For Edgewater Bank President Rick Dyer this has to be a veritable homecoming of sorts. Dyer’s team has revealed plans today to establish a Loan Production Office in Fremont, Michigan, a gateway to the Huron-Manistee National Forest northeast of Muskegon. Fremont is the old stomping grounds of Dyer from his days as President & CEO of FMB-Old State Bank of Fremont.
The new Edgewater Loan Production Office will be located within the H&S Plaza facility on West Main Street in Fremont, and is designed initially to provide commercial and agricultural lending services to Fremont and the surrounding areas.
The move also capitalizes on the skills and familiarity of that region of Don Farmer, a 38-year banking veteran and 30-year Fremont resident who will serve as Senior Vice President of Edgewater Bank and operate out of the new Fremont office. Farmer is a graduate of Central Michigan University and numerous industry-specific education programs and has been active in the Fremont and Newaygo County areas, serving in leadership roles at the Fremont Chamber of Commerce, Fremont Lions Club, National Baby Food Festival, the Fremont Public Schools Board of Education and other organizations there.
Dyer says, “I’ve known and worked with Don since 1994. He is an excellent banker and dedicated community member.” Dyer notes that Farmer knows the market well and will be a strong advocate of Edgewater’s community banking philosophy, adding, “Don will have the flexibility, autonomy, and resources to serve Fremont and the surrounding market areas because of the confidence we have in his abilities and experience.” He adds, “He (Farmer) will also serve on Edgewater’s leadership team, adding his talents to an existing team of accomplished community bankers.”
Farmer is also a past recipient of the Dorcas Mortland Award from the Fremont Chamber for his contributions to local business and the Fremont community.
Fremont proved to be an attractive market for Edgewater not only because of Farmer, but also due to the knowledge and experience in the market by Dyer himself in his role as President & CEO at FMB-Old State Bank of Fremont. Dyer also lived in Fremont and was active with the chamber there, the Fremont Economic Development Corporation and even served as Chair of the National Baby Food Festival. He himself is a past recipient of the Fremont Chamber’s Community Action Award.
In addition to Farmer and Dyer’s connections to the Fremont market, Edgewater Bank’s Senior VP & Chief Financial Officer Coleen Frens-Rossman is a Fremont native. In fact, her parents and other family members still reside there.
Regarding his new role with Edgewater, Farmer says, “I look forward to continuing to serve the community and working for an organization that places so much effort and attention on client service, community involvement, and flexible banking practices.”
Headquartered in St. Joseph, Edgewater Bancorp is the bank holding company for Edgewater Bank which provides commercial, mortgage, and consumer loan and deposit banking services from five full-service banking offices in St. Joe, Bridgman, Buchanan, Coloma, and Royalton Township, plus this new loan production office in Fremont.
The institution’s common stock is listed under the symbol “EGDW.” Additional information about Edgewater can be found online at www.edgewaterbank.com.
