ROCKFORD, Ill., July 17, 2008 (PRIME NEWSWIRE) -- AMCORE Bank (Nasdaq:AMFI) is pleased to announce Steven F. Gersch, senior vice president and senior credit officer, has been promoted to chief credit officer. Gersch succeeds Melvin H. Buser, who retired from the Company on July 17, 2008. Buser joined AMCORE Bank in 1984 and has held the position of chief credit officer since 2001.
"Mel has had a nearly 25-year career with AMCORE and I appreciate his hard work and dedication to the Company. I wish him the best during his retirement," says Don Wilson, AMCORE president and chief operating officer. "Steve has extensive experience in credit analysis and establishing best practices. His knowledge and guidance will be helpful as AMCORE works to strengthen and improve its credit culture."
Prior to joining AMCORE, Gersch worked as a consultant helping banks across the country strengthen their credit programs and has had extensive credit experience with several leading Midwestern banks. Gersch will be responsible for overall credit quality. He will lead and guide the Bank relative to credit policies and manage a team of credit and workout professionals. Gersch joined AMCORE in April 2008, bringing nearly 30 years of credit risk management experience to the company. Gersch received his bachelor's degree in finance from the University of Illinois at Chicago and his master's degree of business administration from DePaul University.
AMCORE Financial, Inc. is headquartered in Northern Illinois and has banking assets of $5.2 billion with 79 locations in Illinois and Wisconsin. AMCORE provides a full range of consumer and commercial banking services, a variety of mortgage lending products and wealth management services including trust, brokerage, private banking, investment management, insurance and comprehensive retirement plan services.
AMCORE common stock is listed on The NASDAQ Stock Market under the symbol AMFI. Further information about AMCORE Financial, Inc. can be found at the Company's website at www.AMCORE.com.