Star Bank names Katie Wahlquist president

Eden Prairie, Minn.-based Star Bank elected Katie Wahlquist to serve as president and chief strategy officer. Wahlquist was elected to replace her father, Founder and President/CEO Harry Wahlquist, who will continue serving as board chair and CEO. .Andy Wahlquist will serve as executive vice president/chief operations officer and Matt Geist will be EVP/CFO. Andy Guse will serve as EFP/chief credit officer..A retirement celebration for Harry Wahlquist is expected at a later date. "As I enter this new phase of life and semi-retirement, I plan to spend more time with my family and friends while continuing to mentor our incredible leadership team here at Star Bank," he said. .Wahlquist's banking career began in 1960 at Northwestern National Bank in Minneapolis. Four years later, he became the youngest employee to be elected an officer at the bank. In 1969, Wahlquist assumed leadership of the credit division of the correspondent banking department. Eight years later, he was elected as senior vice president where he managed the correspondent banking department. .According to Star Bank, Wahlquist decided to enter community banking during the 1980s farm crisis as Northwest Bancorp and 1st Bank System sold off their rural locations to buyers who often didn't replace the local presence. In 1990, Wahlquist established a holding company to acquire First National Bank of Bertha-Verndale. He has since grown the bank through acquisitions to $430 million and 11 branches throughout Greater Minnesota and the suburban Twin Cities. .Wahlquist has been an executive volunteer with BankIn Minnesota, the Bank Holding Company Association and Independent Community Bankers of America.