Welcoming President and CEO Jerry Weininger

Jerry Weininger’s maternal grandfather, Paul Konkle, was President of First National Bank of Sycamore from 1958 to 1970. Now Weininger is following in his footsteps as our eighth President and CEO! 

He was born and raised in Sycamore, graduating from Mohawk High School before relocating to the Seneca County region. There his love of numbers, financial analysis, and customer contact equipped him for 37 years of service in community banking. 

He then became the President and CEO of a small credit union in Sandusky, Ohio, where he worked for six years before his birthplace beckoned to him. First National Bank of Sycamore President Dean Keller reached out to Weininger in 2018.

“He asked me to return to Sycamore to help with the bank’s development and growth,” Weininger explains. He soon found himself serving as the bank’s Vice President. “I am extremely glad to be back.” 

When asked what sets First National Bank of Sycamore apart from other banks, he says, “Community banking is different. The decision makers are right here in the building. It is an easy and dynamic process to discuss opportunities, problems, and issues, and resolve them in a timely manner. Our board of directors is also locally based and has a wealth of experience. The members are willing to meet any time.”  

Weininger knows how important all of this is for customer service, too. Instead of spending long periods of time on the phone with a representative of a big bank—who may or may not be able to actually answer questions—First National Bank of Sycamore customers never need to wait long for help.

“Our entire staff—including all the decision makers—is open to bank customers for questions or resolutions,” Weininger says. When it comes to his own job, this ease of access is beneficial for him, too. “I can walk from office to office to get my questions answered on all the issues including budget, operations, and policies. When things need changing or adjusting, we can meet and make those decisions.”

To equip himself for his new role, Weininger does everything he can to stay on top of emerging economic trends, utilizing social media platforms and participating in regular meetings and webinars hosted by bankers association networks in Ohio. He also knows he does not do his work in a vacuum: “There is a lot of collaboration in the community banking world between executives to keep up with the regulatory environment,” he explains. 

While the banking world is always changing, Weininger appreciates the “extremely laid back” environment that comes with community banking in a small town. Outside of the office, when Weininger needs to relax, he turns to the golf course and his standardbred racehorses. 

“I am also a big sports fan and try to take in several local high school and college events,” he says. “My youngest daughter is the assistant volleyball coach at Ashland High School and my cousin is the head volleyball coach at Ohio Northern University.” 

For Weininger, his love of sports becomes personal because of these connections. At First National Bank of Sycamore, we are especially excited to welcome President and CEO Jerry Weininger because we know his love of banking is similarly personal because of his grandfather’s work and because he grew up here. 

When you stop by to make a deposit or apply for a loan, you can do so confidently, knowing our bank is in the hands of someone who cares, and for all the right reasons. Contact us and let us know how we can help you with your banking needs—we are always ready to assist you!