Region banks and lending representatives recently were recognized for their professional accomplishments the past year by the Valparaiso-based Regional Development Co.
The RDC’s annual awards were announced during the organization’s annual meeting at White Hawk Country Club in Crown Point. The RDC administers the U.S. Small Business Administration’s 504 Loan Program in Indiana and the greater Chicago metropolitan area.
Merrillville-based Centier Bank received the Most Active Bank Partner award with eight loans and $9,254,000 in referral dollars.
The 2019 Most Active Lender award for highest dollar amount was presented to Tim Spoelman of Centier Bank who referred $3,359,000 in SBA loan dollars.
There was a five-way tie for highest number of loans, the RDC said. Dan Duncan, Peoples Bank; Bill Winterhaler, Centier Bank; Ben Brown, First Financial Bank; Jesse Hunt, Wintrust Bank, and Kent Mishler, Horizon Bank, all were honored for referring two loans to the RDC in 2019.
Lenders of the Year included Mishler, Winterhaler and Duncan.
Lenders inducted into the Millionaires Club, a group of lenders who have referred loans of $1 million or more, included: Andrew Miedema, Mercantile Bank of Michigan; Heather Thompson, Old National Bank; John Ricciardi, Live Oak Bank; Mark Oganovich, First Midwest Bank; Paul Thiel, Centier Bank; and Tim Spoelman, Centier Bank.
