Seated: Neely Kimbrough; (L to R): Ted Cundiff, Sally Wilton, Cooper Rash, Kelley Rash, Sara Cruncleton and Kathy Kimbrough
AVB Bank is pleased to announce that Board of Director Neely Kimbrough was inducted into the 50-Year Club during a special Awards Brunch at the Oklahoma Bankers Association’s 2019 Annual Convention & Trade Show. This honor acknowledged the over five decades of Kimbrough’s service to the banking industry.
Kimbrough began his banking career with Arkansas Valley State Bank (AVSB) in 1962 as a lender. Named President in 1966, Kimbrough then assumed the position of Chief Executive Officer in 1984.
He served as Chairman of the Board for 10-years, from 1990 – 2000. Retiring from AVSB in 2000, Kimbrough remained on AVSB’s Board of Directors. AVSB’s name was rebranded in 2008 to AVB, and Kimbrough now serves as an AVB Board Member.
“Anyone that knows Neely, without a doubt, recognizes that when they conducted business with Neely, they became a personal relationship to him. He was invested in his customer’s challenges and their successes,” said Ted Cundiff, AVB President and CEO. “Neely Kimbrough modeled and fosters the way this family-owned, community bank has always done business…one personal relationship at a time.” Cundiff concluded, “This is the AVB way…and we are honored to share in the tribute to this man and his many years of service.”
Kimbrough stated, “Banking is a people business, and trust is essential in building a relationship. I have loved every minute of it!”
Founded in Broken Arrow, Oklahoma, in 1905, AVB Bank is currently in the fifth generation of family management and sixth generation of family ownership.
Etwardo honored for work at OBA Commercial Lending School
Ash Etwardo, a Credit Analyst with AVB Bank, has been named an “Honors Graduate” of the 2019 Oklahoma Bankers Association Commercial Lending School. David Attaway, OBA Commercial Lending School Chairman, recently presented Etwardo with his plaque. Joining Etwardo and Attaway were AVB Bank CEO and President, Ted Cundiff, and Chief Credit Officer, Javier Gamarra.
Etwardo was selected for the Commercial Lending School honor based on his outstanding work on the school’s exam and his contributions and participation in class. He was chosen by the school’s regents, staff, faculty and students. Etwardo was among 58 bankers who attended the 2019 Commercial Lending School at the OBA’s Harris Event Center in Oklahoma City.
“The OBA Commercial Lending School offers a first-class educational experience and helps cultivate the next generation of community bankers,” said Cundiff. “It is no surprise to us that Ash has been selected as an Honors Graduate. We are proud of his career accomplishment and his commitment to AVB Bank’s continued success.”
OBA Commercial Lending students learn about the steps they should take in evaluating business loan requests, how businesses are structured, how they compete and how to evaluate the management of business borrowers. They also study factors that affect loan pricing and approaches to loan structuring and administrations. Ash and his fellow classmates were given an opportunity to apply these analytical techniques in a lending situation case study.
Ash Etwardo, AVB Credit Analyst.
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