TIB establishes Midwest region banker council

TIB—The Independent BankersBank, which set up an office in Springfield, Ill., earlier this year, has created a 16-member advisory council to aid its Midwest marketing efforts.. Last January, Dallas-based TIB purchased the assets and deposits of the former Illinois Bankers' Bank, which was closed by Illinois regulators last December. The FDIC set up a bridge bank to serve IBB's former customers, and TIB bought the assets through the bridge bank. TIB paid a premium of 0.32 percent to purchase $285.3 million in deposits and $111.8 million in assets. Greg Todd, TIB senior vice president and director of communications, said the bank has retained to date "95 percent-plus" of the customers who came over in the transition.. TIB said the formation of the Midwest Advisory Council will provide the bank with additional market information and customer feedback.. "Since TIB's inception back in 1982, we have tried to make sure we always keep our customers' best interests and needs at the top of our priority list," said TIB President and CEO Michael O'Rourke. "What better way could there be to learn that information, along with activities and trends taking place in the market, than hearing directly from the bankers?". Serving on the council are: Mark Field, Farmers Bank, Liberty, Ill.; Carl Goodwin, Bank of Herrin, Ill.; Gordon Honegger, Morton Community Bank, Morton, Ill.; Jerry Johnson, First National Bank, Grand Ridge, Ill.; Steve Kelley, State Bank of Pearl City, Ill.; Jim Lampe, Germantown Trust & Savings, Breese, Ill.; Dan Moore, Home Bank, Martinsville, Ind.; Tom Runde, Teutopolis State Bank, Teutopolis, Ill.; Kent Kniep, Poplar Grove Bank, Poplar Grove, Ill.; Sam Scott, Scott State Bank, Bethany, Ill.; Daryl Tresler, Mainsource Bank, Greensburg, Ind.; Mayo Walcott, North Bank, Chicago; Tom Walsh, Campus State Bank, Campus, Ill.; Ryan Warner, Bippus State Bank, Huntington, Ind.; Bob Watkins, Henry State Bank, Henry, Ill.; and Jim Young, Indiana Business Bank, Indianapolis.. The toughest part of the process was selecting the members," said O'Rourke. "We have so many interested bankers and new good friends across the Midwest, that is was very difficult to choose from among them. In the end, though, we are very pleased with the panel of distinguished bankers who have chosen to participate as council members.". Todd said the Springfield TIB office, which is located within walking distance of the former IBB office, is staffed with 30 people, all of whom used to work at IBB. The Springfield office is managed by John Turner. On Feb. 8, TIB announced officers at the location in addition to Turner are: Becky Easton, assistant vice president and project manager; Patty McCallum, assistant vice president/customer service; Robin Rushing assistant vice president/operations; Janet Sheley, assistant vice president/safekeeping; and Carmelita Wheatley, assistant vice president/international services.. TIB has five calling officers serving Illinois, Indiana and portions of Iowa. They are: Bill Becker, vice president-Central/South Eastern Illinois; Tony Steinkopf, vice president-Northwestern Illinois; Callan Hagen-Stapleton, assistant vice president-Southwestern Illinois; John Crotty, regional marketing representative-Northeastern Illinois, and Tom Fields, regional marketing representative-Indiana.. Todd said the Midwest market has "meshed" with TIB well. "There are a lot of smaller community banks in the Midwest, not unlike what we have in Texas," he said. "We have been well received."