Arizona Bankers Association Elects Board, Naming Tucson Executive as Chair

June 16, 2009 - PRLog -- The Arizona Bankers Association has elected its 2009-2010 board of directors and placed Commerce Bank of Arizona president Randy Yenerich of Tucson as chairman. A Southern Arizona banker has not held the position in more than 13 years.

Tanya Wheeless, president and chief executive officer of the Arizona Bankers Association, said this is a critical time for the banking industry and the association could not have elected stronger representatives, noting the size and geographic diversity of the banks represented by the new board.

Yenerich will serve with:
•   Chairman-elect: Blake Rolley, chairman, First State Bank, Flagstaff;
•   Vice chairman: James Lundy, president and CEO, Alliance Bank of Arizona, Phoenix;
•   Immediate past chairman: Keith Maio, chairman and CEO, National Bank of Arizona, Phoenix;
•   Benito Almanza, Arizona president, Bank of America, Phoenix;
•   Lynne Herndon, City president, BBVA Compass Bank, Phoenix;
•   Chuck Luhtala, president, Canyon Community Bank, Tucson;
•   Mike Thorell, president, Pinnacle Bank, Scottsdale;
•   Gerrit van Huisstede, regional president, Wells Fargo Bank, Phoenix.

The board’s continuing members are:
•   Gail Grace, president, Camelback Community Bank, Phoenix;
•   Doug Hile, CEO, Meridian Bank, Scottsdale;
•   Joseph Stewart, chairman and CEO, JPMorgan Chase Bank, Phoenix.

Wheeless said she is excited to have a Tucson banking executive with Yenerich’s experience and leadership leading the association.

“Randy is a veteran banker with decades of experience under his belt,” Wheeless said. “He understands banking and what it means to serve the community. He is exactly who we need leading us right now as we weather these tough times.”

Yenerich oversees Commerce Bank of Arizona’s five branches in Tucson, Green Valley and Tubac. It is the largest independent bank in Pima County and the only banking institution located in northern Santa Cruz County.

He began his career 50 years ago as a bank messenger at Mid-City National Bank of Chicago and worked up to president. He also served as executive vice president of Mid-City’s parent organization, Mid-City Financial Co., a $1.8 billion holding company that owned five banks in Illinois, Oklahoma and Texas.

Yenerich said he and his colleagues plan to raise awareness of the contributions banks make to their communities.  

“As an industry, we support local charities, help businesses grow and strive for people to achieve their dreams,” Yenerich said. “That’s something to be proud of.”


ABOUT THE ARIZONA BANKERS ASSOCIATION
The Arizona Bankers Association (ABA) represents 69 banks with operations in Arizona, controlling more than 96 percent of the banking deposits in the state.  ABA has advocated on behalf of the industry at the state and federal levels of government for more than 100 years. In addition to government relations, the association provides professional development for banking employees and executives.  For more information, visit http://www.azbankers.org.