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Press Release


Midland States Bank Announces Expansion into Bloomington and Decatur and Appointment of Ron Drane

EFFINGHAM, ILLINOIS – May 13, 2014 – Midland States Bank is pleased to announce the expansion of its Wealth Management business, with new offices in Bloomington and Decatur, Illinois, scheduled to open later this year.

The Bank also announced the appointment of Ronald Drane as Managing Director of Midland’s Bloomington and Decatur offices.  Joining Drane will be Senior Wealth Advisor Carol Craig, Portfolio Manager Elizabeth Braden, Wealth Advisor Vanessa Spenard, Private Client Relationship Manager Eman Elsayed, and Wealth Advisor Assistant Danielle Diskey.

Midland’s Wealth Management Group, which has assets under administration of more than $1.1 billion, serves a wide range of customers in the areas of investment management and financial planning, administration of 401(k) Plans and other retirement accounts, insurance products and trust administration services.

“The expansion into the Bloomington and Decatur areas complements our focus of building long-term client relationships,” said Eric Chojnicki, President of Midland’s Wealth Management Group. “Ron and his team have tremendous experience and share the same customer driven, personal service philosophy for which Midland is well known.”

The new wealth management team will be operating from temporary offices until the actual offices are ready for occupancy.  They can be contacted by phone at 309-825-7720 or 217-412-8586.

“Our team is extremely pleased to be joining Midland,” commented Drane. “Midland’s Wealth Management Group is focused on providing high-touch, personalized service and utilizes a best-in-class investment management platform to address each customer’s financial objectives.”

Drane has more than 23 years of financial and wealth management experience, and spent the last seven years as executive vice president and senior managing director for a wealth management company. He received his Masters Degree in Business Administration from Washington University’s Olin School of Business in St. Louis and his Bachelor of Arts Degree in Finance from the University of Illinois in Urbana-Champaign. He is a Chartered Financial Analyst and Certified Cash Manager. 

Craig began her financial career in 1984 and, prior to joining Midland, was a senior vice president and private wealth advisor. She received her Juris Doctorate from Washington University School of Law in St. Louis and her Bachelor of Arts Degree from Illinois Wesleyan University in Bloomington.

Braden began her wealth management career in 2008 and most recently was vice president – portfolio manager for a wealth management company. She received her Bachelor of Science Degree in Finance from Millikin University’s Tabor School of Business in Decatur, Illinois and is a Certified Financial Planner®.

Spenard has four years of financial experience and was a private wealth advisor prior to joining Midland.  She received her Bachelor of Science Degree in Economics from the State University of New York in Oneonta, New York. Elsayed began her banking career in 2006 and was most recently a private client relationship manager.  She received her Bachelor of Science Degree in Accounting and Business Administration from Alexandria University in Alexandria, Egypt.  Diskey, a wealth advisor assistant prior to joining Midland, received her Bachelor of Arts Degree in Communications from Millikin University in Decatur, Illinois.

About Midland States Bank
Midland States Bank is rated “5 Stars” by Bauer Financial, a rating reserved for only the strongest financial institutions in the U.S.  Midland has assets of approximately $1.7 billion and Midland Wealth Management has assets under administration of more than $1.1 billion. Established in 1881 in Effingham, Illinois, Midland States Bank provides a full range of commercial and consumer banking products, trust and investment management, insurance, and financial planning services.  As a community banking institution, Midland States Bank prides itself on establishing and maintaining relationships with its customers and is committed to serving the financial needs of the communities it serves.  For additional information, visit http://www.midlandsb.com.

Contact:
Eric Chojnicki
President - Wealth Management
(217) 342-7303

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