HONEST

Raised as a farm boy and trained to be an educator, Joe Caffee began his banking career in 2001. One of his first responsibilities was to repossess a vintage Volkswagen Beetle in another state. He took his grandmother along to help. Joe had been working as a credit analyst at a community bank for three months when the bank president stopped by his cubicle, tossed him a key to an office and said, “On Monday you’re a lender – don’t screw it up.” Following that inspiring training, he spent 13 years advancing from consumer lender to chief lender with a board of directors seat. He came to Michiana in 2014 as President and CEO of First State Bank and hasn’t looked back. Joe is passionate about community banking and loves to make a positive difference in the communities where First State Bank does business.

Thirty-five years ago, Shipshewana State Bank gave Brent Carrick his start in banking. When First State Bank opened an office in Goshen in 1988, they called Brent. He said yes and has been meeting the needs of Goshen loan customers ever since.

Born in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, Dana has lived in various locations around the country. Shortly after starting his banking career in South Bend in 1996 as a credit analyst, Dana was promoted to officer and lender. He joined First State Bank in 2010 and now leads the team in St. Joseph County. Dana’s slogan is “helping my clients to grow and prosper.” Dana’s passion is to add value to companies as well as to their owners. Dana maintains a portfolio of customers in many different industries.

Sheila began her banking career in 1985 but found her passion in 1999 when she became a Business Banker. She adds value to her small business owner clients by being a trusted advisor. She knows the time and energy they put into their business. She works hard to help them realize their goals and vision for their family and their business succession. First State Bank empowers Sheila to do what she does best: help clients succeed. She is a Director for the Business Development Corporation, Past President and member of the Elkhart Noon Exchange Club and Past President of Winding Waters Preschool Daycare.

More than 100 years ago, Sam’s great-grandfather helped establish First State Bank. Sam joined the bank in 1992 following time spent with Summit Bank in Fort Wayne and Bank One in Elkhart. A 1988 graduate of Indiana University and 1997 graduate of the Graduate School of Banking at the University of Wisconsin, Sam is the Chief Operating Officer at First State Bank. He joined the Crystal Valley Financial Corporation board in 1997.

Despite being raised in Elkhart County, Dean’s banking career began in Wayland, Iowa. After managing teller and computer operations for three years, he came home to First State Bank in 1984. Since then, he has enjoyed watching his loan portfolio mature from consumer and student loans to one filled with long-term commercial and agricultural loans. Dean loves helping business owners overcome challenges to reach their goals.

Born and raised in Middlebury, Randy began his banking career as a Teller at First State Bank during college breaks from 1980 through 1981. After playing baseball and graduating from Manchester College in May 1982 with a B.S. in Accounting, Randy began his full-time banking career that now spans 34 years. Randy’s first full-time banking job was at Salem Bank in Goshen earning $5.16 an hour as part of their Management Training program. With stints at Salem Bank’s Consumer Lending Department and the Wakarusa Office, Randy took an opportunity to be a Trust Officer for two years handling employee benefit plans, guardianships and IRA accounts. Deciding to use his accounting background, Randy moved to Lake City Bank in 1985 as Assistant Controller where he learned all aspects of financial reporting, investment portfolio accounting, asset liability management and working with examiners. After helping the Accounting Department at First National Bank of Elkhart for one year, Randy came home to FSB starting his 26 year career. Randy has worn many hats at FSB and now leads the bank’s Information Technology, Computer Operations and Enterprise Risk areas while still dabbling in Electronic Services and Deposit Operations. Randy is passionate about creating efficiencies with new technology and has had the opportunity to be the lead for many bank projects from the first bank website in 2000 to the now ever-present mobile banking.

A graduate of Adrian College, Mike started his banking career in 1981 with First of America as a Credit Analyst. He quickly moved through the ranks to Vice President and Senior Lender at age 27, the youngest in the 34 bank system. In 2000, he helped form New Liberty Bank in Plymouth, Michigan. He joined First State Bank in March 2009 and moved his family to the Michiana area. Here he is involved as a board member of Lifeline in Elkhart, is on the Vision Committee of the Executive Forum in South Bend and is a Youth Basketball Coach for the Mishawaka Christian Athletic Association. Mike has a passion for lending and the development of strong lending teams.

Denny runs the show at First State Insurance. His career started with AG Insurance in Goshen. After 10 years, he left to start his own agency, DJW Insurance. In 2001, Denny saw the advantages that came with partnering with First State Bank, and the rest is insurance history.

Patty began her banking career right out of high school as a teller for Salem Bank during her breaks while attending college. She worked as a teller, customer service representative, loan administrator and ultimately landed at First State Bank in 1990. She graduated from Indiana University – Fort Wayne (IPFW) with a B.S. in Business with a concentration in Finance & Economics in 1992. She then became the first full-time trust officer at FSB. Patty currently serves on the Oaklawn Foundation Board, the Greencroft Middlebury Board and the Scholarship Committee for the Community Foundation of Elkhart County.

Ron started at the First State Bank in 1979 as a Teller Operations Manager. In 1983, he moved to the loan side of the bank and took over the mortgage department in 1988. A 1978 graduate of Tri-State University and 1991 graduate of the Graduate School of Banking at the University of Wisconsin, Ron worked in the restaurant business in Michigan for a year after college before returning home to work at First State Bank. Ron is Senior Vice President in charge of the Mortgage Department.

After graduating with a Masters in Accounting from Manchester University, Jared spent his time as a public accountant. In 2004, his father-in-law encouraged him to pursue First State Bank’s newly-created Assistant Controller position. Hesitant to pursue a new career but eager to please his father-in-law, Jared decided to interview. Instantly intrigued by the family atmosphere and staff, he knew that First State Bank was the kind of organization he wanted to work for. He accepted the Assistant Controller position in January of 2005 and hasn’t looked back since. He was promoted to Controller in 2006 before taking the role of Senior Vice President and CFO in January 2020.