Southern Michigan Bank and Trust makes change in leadership

COLDWATER — Southern Michigan Bancorp and Southern Michigan Bank and Trust board of directors appointed John Waldron as president and CEO of both, effective Oct. 3.

Waldron, 54, joined Southern in May 2022 as president of the bank’s Jackson market.

CEO John Castle and president Kurt Miller, who served since 2002, announced their retirements earlier this year, effective June 30, 2024. 

Castle will continue to serve as board chairman, while Miller will transition to vice chairman. 

Waldron, a Jackson native, spent 20 years with Community National Bank in Jackson. Before that, the Western Michigan University graduate served as a national bank examiner with the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency for 10 years.

“I am honored to step into this leadership role with Southern,” Waldron said. “I am grateful for the confidence of John Castle, Kurt Miller and Southern’s board of directors for trusting me as the new president and CEO.”

Jamie Clark, board member and chair of the corporate governance committee, said, “The bank is pleased to welcome John Waldron into his new leadership role as president and CEO. Since joining Southern, John has led our Jackson market to growth in both deposits and loans.”

Clark said, “We are grateful for all John and Kurt have done to grow Southern into one of the leading community banks in Michigan and appreciate their willingness to stay involved through their board roles.

Until their retirement, Castle and Miller will support Waldron in managing the day-to-day operations serving Branch, Calhoun, Hillsdale, Jackson, Kalamazoo, and St. Joseph counties.

Waldron joins an experienced executive team, including Eric Anglin, executive vice president and chief strategy officer, and Nick Grabowski, executive vice president and head of lending.

Castle and Miller took over the local bank in 2002. They grew the bank and its holding company fourfold into an organization with $1.4 billion in assets with 230 employees in 18 branches/offices across six counties in south-central Michigan.

Southern is known in all its markets for actively giving back to the communities where its team lives. It supports nonprofits, municipalities, schools, community groups, and service clubs with financial contributions and volunteer support.

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Southern, founded in 1872 in Coldwater, will continue to be headquartered there. All current members of the leadership team will remain in place, ensuring continuity, the bank said.

Contact Don Reid: dReid@Gannett.com. 

This article originally appeared on Coldwater Daily Reporter: Management changes at SMB&T