ESSNER IN NEWLY CREATED POSITION AT CAPAHA BANK

Danny R. Essner wants to get more involved in banking management. A new position has been created at Capaha Bank to give the veteran banker that opportunity.

Essner, who has been in the financial industry almost 30 years, the last 18 in banking, has been named executive vice president of Capaha Bank.

Most recently, Essner was senior vice president/credit production officer at Bank of America.

Essner's appointment at Capaha Bank was announced recently by John Abercrombie, president of Capaha Bank, headquartered at Tamms, Ill., with branches at Cape Girardeau and Jackson, Mo., and Cairo, Ill.

"This is a big move for the bank," said Abercrombie. "And it's part of our long-range strategy."

Abercrombie said the move was part of a management plan designed to provide Essner more opportunities to branch out.

"Management has become a big job," said Abercrombie. "Until we brought Danny aboard, I was serving as president and senior lending officer."

Over the past few years, the Capaha Bank loan portfolio has grown from $20 million to $80 million. During that same period, Capaha Bank has opened branches at Cape Girardeau and Jackson, and is on target to open a new branch at Anna, Ill.

The move also has provided a chain of authority for Abercrombie. Essner has been named to the bank's board of directors, and is in line as Abercrombie's eventual successor.

Smaller bank, more active

Essner is excited about his new position. "I've switched from one of the largest banks in the nation to one of the smaller banks," said Essner, whose office is located at the bank's bookkeeping office at 1 S. Main St. downtown. "I'm looking forward to my new position.

"I'll be involved in all aspects of the bank's operations," he said. "This will give the bank president more time for strategy planning and marketing."

Essner is used to working in management.

"I was involved in that type of work with NationsBank before it was purchased by Bank of America," he said. Since Bank of America purchased Boatmen's, Essner has dealt primarily in large loan accounts.

"This will be an opportunity to get more involved in management," he said. "I'll also be helping with commercial and industry loans."

Essner who holds a bachelor's degree from Southeast Missouri State University, worked 11 years with Ford Motor Credit Co.

He was in the Cape Girardeau area nine years with Ford, then served as dealer account representative in Fort Worth, Texas, two years, before returning to the area as manager of Boatmen's Kingshighway facility.

Essner has been with the same banking firm since. Boatmen's was acquired by NationsBank, which was acquired by Bank of America.

Capaha Bank joined the banking industry in Cape Girardeau in 1997 when it opened its location at 3168 William.

Capaha Bank, first established as Tamms State Bank, has been in operation 42 years, receiving its state charter in 1955. The bank added its Cairo branch in 1982.