Merrillville-based Centier Bank recently named Paula Fender assistant vice president of credit administration and Lauren Zurbriggen financial education and community outreach coordinator.
Fender joined Centier in 2013. She has more than two decades of experience in retail banking, consumer lending, and commercial real estate portfolio and relationship managing in Merrillville and Grand Rapids, Mich.
Fender leads a team of commercial loan underwriters through training, guidance, and development. She also reviews loan presentations, evaluates loan decision recommendations, managing risk and proposing solutions to loan structure and due diligence.
Fender received a Bachelor of Science degree from Central Michigan University, as well as a master’s degree in business administration from Western Michigan University.
Zurbriggen will work in Centier’s community relations department.
Zurbriggen will oversee the launch of a new series of financial literacy programs as a part of the bank’s larger Centier To You educational outreach initiative.
Zurbriggen has more than 10 years of experience working with non-profit organizations including Parents as Teachers, YMCA, and St. Jude House.
Centier Bank operates 64 locations across Indiana and has more than $4.5 billion in assets.
