Mr. George’s 30+ year bank career began as a Management Trainee and has grown to include the roles of Commercial Lender, Safety and Soundness Examiner, Chief Credit Officer and 15 years as the President, CEO and Director of mBank, a $1.5 Billion public banking company headquartered in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan with 25 offices and 350 staff members until its divestiture in September 2021.
During his time as President and CEO, George led the bank’s growth strategies both organically and through five whole bank acquisitions from 2014–2018, multiple capital procurement initiatives, and business line diversifications to enhance shareholder value. George joined mBank in 2003 as Executive Vice President and Chief Credit Officer in charge of the regulatory and lending administration turnaround of the former North Country Bank and Trust in Manistique, MI. After the successful rehabilitation of the troubled bank, recapitalization, and rebranding, he was promoted in 2006 to President and CEO of mBank and President of Mackinac Financial Corporation, its Holding Company and appointed to both Boards of Directors. Mr. George was involved with numerous civic and charitable undertakings during his long tenure as President and CEO of mBank.
Prior to mBank, George was the Senior Vice President and Chief Lending Officer of a $350 million community bank in North Central Ohio, also in charge of the credit administration and regulatory turnaround. He also served as a Safety and Soundness Examiner-In-Charge at the Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland, where he was responsible for the oversight of FRB-regulated community banking institutions, along with assisting with examinations of larger complex bank holding companies in the district and shared national credit reviews.
Mr. George’s areas of expertise include a strong management track record in community banking executive leadership with both private and public companies with an extensive enterprise risk management, lending and credit background, including an in-depth knowledge base of CAMELS and mergers and acquisitions negotiations and diligence. Mr. George is a graduate of The Ohio State University with a B.S. in economics and a minor in finance.
