Ballou Completes Graduate School of Banking

Release date: 8/15/2024

Beloit, WI, August 15, 2024 –First National Bank and Trust (FNBT), is pleased to announce that Chelsea Ballou, Executive Vice President, Chief Consumer Banking & Operations Officer, has graduated from the Graduate School of Banking (GSB) at the University of Wisconsin – Madison, earning a Certificate of Executive Leadership.

Established in 1945, the Graduate School of Banking focuses on equipping banking executives and financial services professionals with the skills necessary to navigate strategic industry challenges. The program consists of two-week resident sessions held over three summers, along with extensive study between sessions.

“Chelsea has consistently demonstrated exceptional leadership at FNBT,” said Don O’Day, President and Chief Executive Officer. “Her dedication and commitment to professional growth has been instrumental in positioning FNBT as an industry leader, and ensuring we are always here for our customers and community.”

As EVP, Chief Consumer Banking & Operations Officer, Chelsea oversees the consumer banking and lending, operations, marketing, and fraud prevention departments. She has extensive knowledge of the financial services industry, with over 15 years of experience. Chelsea graduated from Lewis University with a Bachelor of Science in Marketing and earned a Masters of Business Administration from Cardinal Stritch University. Committed to continuous learning, she has received several industry certifications and trainings. She is a graduate of the American Bankers Association School of Bank Marketing and Management and is a designated Certified Financial Marketing Professional (CFMP).

Dedicated to community, Chelsea volunteers on the board of directors for the Beloit Junior Golf Association and for Nutritional Health Associates (NHA) of Rock County, where she serves as Vice President. She also serves as President of the Education Commission at Our Lady of the Assumption Catholic School in Beloit.

First National Bank and Trust Company:
First National Bank and Trust, headquartered in Beloit, Wisconsin, has been a pillar of the community since 1882. With a rich history of customer-focused solutions, FNBT has evolved into a leading financial services institution, offering a comprehensive range of products and services for consumers and businesses, including trust, retirement services, investment management, and brokerage. Serving nearly 30,000 households across 13 communities and 16 locations in Southern Wisconsin and Northern Illinois, with assets of approximately $1.5 billion, FNBT is "Always Here" to understand individual customer needs, provide expert guidance, and offer the products, services, and support to empower everyone to thrive. This commitment to dependability, approachability, and resilience has established First National Bank and Trust as a leader in the industry. For more information, visit www.bankatfirstnational.com.