The Board of Directors of United Community Bank (UCB) has announced that Allen Schmale has been appointed as President and Chief Executive Officer, effective immediately. Schmale's promotion comes after a successful stint as Interim President and CEO, where his leadership and dedication to the bank's mission were clearly demonstrated.
"Allen is the ideal leader for this role," stated Bob Narmont, Chairman of the UCB Board. "His deep banking expertise, dedication to serving our customers and communities, and ability to engage and motivate our team have been invaluable as we continue to grow and strengthen our organization."
Schmale brings decades of experience in banking and finance to his new role. Prior to serving as Interim President and CEO, he was UCB's Chief Lending Officer, where he led initiatives that drove significant growth and success for the bank. His leadership is expected to be crucial as UCB continues to serve its markets in central Illinois, northeast Missouri, and southwest Florida, while seeking new growth opportunities.
"I’m honored to take on this role and continue building on the strong foundation of service and trust that UCB has cultivated over the years," said Schmale.
Chairman Narmont also commended the Search Committee for their work in the CEO/President selection process. Committee members Jerry Barkmeier, Rick Grenzebach, Bob Rhea, and Chuck Davis played a pivotal role in ensuring a smooth leadership transition.
About United Community Banks
United Community Bank, headquartered in Chatham, Illinois, is an employee-owned regional bank holding company with a history dating back to 1907, when Farmer’s State Bank was founded in Greenfield, IL. In 1973, Robert Narmont led a local group to invest in Farmer's State Bank, with the goal of delivering top-tier customer service while expanding the UCB family. Today, UCB boasts over $3.5 billion in assets, operating 8 bank brands with more than 100 banks and ATMs across 35 communities in central, west central, and southwest central Illinois, northeast Missouri, and southwest Florida.
The UCB family includes United Community Bank, Marine Bank & Trust, Brown County State Bank, Farmers State Bank of Camp Point, and Liberty Bank in Illinois, Mercantile Bank in Illinois and Missouri, and United Commonwealth Bank in Naples, Florida. For more information, visit ucbbanks.com.