud.

Emilie Johnston, 37

Chief operations officer and executive vice president
Bank of Montana
Missoula, Montana

Emilie Johnston regularly reviews and updates bank policy and procedures, minimizing risk and stress related to compliance. She also makes sure Bank of Montana takes advantage of its BSA/AML monitoring software, maximizing its capabilities and benefits.

Becca Knowles, 40

SVP and COO
Yampa Valley Bank
Steamboat Springs, Colorado

Becca Knowles has saved Yampa Valley Bank and its customers thousands of dollars in fraud damages through research, communication and resolution efforts. From contacting customers about potential fraud to assessing ATM-related risk, she ensures her bank is protected from every angle.

Proactivity makes all the difference

Smaller institutions know the value of risk management, as they would be more intensely affected than a megabank should an incident occur, according to Emilie Johnston, chief operations officer and executive vice president at $253 million-asset Bank of Montana in Missoula. 

Ultimately, every decision that Johnston and her team makes, whether it is at the customer, policy or procedure level, carries the weight of risk versus reward.

Becca Knowles, senior vice president and COO at $631 million‑asset Yampa Valley Bank in Steamboat Springs, Colorado, puts it this way: “Right now, with the heightened fraud risk, we’ve got to be able to have the tools in place to protect not only the bank but our customers as well, because they trust us to have their back.”

According to Knowles, Yampa Valley Bank employs several fraud mitigation measures, including tools to detect fraudulent checks against a national database, as well as wire and online banking risk-scoring tools to determine when legitimate transactions can be processed.

“We also have signs all over the bank, cautioning customers to watch out about scams, and we teach fraud education in our communities, including in senior centers,” she says. “We’re trying to get the word out to people who don’t necessarily see these things online and who may be the most vulnerable people in our communities.”

One type of fraud that had been occurring across the bank’s communities pertained to the Zelle P2P payments network, Knowles says. Customers were reporting that they were receiving texts purportedly from Zelle, letting them know that their account had been compromised and they needed to respond to the text to get their money back.

“But if the customer responded ‘yes’ to the text, it would actually send money to the fraudster via Zelle and the customer really had little to no wiggle room to get that back,” she says. “So, we put out [a social media post alerting] our customers with all of the information surrounding the scam, explaining the correct process of Zelle, and if they got a text, to contact us as soon as possible. We also put that on Facebook because our whole community, regardless of where they banked, were getting these texts and losing money.”

Joe Miller, 37

Executive vice president and chief credit officer
The First National Bank in Sioux Falls
Sioux Falls, South Dakota

As an active member of his local Risk Management Association chapter, Joe Miller knows how risk informs his lending decisions. As is the community banker way, he balances this knowledge with the bank’s customers’ needs, including the creation of a farming‑focused education program.

John Hedgpeth, 37

Senior executive vice president and chief financial officer
Ozark Bank
Ozark, Missouri

With experience as a commissioned bank examiner with the Missouri Division of Finance, John Hedgpeth understands community bank complexities. This, as well as his experience in banking school, has informed his careful assessment of potential risk within his bank portfolio.

Taking the extra steps

Bank of Montana has implemented many mitigation measures, including Nasdaq Verafin for AML and fraud monitoring; participating in FinCEN’s Section 314(b) program; participating in FedDetect for duplicate check notifications; and requiring verbal verifications or security token codes on electronic money movement requests.

When the community bank implemented a token system to help protect customers when initiating and approving wires and ACHs through its online banking system, Johnston and her team thoroughly vetted the risks of their customers moving money in this manner. The team was then able to tailor the service offering to help protect both the bank and the customers using these funds transfer services.

“Probably one of the most important solutions is customer education, whether it is training on our current fraud mitigation tools, such as positive pay, or training them on the importance of verbal verification if an employee or vendor of theirs wants to change their direct deposit information,” Johnston says.

To mitigate the challenge of check fraud, in 2023 Primis Bank deployed frontline efforts to review all checks coming into the institution and returning anything that was not a legitimate item, Gravely says. Once she and her team were able to determine the scale of check fraud, they deployed systematic detection software to reduce the amount of human effort needed to mitigate check fraud at its source.

