Kayla Konger Named 2018 Rising Star in Banking

Minneapolis, June 26, 2018 — Kayla Konger, vice president and senior retail officer for The Garrett State Bank, Garrett, Ind., has been named a 2018 Rising Star in Banking by NorthWestern Financial Review/BankBeat magazine. United Bankers’ Bank, Bloomington, Minn., partners with NorthWestern Financial Review/BankBeat as sponsor of the program designed to recognize banking industry up-and-comers.

Konger began her career 13 years ago as a part-time teller. She worked at the bank through college and after graduating with a degree in business, she joined the bank full-time as a retail banker. She quickly progressed into lending.

“She just stays focused on her job and gets it done,” said Mark Fogt, president and CEO of The Garrett State Bank. Konger is a strong example of someone who started as a high school intern and successfully shimmied up the ranks, he said, adding “she really performs well at each stage.”

Konger is a former participant in Junior Achievement who now leads JA courses Huntertown Elementary School. Konger credits JA with helping her become a leader and valuing the work of others. Now that she is a supervisor, she said she understands “their success is the determining factor for my success.”

“We were impressed by Konger’s appreciation for interpersonal communications,” said NorthWestern Financial Review editor-in-chief Jacqueline Nasseff Hilgert. “She understands the importance of self-awareness when dealing with her direct reports. Additionally, her rise from teller to lender and now to senior VP means Konger has become an essential player in many areas of the bank.”

Konger was one of seven bankers being recognized in 2018 as a Rising Star in Banking. She was one of only two Indiana bankers so honored. A profile of Konger will be available at www.BankBeat.biz in July.

Begun in 1999, the Rising Star in Banking program is one of the most popular regular features appearing annually in NorthWestern Financial Review/BankBeat, which serves the commercial banking industry. Candidates for Rising Stars in Banking recognition must be under 45 years old and can hold any position in the bank, from teller to president. Typically, Rising Stars in Banking have worked in banking for at least 10 years. Successful candidates are bankers who have made outstanding contributions to their bank, industry and community, and are poised to continue to make substantial contributions for years to come. Mid-career bankers working in Colorado, Indiana, Iowa, Illinois, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, Montana, Wisconsin or Wyoming are eligible for consideration.

NorthWestern Financial Review/BankBeat reaches more than 3,000 commercial banks in the Midwest. It is published by Minneapolis-based NFR Communications Inc. Additionally, the company produces the CFPBJournal.com, which covers the activities of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, and BankBeatData.com, a subscription service that tracks bank performance and acquisition data. NFR Communications also provides management services to the Bank Holding Company Association.

For Additional Information:
McKaela Laxen at (952) 835-2275 or Email McKaela