For Immediate Release
Swartz Joins Peoples Bank & Trust Board of Directors
Pana, Ill. – September 17, 2024 – Peoples Bank & Trust, and its holding company, People First Bancshares, Inc., are pleased to announce that Bob Swartz has been appointed to the Board of Directors. Bob Swartz brings a deep and diverse history of experience, education and leadership to his new position.
Bob is the Chief Financial Officer of Three, Inc., one of the largest and fastest growing Jimmy John’s franchisees in the country. Three, Inc. also is the owner and operator of an industrial division of companies based in the Midwest. Three, Inc. is based in Decatur, Illinois and has over 1,000 employees in eight states of operation.
Previously, Bob was a partner with FORVIS, LLP for more than 25 years providing a full range of assurance and consulting services to financial institutions and employee benefit plans. His experience included external audit, internal audit, strategic modeling, mergers and acquisitions, and capital planning. He also had experience in U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission reporting.
He is a member of the American Institute of CPAs (AICPA) and Illinois CPA Society. He serves on the Board of the HSHS St. Mary’s Foundation as Chairman and the Country Club of Decatur as Treasurer. He also has volunteered with several community organizations in the Decatur area, including the Millikin University Tabor School of Business Dean Advisory Council, the Alumni Association Board of Directors for Millikin University, and the Parks and Recreation Commission for the Village of Mt. Zion.
He is a 1998 graduate of Milliken University, Decatur, Illinois, with a B.S. degree in accounting, and has attended the AICPA Banking School at the University of Virginia, Charlottesville.
Bob lives in Mt Zion with his wife, Mary, and children, Landon (16) and Lyla (15).
John Gardner, President and CEO of the bank and holding company, added, “We feel fortunate. Bob Swartz will enhance our Board’s breadth of experience strengthening our bank, which will improve our focus on working with and for our customers.”
Other members of the bank and holding company Boards of Directors include Brad Davis, Chairman, Chris Swing, Vice-Chairman, Michael Beyers, David Dorn, Jr., Kelly Evans, John Gardner, Josh Shallenberger, Brittany Walters and Michael Trexler, Director Emeritus.
Peoples Bank & Trust is a locally owned and managed, independent community bank with thirteen offices located in Altamont, Arcola, Arthur, Charleston, Morrisonville, Palmyra, Pana, Springfield, Taylorville, Tower Hill, Tuscola, Waverly, and White Hall. Peoples Bank & Trust is a full-service bank offering outstanding customer service to consumers, small businesses, and farmers in Central Illinois. People First Bancshares, Inc., with corporate offices in Pana, Illinois, is the holding company for Peoples Bank & Trust.
