Sauk Valley Bank

Congratulations to our Dixon Market President, Mary Oros, who will be recognized as one of the Women of Impact Honorees at the Illinois Bankers Association 2026 Women in Banking Awards Ceremony next week! Mary, We are so proud of you and cannot wait to see all of the impact you continue to have on our organization. Please join us in celebrating Mary on this outstanding achievement! 👏

Today, some of our employees volunteered their time at the Whiteside County Senior Center for their All Veteran's Breakfast. Through our Donate 8 program, we have been able to give back to our communities and allow our employees to donate their time for non-profits and causes they are passionate about. We are impressed with the impact that our employees make in the communities we serve every day!    If you would like more information on our Donate 8 program, please visit us at https://lnkd.in/gsCGYFz8

Join us in welcoming Ashley Crawford to Sauk Valley Bank as our newest Private Banker! We are excited to have her on the Private Banking team. With a background rooted in relationship-driven banking, progressive experience within the organization, and a strong connection to the Dixon community, Ashley brings a tailored, high-touch approach and a commitment to long-term client success. Fun Fact: Ashley served as a Division I dance team captain at Northern Illinois University, extending a nearly 20-year dance career. Dance has played a key role in shaping her leadership skills, discipline, and passion for teamwork.

This past Tuesday, we held a ribbon cutting at our new full‑service location in Walworth, Wisconsin! We are honored by the warm welcome we’ve received from members of the surrounding community. We look forward to building long‑lasting relationships with the Walworth community and are committed to serving them with the attention and respect they deserve. The ribbon‑cutting celebration was a success thanks to the thoughtful and detail‑oriented teams at Chuck's Lakeshore Inn, Bay Cooks, and Forget Me Not Flower Market, each of whom deserves praise for helping make such a show‑stopping event truly memorable. As we enter this new chapter, we are beyond excited to enter the Walworth market as a community bank that values the customers we are fortunate to serve. — Sauk Valley Bank, The Team You Can Trust.

Now Hiring: Treasury Management Sales Officer Sauk Valley Bank is seeking a Treasury Management Sales Officer to build and deepen relationships with treasury clients. This role focuses on understanding client needs, delivering tailored treasury solutions, and strengthening long-term partnerships that support our community banking mission. Confidential inquiries and applications are welcome. https://lnkd.in/gm9JN5xx

Please help us welcome Bob Smith, our new VP Commercial & Ag Lender at Sauk Valley Bank! With more than 35 years of agricultural and banking experience, deep roots in northwest Illinois, and a career dedicated to helping local farms and businesses succeed, Bob brings a relationship‑driven approach and a strong commitment to the rural communities we serve. We are excited to welcome his leadership, expertise, and community‑focused mindset to our lending team. Fun Fact: Bob enjoys serving alongside his wife at Abiding Word Church, helping in the café and playing on the church’s softball team. In his free time, he also enjoys camping and researching his family genealogy. 🔗 Read more about Bob’s story, experience, and role at Sauk Valley Bank: https://ow.ly/iVe950YONfF

Now Hiring: Chief Lending Officer Sauk Valley Bank is seeking an experienced and strategic Chief Lending Officer to lead our lending operations and support the continued growth of our community-focused bank. As a member of the executive leadership team, the Chief Lending Officer will provide overall direction for lending strategy, portfolio performance, credit quality, and risk management. This role plays a critical part in aligning lending initiatives with the Bank’s mission, values, and long-term objectives. Confidential inquiries and applications are welcome. https://lnkd.in/gm9JN5xx

Sauk Valley Bank is pleased to announce the appointment of Brad Ray as Executive Vice President. As a member of the Bank’s executive leadership team, Brad will provide strategic leadership and operational oversight. As part of Sauk Valley Bank’s ongoing succession planning, he is anticipated to assume the role of President and CEO in 2027. Brad brings over 35 years of experience in banking and financial services, with a strong background in agricultural and commercial lending, asset‑liability management, budgeting, and bank leadership. Prior to joining Sauk Valley Bank, he served as President and CEO of Security Savings Bank. “We are excited to welcome Brad to our executive management team,” said Dirk Meminger, President and CEO. “He brings extensive financial experience, deep industry knowledge, and a strong understanding of community‑focused banking.” We look forward to the leadership and experience Brad brings as we continue to serve our customers and communities across Northern Illinois and Southern Wisconsin.

Rock Falls Recap! 💚 What an unforgettable week for our Rock Falls team as we celebrated 25 years of serving this incredible community. Hitting a milestone like this is all about the people who have trusted us, supported us, and grown with us since the day we opened our full‑service location. For a quarter of a century, the Rock Falls community has allowed us to be part of their everyday lives. We’ve had the privilege of helping families and supporting local businesses. This past week was filled with days of celebrations. Most importantly, we celebrated you, the community that has shaped our success and made every year meaningful. Thank you for welcoming us and allowing us to grow alongside you. Your support is the reason we’ve reached this milestone, and it’s the reason we’re excited for the next 25 years and beyond. Here’s to continued service to a community that has given us so much. Rock Falls, thank you for everything!

Sauk Valley Bank was honored to send a table of our outstanding employees to the 2026 YWCA Women of Achievement Luncheon hosted by the YWCA of the Sauk Valley. We are especially proud to celebrate our own Tygen Bausman, who was nominated for the Louise Bittorf Sullivan Award, an achievement that reflects her dedication to strengthening our community. We also want to recognize and congratulate this year’s remarkable award recipients: • Dr. Marcia Jones & Dr. Nancy Tran – Crete Dillon Bowman Award for community leadership • Megan Stanley – Jane Reid Keefer Award for professions & education • Bethany Megill – L.L. Ely Award for clerical excellence • LeAndra Hartman – Pearl Woods Award for business and industry • Ashley Richter – Louise Bittorf Sullivan Award • Madison Krum – Young Woman of Tomorrow Award To all of the award recipients and nominees: Your leadership, service, and commitment to building a stronger Sauk Valley region is moving beyond words. Your impact does not go unnoticed, and we are grateful for the work you do every day. Sincerely, Your Friends at Sauk Valley Bank