“Today, between our check fraud detection software and our people who scrutinize any items we’re alerted to, we have seen a huge reduction in losses due to check fraud and have nearly eliminated the risk for our institution,” Gravely says. “It took awareness, education and commitment from the top down.”

She says Primis Bank also educates its customers through community events and customer-facing materials that detail the latest fraud trends and popular scams. “We empower our customers to know what to do when faced with these compromises, and they know we are here to help them every step of the way.”

Gravely and her team have prepared every employee within the bank to be risk mitigators, regardless of their role.

“Everyone is constantly staying aware of industry trends and how they may encounter and mitigate fraud attempts,” she says. “We educate our people and empower them with training. This means they are prepared to act the moment something does not seem right. Our systems, processes and people are built to stop fraud in its tracks before it ever impacts our bottom‑line losses.”

Creative thinkers

Outside of the box

These innovative bankers are masters at offering up strategies and perspectives others wouldn’t have.

Carley Harvey, 26

Assistant vice president and director of human resources
The Hicksville Bank
Hicksville, Ohio

Carley Harvey believes a strong culture strengthens the local community and builds engagement outside of bank walls. As a collaborative and personable HR leader, she interacts with the Hicksville Bank staff daily and launched The Bank Buzz newsletter to highlight the bank’s culture, communication and shared values.

Mariah Gerber, 33

Controller and chief administration officer
Chippewa Valley Bank
Hayward, Wisconsin

Rising from intern to leader, Mariah Gerber is a hard worker and values every role. She is actively involved in regulatory financial reporting and oversight along with Chippewa Valley Bank’s stock lending program, which partners with community banks across 18 states.

Lisa Witte, 36

Chief financial officer and EVP
United Prairie Bank
Mankato, Minnesota

Innovation drives Lisa Witte’s approach to customer engagement and bank profitability. By leading a team focused on continuous development and competitive assessment of United Prairie Bank’s deposit products, Witte has helped guide a proactive approach to creating appealing deposit offerings for both consumers and businesses in their markets.

Gregory Marantz, 35

EVP, finance and risk management
Bank of Springfield
Springfield, Illinois

Gregory Marantz brings a team-first, athlete’s mindset to community banking, demonstrating his commitment by attending ICBA conventions for 12 years running. Marantz also launched an internal committee focused on educating employees about the benefits of employee stock ownership, linking their contributions to the bank’s value and reinforcing employee engagement.

Austin Haase, 31

Vice president of mortgage credit administration
Claremont Savings Bank
Claremont, New Hampshire

Austin Haase views community banking as a partnership with her neighbors. She provides personalized mortgage solutions that make homeownership more attainable while advocating for responsible lending practices. Haase, who was selected for Claremont Savings Bank’s Emerging Leaders program, also led a customer-focused analysis of the banking services it provides within its communities.

Kaitlyn Koeller, 32

Branch manager
Olympia Federal Savings
Olympia, Washington

Kaitlyn Koeller takes a coaching style with her leadership, empowering her team through hands-on support. She created and led Olympia Federal’s “Skill Drill,” a dynamic training initiative that blends music, games and breakfast to boost employee and customer engagement. Koeller extends this energy into the community by mentoring students in financial literacy.

Frank Territo, 37

Chief of staff and director of investor relations
The Bank of Tampa
Tampa, Florida

Frank Territo, known as The Bank of Tampa's “Fixer,” has a reputation for aligning teams and enhancing the bank’s services. He headed a successful Paycheck Protection Program rollout and instituted team and department leader meetings across the bank, aiming to improve communication and find solutions for inefficiencies.

Personal bankers

Embodying KYC

Bankers like these elevate the customer experience.

Nicolas Vigen, 32

Senior vice president of lending
Bank of the West
Irving, Texas

Nicolas Vigen’s inclusive leadership reflects his genuine care for people; he offers guidance and support in helping his staff find success. As an Independent Bankers Association of Texas leadership division officer, Vigen engages with bankers and community members to lead initiatives.

