First National Bank and Trust Introduces New Product Management Team

Release date: 2/9/2024

Beloit, WI, February 09, 2024 – First National Bank and Trust (FNBT) is pleased to announce the creation of a new Product Management team.

Fueling FNBT’s growth, the Product Management team gathers insights from data, research, and customer feedback to identify areas of improvement in FNBT’s product catalog. The team collaborates with various departments in the bank to develop new products, bridging the gap between customer needs and technical possibility. Laura Pomerene will be leading the Product Management group as Senior Vice President (SVP), Director of Product Management. Reporting to Laura will be Angie Baskin, Assistant Vice President (AVP) Product Owner-Digital Banking, Tari Book, Vice President (VP) Product Owner-Loans, Matt Ennis, Assistant Vice President (AVP) Product Owner-Payment Systems and Julie Thornton, Vice President (VP) Product Owner-Deposits.  

Since joining the bank in 2004, Laura Pomerene has led the bank's marketing focus and many high-profile bank-wide projects. She has over 25 years of experience in the banking industry, and has earned and maintained the credential of Certified Financial Marketing Professional (CFMP) for more than 15 years. In 2011, she completed the three-year Graduate School of Banking program at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, to add to her overall education. She holds an Associate of Applied Science (AAS) in Computer Information Systems, a Bachelor of Science (BS) in Business Administration and a Master of Science (MS) in Business Analytics. In her new role, Laura is responsible for overseeing the product owners and will build on her analytics background and leadership strengths to enhance product development, ensuring FNBT is able to provide the best possible products and services for our customers.

FNBT’s Product Owners manage the banks product portfolio which include deposits, loans, payments and digital delivery services. They collaborate to identify growth opportunities within the bank and work to develop and execute solutions, maintaining and prioritizing a list of features and tasks for potential products and services. Product Owners also diligently research the needs and wants of our current and potential customers to ensure FNBT is meeting and exceeding their needs of a bank.

Angie Baskin joined FNBT in 2017 and has worked her way up from teller supervisor to her current role as AVP, Product Owner-Digital Banking. She earned a Bachelor of Science in Exercise and Sport Science from St. Catherine University in St. Paul, Minnesota and a master’s degree in Business Administration with a concentration in Leadership from Aurora University in Aurora, Illinois. This past year Angie also graduated from the Graduate School of Banking (GSB) Digital Banking School. Angie resides in Janesville, Wisconsin with her husband. Active in the community, she currently sits on the board of directors for YWCA Rock County and volunteers for Junior Achievement.

Tari Book, VP, Product Owner-Loans has been with FNBT since 1995, serving various roles in the loan department, including most recently as VP, Loan System Admin Manager. Tari was the valedictorian of her high school class and went on to complete several management and industry courses throughout her extensive career in the banking industry, including several certificates through Rockhurst University’s Continuing Education program. In 2022, Tari graduated from the Wisconsin Bankers Association’s Loan and Real Estate Compliance School. In her free time, Tari is involved with the Leaf River Lions Club, the German Valley Sno-Riders Snowmobile Club, and volunteers at Leaf River’s annual festival, Leaf River Daze.

Matt Ennis joined FNBT in 2017 as a personal banker, eventually being promoted to Branch Manager at the Beloit-Madison Rd. branch. He most recently served as Project Analyst and Officer at FNBT. Matt was promoted to AVP, Product Owner – Payment Systems in December 2023 when he joined the product team. He now works to develop and implement new products that align with the needs of our customers and FNBT’s business goals. Matt resides in Roscoe, Illinois with his son and enjoys playing golf in his spare time. Active in the community, he currently sits on the board of directors for Beloit Area Crime Stoppers.


Julie Thornton, VP, Product Owner-Deposits, served most recently as FNBT’s Deposit Systems Manager and worked previously as Manager of the bank’s Cash Management department. She’s been with FNBT since 2011 and has over 35 years of experience in the banking industry. She attended Rockford Business College and Southern New Hampshire College, studying business, finance and accounting. Julie is also a 2007 graduate of the Rockford Chamber of Commerce’s Leadership Program and earned the Fundamentals of Cash Management Diploma in 2006 from the Association for Financial Professionals (AFP). Julie spends her free time golfing with her husband, Gary, and visiting their two sons. Julie has also been an active volunteer for Beloit Meals on Wheels since 2012.

About First National Bank and Trust:
First National Bank and Trust Company is a family-focused, community bank headquartered in Beloit, Wisconsin. Chartered in 1882, First National Bank and Trust has grown to be a leading financial services institution offering products and services for consumers and businesses, as well as trust, retirement services, investment management, brokerage and insurance. We now serve nearly 30,000 households in 13 communities and 16 locations in Southern Wisconsin and Northern Illinois with assets of approximately $1.5 billion. We treat our customers, employees, shareholders and communities like family, with a goal of helping all our families succeed. Providing Sound Advice and delivering an exceptional experience has positioned First National Bank and Trust as a Stateline leader in the industry. For additional information, visit www.bankatfirstnational.com.