Bank of the West Hires Four, Promotes One in its Fargo Commercial Banking Office

Bank of the West operates more than 700 branch locations and commercial banking offices in 19 Western and Midwestern states

FARGO, North Dakota (December 17, 2008) – Bank of the West has promoted Justin Piatz and hired Chad Ransom, Sheri Paulson, Katie Miller and Kimberly Settel in its Fargo Commercial Banking Office (CBO), located at 520 Main Avenue. There are nine Bank of the West locations in North Dakota and five in the Fargo-Moorhead area.

Justin Piatz has been promoted to Commercial Banking Relationship Manager Associate. In this role, he is responsible for developing business relationships by meeting the financial service needs of commercial businesses including loans, deposit accounts and other services.

Piatz has more than three years of experience in commercial banking and joined Bank of the West in 2005. A resident of West Fargo, he is a graduate of North Dakota State University in Fargo with a degree in agricultural economics.

Chad Ransom has joined the bank as Assistant Vice President, Commercial Banking Relationship Manager. In this role, he is responsible for developing and retaining business relationships by meeting the financial services needs of commercial businesses.

Ransom has more than nine years of banking experience and previously served as a Branch Manager for M&I Bank in Minneapolis. A resident of Fargo, he is a graduate of North Dakota State University in Fargo.

Kimberly Settel has joined the Bank as Assistant Vice President, Commercial Relationship Manager. In this role, she is responsible for managing a portfolio of commercial banking relationships; providing consultative advice and products and services to meet customer’s needs and enhance and expand banking relationships.

Settel has more than 14 years of finance and banking experience and previously served as a Branch Manager at U.S. Bank in Fargo. A resident of Fargo, she is a graduate of Moorhead State University.

Sheri Paulson has joined the bank as a Commercial Credit Analyst. In this role, she is responsible for providing detailed analysis of financial statements and credit histories for loan personnel to assist in administration of commercial borrowing accounts.

Paulson has more than 20 years of accounting and banking experience and previously served as a Loan Officer for Dakota Heritage Bank of Hillsboro. A resident of Galesburg, N.D., she is a graduate of Mayville State University with degree in accounting.

Katie Miller has joined the bank as a Commercial Credit Analyst. In this role, she is responsible for providing detailed analysis of financial statements and credit histories for loan personnel to assist in administration of commercial borrowing accounts.

Miller has more than three years of risk management experience and previously served as a risk management specialist with Progressive Ag Marketing in Fargo. A resident of Kindred, N.D., she is a graduate of North Dakota State University with a degree in agricultural economics.

Founded in 1874, $55.6 billion-asset Bank of the West (www.bankofthewest.com) offers a full range of personal, business, trust and international banking services and currently operates more than 700 banking locations in 19 Western and Midwestern states.

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