Beloit, WI, June 3, 2022 – First National Bank and Trust (FNBT) is pleased to announce the following promotions within the Residential Lending, Loan Operations, and Human Resources departments.

Steve Bamberger has been promoted to Vice President, Loan Production Manager for the bank’s mortgage and home equity loan teams in Rock and Green Counties in Wisconsin and Winnebago County in Illinois. In his role, he is responsible for building relationships in the community, coaching and developing the residential lending team, raising awareness about FNBT’s lending services, and helping consumers with their home buying needs. Bamberger graduated from Illinois State University with a bachelor’s degree in economics, and is a licensed real estate broker. He belongs to the Rockford Association of Realtors, Illinois Association of Realtors, and National Association of Realtors. With 35 years of banking experience, 30 of which have been focused on residential lending, Bamberger makes it a priority to provide Sound Advice to customers who are needing residential lending assistance. He and his wife Becky, reside in Rockford, Illinois, where Bamberger was born and raised. He will be based at FNBT’s Beloit office located at 345 East Grand Avenue in Beloit.

Erica Strohm has been promoted to Vice President, Loan Production Manager for FNBT’s mortgage and home equity team in Walworth County, Wisconsin. Now with nearly 30 years’ experience in the banking industry, she is responsible for business development and building relationships in the community. Strohm holds a bachelor’s degree in management with a personnel emphasis from the University of Wisconsin – Whitewater, and has completed numerous industry training programs to stay up-to-date on programs and changes within the mortgage and consumer lending field to provide Sound Advice to her clients. Currently a member of the Lakes Area Realtors Association and Lakeland Builder’s Association, Strohm is very active in the community. Her previous volunteer work includes serving as treasurer for the Rotary Club of Lake Geneva from 2002 through 2005, and participating in the Women’s Weekend Committee and Geneva Lake Women’s Association’s diabetes outreach committee. She is based at the bank’s Walworth, Wisconsin bank location, and resides in Burlington, Wisconsin with her husband, Mike.

Tari Book has been promoted to Vice President, Systems Admin Manager. Book began her career with FNBT in 1995 in the Loan Department. In 2010, began managing the Loan Operations team as supervisor, and was promoted to Systems Admin Manager in 2018. Book is responsible for providing technical support and direction for all software used in the lending process, coordinating the installation and testing of lending system upgrades with the bank’s technology, operations, and frontline team members, as well as monitoring the system to ensure a seamless process. Earlier this year, Book graduated from the Loan and Real Estate Compliance School through the Wisconsin Bankers Association. She was the valedictorian of her high school class and went on to complete several management and industry courses throughout her 30-year banking career, including several certificates through Rockhurst University’s Continuing Education program. Active in the community, Tari is involved with the Leaf River Lions Club, the German Valley Sno-Riders Snowmobile Club, and volunteers with Leaf River’s annual festival, Leaf River Daze.

Kathy Paulli has been promoted to Assistant Vice President Loan Servicing Manager. She joined the bank as a Commercial Sales Administrator in 2018 with over 30 years of experience in consumer and commercial banking, and transitioned into the role of Loan Servicing Manager in 2021. She brings extensive knowledge in many areas including retail, administrative and operations to the organization. This experience uniquely positions her for her role where she is responsible for the loan servicing and collateral teams at the bank. Paulli focuses on servicing efficiencies while developing programs and procedures that ensure accuracy and adherence with government and corporate guidelines and regulations. Her commitment to providing excellent customer service and Sound Advice to our customer family ensures that their banking needs are met. Paulli and her husband enjoy spending their free time with their three children and their families, and she volunteers her time with Meals on Wheels in the Beloit area.

Stacy Matuseski has been promoted to Human Resources (HR) Projects and Benefits Manager and Officer. She joined FNBT in 2019 as an HR Benefits Analyst. Now with more than ten years of experience in human resources and benefits, she is responsible for administering the bank’s employee benefit and wellness programs, including evaluating and comparing existing plans, developing and implementing new and improved plans for employees and retirees, as well as managing the bank’s tax-advantaged retirement program for employees. She also manages special projects for the HR team, and provides Sound Advice to the FNBT employee family regarding questions on the 401(k) plan, Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA), worker’s compensation programs, and other employment related inquiries. Matuseski is a graduate of University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee with a Bachelor of Business Administration degree in Human Resource Management. In 2018, she earned the Society for Human Resource Management-Certified Professional (SHRM-CP) designation and went on to earn the Senior Certified Professional (SHRM-SCP) designation in 2021. Matuseski recently completed a two-year term as president of the Blackhawk Human Resource Association (BHRA). Additionally, she is a national member of SHRM, a member of SHRM’s Advocacy Team, as well as a State Council Member of Wisconsin SHRM (WISHRM). A native of Clinton, she currently resides in Allens Grove, Wisconsin with her husband, Jared, and their daughter, Madison.

About First National Bank and Trust:

First National Bank and Trust Company is a family-focused, community bank headquartered in Beloit, Wisconsin. Chartered in 1882, First National Bank and Trust has grown to be a leading financial services institution offering products and services for consumers and businesses, as well as trust, retirement services, investment management, brokerage and insurance. We now serve nearly 30,000 households in 13 communities and 16 locations in Southern Wisconsin and Northern Illinois with assets of approximately $1.5 billion. We treat our customers, employees, shareholders and communities like family, with a goal of helping all our families succeed. Providing Sound Advice and delivering an exceptional experience has positioned First National Bank and Trust as a Stateline leader in the industry. For additional information, visit www.bankatfirstnational.com.

First National Bank and Trust: “Give us a try. We’ll treat you like family.”

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