Washington, D.C. (Jan. 9, 2025) — The Independent Community Bankers of America® (ICBA) today announced Peter Nelson as senior executive vice president of member engagement. Nelson will assume his new duties on Feb. 10 and will lead ICBA’s efforts to enhance the overall member experience, aligning the organization’s offerings to meet the evolving needs of community banks across the nation.
Nelson joins ICBA from Glenwood State Bank in Glenwood, Minn., where he has served as president since 2006. Under his leadership, the bank grew to $556 million in assets, reinforcing its legacy as a cornerstone of the local community. Glenwood State Bank, chartered in 1907, is a founding member of ICBA whose leadership continues its rich advocacy tradition on behalf of the community banking industry.
“As a lifelong community banker, I have a deep appreciation and respect for the vital role of local financial institutions in fostering economic well-being,” Nelson said. “Through responsible lending and community reinvestment, community banks help millions of Americans realize their financial goals every day. Working with the dedicated team at ICBA, which solely focuses on community banks, is an incredible opportunity. I look forward to leveraging my passion and experience to ensure the community banking model endures for generations to come.”
In his new role, Nelson will oversee ICBA’s Member Relations, Marketing and Communications, and State and Volunteer Relations, with a focus on deepening member engagement, enhancing delivery channels for ICBA’s products and services, and ensuring a robust value proposition for the organization’s members. His work will support ICBA’s mission to create and promote an environment where community banks flourish.
“Peter’s experience running a community bank, his incredible passion for our industry, and his desire to create a lasting impact make him the ideal leader for this role,” ICBA President and CEO Rebeca Romero Rainey said. “At ICBA, serving our members means identifying the unique needs and opportunities for every institution to empower the work they do on behalf of the communities they serve. Peter’s leadership will help us meet those needs while amplifying the stories of impact these institutions have on the lives of countless Americans nationwide.”
Nelson has been an active volunteer leader for ICBA for many years, including serving as chairman of the Policy Development Committee. He also served as chairman of BankIn Minnesota in 2023. His wife, Kari, will serve as interim president of Glenwood State Bank, continuing the institution’s family tradition, which began when her father, Dennis Martinson, joined the bank in 1959.
About ICBA
The Independent Community Bankers of America® has one mission: to create and promote an environment where community banks flourish. We power the potential of the nation’s community banks through effective advocacy, education, and innovation.
As local and trusted sources of credit, America’s community banks leverage their relationship-based business model and innovative offerings to channel deposits into the neighborhoods they serve, creating jobs, fostering economic prosperity, and fueling their customers’ financial goals and dreams. For more information, visit ICBA’s website at icba.org.
