Aaron Jensen Named 18th President of Midwest Bank

Midwest Bank’s Board Chairman, Robert A. Riley, recently announced the following changes in
management as part of their ongoing succession plans and continued growth.
Aaron Jensen will become the 18th President of Midwest Bank in its 153-year history. As
President, Aaron will oversee the strategic direction of Midwest Bank working closely with the
executive team to drive innovation, enhance customer experience and strengthen the bank’s
overall position.
Mr. Jensen was hired in February of 1995 and will soon celebrate his 29th anniversary. Over
this period, he has advanced from a Trust Officer to Executive Vice President and Chief
Operations Officer. Among his many duties, Aaron has been responsible for overseeing the
Wealth Management and Trust divisions in addition to managing bank operations and the
bank’s investment portfolio. His experience, knowledge, and dedication make him an excellent
choice as Midwest Bank’s new President.
Chris Gavin will remain the Chief Executive Officer of the Bank and will also be serving as
President of the bank’s parent company, Western Illinois Bancshares, Inc (WIBI). In this role
Chris will be focusing on growth opportunities for the company. Gus Hart has been elevated
from President to Board Chairman of WIBI.
Chris was initially hired as Executive Vice President and Chief Credit Officer of Midwest Bank,
formerly known as National Bank of Monmouth, in October of 1997. He would be named
President just a short time later in April of 1998. During Chris’s 25-year tenure the bank has
grown from $115 million to $675 million in total assets and has seen significant expansion of its
wealth management and insurance divisions.
Matt Gillen, who currently serves as an Executive Vice President and Chief Credit Officer
has also been appointed as Market President for Warren and Henderson Counties. Matt
has been with the bank since December of 1997 and has been instrumental in making the
Bank a top agricultural lender in Western Illinois.
Current Market President for the Quad Cities, Mike Bell, will be adding Mercer County to his
responsibilities. Mike joined Midwest Bank in 2018 through the acquisition of Andalusia
Community Bank, where he served as President at the time. Since joining Midwest Bank,
Mike and his team have been very successful in building Midwest Bank’s presence in the
Quad City Market.
We would like to congratulate Aaron, Matt and Mike on their new roles and thank them for
their service and dedication over the years. Along with these changes, there will be more to
come over the next year to position the company for growth in the financial services industry.
Midwest Bank is committed to being a strong local partner and will continue to create
opportunities for employees, shareholders, and communities in which we serve.