Editor's Note: This column was part of the July 2 Pulse sent to nearly 13,500 subscribers..In June of 1998, we introduced our “Rising Stars in Banking” program. Back then, when the magazine was published twice a month, we honored eight bankers over two issues. Including the seven bankers we’re honoring in the July issue and on this website, we have honored 197 bankers through the history of the program. We select bankers based on nominations from readers. You can see the list of honorees and read their stories by clicking here. Many of the names you will recognize as they went on to leadership positions at their bank, and in their state and national trade associations.When we introduced the program 28 years ago, I wrote an editorial, saying: “It has never been more important to have good staff. Bank owners know that includes the president, and extends all through the various ranks of the bank. The tight labor market means that employers must go the extra mile in recruiting and retaining the best people. And it isn’t easy. While we typically talk about the competition for customers, the competition for top-performing employees is just as fierce.” Funny how things don’t change all that much.So with a collective tip of the hat, BankBeat magazine congratulates our 2026 selections:Rudy Fors, of Twin Cedars Bancorp, Bussey, Iowa;Jacob Reiter, of Granite Bank, Cold Spring, Minn.;Kevin Hegland, of Security Bank & Trust Co., Glencoe, Minn.;Sam Androli, of Security State Bank, Wanamingo, Minn.;Kaydi Sobottka, of First National Bank of River Falls, Wis.;Leslie Scharfe, of First Interstate Bank, Billings, Mont., andLiandra Hoffman, of State Bank of Pearl City, Ill.Thank you to our readers who nominated selections. And thank you to the organizations that affirmed this year’s program with their advertising support. We are particularly grateful to our long-time program sponsor, United Bankers’ Bank. This announcement comes in proximity to our country’s 250th anniversary celebration. Americans have a lot to be thankful for, including its economy and community-based banking system, made up of sincere, salt-of-the-earth people such as those we are honoring here.
