Vantus Bank announces promotion 10.25.2007

Vantus Bank’s Board of Directors, at their regular meeting on Thursday, October 25, 2007, approved the appointment of Kevin J. Chavanu to the corporate-level officer position of vice president.

Chavanu joined Vantus Bank as recovery manager in May 2004. He earned his bachelors and masters degrees in business administration from the University of Nebraska . Chavanu has served in a variety of capacities during his 12-year financial industry career including loan officer, collections manager, review analyst and credit review/reporting analyst. Vantus Bank named him assistant vice president at the corporate level in October 2006.

First Federal Bank Changing Its Name To Vantus Bank 7.25.2007

First Federal Bank, an Iowa landmark since 1923, is changing its name to Vantus Bank effective September 4, 2007.  The name change comes after years of expansion, both in the products and services it offers as well as the number of locations in certain markets.

The new name is not a result of a merger or acquisition.  Vantus Bank will continue to be headquartered in Sioux City, Iowa and all of the locations will continue to serve their customers with the same dedicated staff.

A joint team of Board members, management and a professional naming team spent many months working to create a name that evoked the unique spirit of the bank while positioning it for the future.   Research was conducted with customers and community members to gather their feelings about the First Federal name.  After carefully evaluating the research and considering hundreds of names, the name Vantus Bank was chosen.  "Vantus" is derived from the word "advantage," and speaks to the unique benefits Vantus offers its customers.  The name is highly distinctive and differentiates it from other banks.

The bank's holding company, First Federal Bankshares, Inc. and the ticker symbol under which First Federal trades on the NASDAQ Global Market, FFSX, will not change.

First Federal Bank announces promotion 1.9.2007

First Federal Bank's Board of Directors at their regular meeting in December 2006 approved the appointment of Damon S. Morrison to Senior Vice President. 

Morrison is a graduate of the Culver-Stockton College where he earned his bachelors degree in business administration.  He has served in a variety of capacities during his 12-year banking career including customer service, credit analyst, commercial underwriter and lender, in addition to vice president of commmercial credit and operation functions.

First Federal Bank Announces Executive Vice President 11.9.2006

First Federal Bank's Board of Directors at their regular meeting on Thursday, October 26, 2006 approved the appointment of Scott T. Sehnert to Executive Vice President. 

Sehnert earned his bachelors degree from the University of Nebraska with a finance major.  He has served in a variety of capacities during his 22-year banking career, including credit analyst, business banking officer and vice president of corporate banking for Wells Fargo.  Prior to joining First Federal, he was employed with BPI Technology.  Sehnert was appointed Senior Vice President of First Federal Bank in November 2002 when he joined the bank as Commercial Banking Manager.

Hagen named Commercial Lending Relationship Manager 11.3.2006

First Federal Bank has announced the appointment of David Hagen to the position of vice president/commercial lending relationship manager in the West Des Moines office.  He will be responsible for soliciting and developing relationships with locally owned and controlled business customers.  He earned his bachelors degree from Iowa State University.  Hagen has 23 years of banking experience serving customers in Iowa, Wisconsin, and Minnesota.  He has previously worked in Des Moines for a national bank holding company.  In addition to direct lending and business development experience, his previous experience also includes supervision of commercial and agricultural lenders, cash management and credit departments, and development of a sales culture.