Continuously serving Kosciusko County since 1854
Several changes are upcoming at First National Bank of Warsaw.
The local bank was formerly owned by Fort Wayne National Corp. Earlier this month, Fort Wayne National was acquired by National City, of Cleveland.
The local restructuring comes as part of a shift to National City's banking philosophies, according to Brad Hemstreet, vice president of marketing for National City in Cleveland.
"We run a tight ship," Hemstreet said. "We tend to centralize a good bit of the back office functions, ... but we keep the local decisions as close to home as possible."
While Hemstreet said he did not have specific information regarding First National Bank of Warsaw, he noted that "changes are taking place" and that "there will be lots of opportunity for re-employment" within National City.
Dave Simpson, First National's director of human resources and marketing, said this morning that many support functions at the bank will be consolidated and performed elsewhere.
"The way National City operates is functionally different" than the operations of the local bank, he said.
He declined to comment on the specific number of positions that will be affected. He said new positions will be created and that there will be normal employee attrition and the opportunity for job postings within the bank during the restructuring. These factors should lessen the impact of the restructuring, which is expected to take place over the next nine months, he said.
He said the bank also has offered severance packages and placement services to its employees and that the nine-month time frame gives employees time to look at all options available to them.
He declined to comment on any potential changes in management personnel.
The restructuring plans were announced to bank employees Monday.
A source close to the bank, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, said today that approximately two dozen positions may be eliminated.
Changes include the elimination of data processing and the downsizing of the loan, mortgage and trust departments, the source said.
First National President Willis Alt was on vacation and unavailable for comment this morning.