Meghan Manor, 32

Assistant vice president and director of retail
Merchants Bank
Winona, Minnesota

By volunteering at schools and nonprofits, Meghan Manor builds meaningful relationships while helping individuals understand personal finance and the value of community banking. Manor also helped launch a customer engagement center, planning out its supporting software technology and the team that would run it.

Cassie Alexander, 38

Vice president and senior loan officer
First National Bank, Cortez
Cortez, Colorado

Cassie Alexander tailors customer experiences by knowing the person behind every application. She collaborates with customers to understand their personal and business goals to create seamless plans that meet their financial needs. Alexander applies the same strategy to her leadership approach and prioritizes getting to know her employees and colleagues.

Emily Touchton Schock, 36

Loan processor
Peoples State Bank of Velva
Velva, North Dakota

Connection is Emily Touchton Schock’s priority. Her personal connections with bankers, businesses owners and customers help foster lasting community relationships. She has organized events for local North Dakota business networks to explore opportunities and resources by targeting communities that traditionally lack access to business resources compared with those available in bigger cities.

Melissa Moretz, 31

Vice president and lending officer
First Citizens Bank
Mason City, Iowa

With a background in education and extensive experience managing her own cattle, hog and row crop farm, Melissa Moretz has created internship and training programs to mentor college students and new hires in ag lending. She also stays up to date on any new government policies and insurance programs that support agriculture and agribusiness lending.

Evelyn Franco, 39

Chief operating officer
Frontier Bank of Texas
Elgin, Texas

Evelyn Franco is committed to enhancing the future of community banking. As a mentor, she fosters the development of future bank leaders by promoting honest self-reflection and accountability among her mentees. She actively advocates for community banks at the legislative level, addressing regulations that hinder their ability to serve local communities.

Ross Weems, 38

First vice president
BankPlus
Jackson, Mississippi

Service is the cornerstone of Ross Weems’s work. With a customer-centric approach, he cultivates meaningful relationships and has a deep commitment to making a difference in his community. As a leader of BankPlus’s medical community outreach, Weems offers tailored financial solutions to physicians, corporate executives, medical practices and professional firms.

Congratulations to ICBA’s 40 Under 40: Community Bank Leaders winners for 2025!

FIS is thrilled to celebrate the outstanding achievements of this year’s ICBA 40 Under 40 Community Bank Leaders. Your visionary leadership, commitment to innovation and dedication to your communities are shaping the future of community banking.

Community banks are the heartbeat of local economies, and this recognition is a testament to your unwavering efforts. We’re proud to honor all the ICBA award recipients for your contributions to building trust, fostering growth and driving transformation within community banking.

For more than 50 years, leading financial institutions and businesses have relied on FIS to power their mission-critical operations and drive innovation to propel growth. We understand the challenges and opportunities community banks face and offer the scale, technology and expertise to keep money moving smoothly and safely.

Here are a few ways we support and strengthen community banks:

• Comprehensive financial solutions: From core banking and payment processing to compliance tools and robust data analytics, our offerings address the unique needs of community banks.

• Scalable, secure technology: Our solutions are designed to grow with you, ensuring seamless and secure operations as your bank expands its reach and capabilities.

• Customer-centric innovation: Modern banking tools help you deliver exceptional experiences to meet your members’ expectations.

• Actionable insights: Advanced analytics enable you to make data-driven decisions that optimize operations and uncover new growth opportunities.

• Dedicated partnership: FIS is invested in your success. We work closely with you, offering tailored solutions and guidance to support long-term growth.

As we celebrate the exceptional leaders recognized through ICBA’s 40 Under 40 awards, FIS reaffirms our commitment to supporting community banks in their vital role. Together, we can continue driving innovation, enriching communities and ensuring the foundation of community banking remains strong for generations to come.

Congratulations once again to the 2025 honorees. Your achievements inspire us, and we’re excited to be part of your continued success. Connect with FIS to explore how we can partner with you to shape the future of community banking. fisglobal.com