First Security Bank Announces Expansion of its Credit Department

First Security Bank has expanded its Credit Department with three new hires. The new hires include a Senior Credit Officer, a Special Asset Manager, and Credit Analyst, adding to the growing employee-base of the Owensboro-headquartered bank. The Bank’s Chief Credit Officer, Scott Powell, has increased the credit department to better serve customers with lending relationships while mitigating credit risks and exposures for the bank.

“It is our goal to deepen each customer’s financial relationship with us. That relationship starts with a strong understanding of their business and personal banking needs. These three new roles create capacity for growth and top-level service to First Security Bank customer’s through the bankers in each of our markets,” said Powell.

“This helps our growing bank be ready to lend like we never have before, and it expands our ability to offer customers even more from their relationship with us — their community bank.”

Alan Jones was hired as Senior Vice President – Credit Officer. Jones joins First Security with 20 years of experience in banking and credit, including business development, credit administration, loan review and management.  A graduate of the University of Southern Indiana, Jones received a Bachelor’s of Science degree in Business Administration with an emphasis in Finance. Most recently he spent the past six years working as the Vice President/Loan Review Manager with The National Bank of Indianapolis in Indianapolis, Indiana.

Kathi Nickel joined First Security Bank as Vice President – Credit Officer and Special Asset Manager. Nickel has an extensive background in commercial banking, credit administration, and special asset management. She graduated from Purdue University with a Bachelor’s of Science degree in Agricultural Economics. Most recently with Clifton Larson Allen, Nickel has worked as the Senior Banking Consultant for Loan Review and has held previous positions at PBI Bank, Commonwealth Bank and Trust Co., and MainSource Bank.

Landon Rone was promoted to Credit Analyst. He began at First Security as a Loan Processing Specialist in June 2015, and joins fellow Credit Analyst Dayne Higginbotham in analyzing the customer’s financial capacity and risk. 

First Security Bank is a $600 million asset bank with 11 banking centers in Owensboro, Bowling Green, Franklin and Lexington, Kentucky, as well as Evansville and Newburgh, Indiana. With more than 150 employees in its four markets and corporate offices, First Security Bank has differentiated itself from larger competitors with its focus on relationship banking and the ability to make credit and other business decisions locally.