Mike Budach, Farmers State Bank of Hartland’s senior ag lender in the Albert Lea branch, recently joined the American Bankers Association’s Agricultural and Rural Bankers Committee for the 2017-18 association year. Committee members are appointed by the ABA’s Center for Agricultural and Rural Banking and serve up to three years.

The committee, established in 1913, is made up of 14 agricultural and rural bankers from across the country. Committee members meet throughout the year to discuss the critical issues affecting the ag community and provide guidance and recommendations to the ABA on a number of issues relating to the industry.

“It is an honor to be part of this committee and advocate for the success of Ag communities all over the country,” Budach said. “This appointment gives me the opportunity to meet frequently with my peers to discuss the current challenges affecting our banks and the ag banking industry as a whole.”

Budach has over 11 years of agricultural lending experience in southern Minnesota and has been with FSB since 2010, working out of the Albert Lea location. He grew up in the New Richland area and now lives in Owatonna with his wife and family. Mike enjoys meeting with and getting to know the individual farm operations of FSB customers.

Farmers State Bank of Hartland is a community-owned, community-focused bank that originated in Hartland in 1912. FSB operates branches in Hartland, Freeborn and Albert Lea. FSB has grown in asset size to over $140 million, and has become one of the county’s largest community banks. The bank’s growth has been primarily with ag and commercial customers, but since 2013 it has expanded its residential lending program and now offers a full range of banking products. FSB is a member of the FDIC and is an Equal Housing Lender.