Rick Oshel retires after 44 years of banking

Rick Oshel has been a fixture at American State Bank since his arrival in Fall of 1987. Rick grew up on a farm in Clarke County and is the son of the late Clyde Oshel and Irvel Oshel. He graduated from Murray High School and Northwest Missouri State University. He was working as a banker in Nebraska when he responded to an ad for employment in a banking trade magazine. Founding President and CEO, Jim Schipper was desperately in need of a senior lender, as he and other local investors had just purchased a failed bank from the FDIC, recapitalized it and renamed it American State Bank.

When Rick began employment, the bank had only $2.5 million in loans and $8 million in assets. At Rick’s retirement, American State Bank had grown to $144 million in loans and over $210 million in assets. “American State Bank has it’s roots at the beginning of the end of the Farm Crisis of the 1980’s”, states current President and CEO, Kevin Klemesrud. “Rick provided the expertise to help guide the bank in growing relationships with local farmers during a time when farmers needed that help the most. Many of those farm family relationships have grown into some of the most successful and financially strong relationships the bank has. That kind of farmer/banker relationship stands the test of time and is a large part of the bank’s success”, says Klemesrud. “We will miss Rick. He has left his mark on our brand and it will not be the same without him.”

Rick and his wife Beth have both been active in the bank and community. It was common to have Beth at his side during bank events like hotdog night at the Clarke County Fair or decorating the float for the 4th of July. In retirement, Rick and Beth will continue farming, enjoy their 5 grandchildren more, and do a more traveling.

Rick has been very active in the Clarke County Cattleman Board, promoting beef through grilling at endless events. He serves as a Trustee for Greenbay Township and has served on the Southwestern Community College Education Foundation Board. You will always see Rick and Beth at the Clarke County Fair Exhibitors Auction as they collect funds to help floor Exhibitor projects at the fair and ensure all youth receive a premium on their livestock project. Rick served on the Iowa Bankers Association Ag Committee and was past Chairman of that committee. He provides mentoring and expertise to young ag lenders at the Iowa Bankers Ag Credit School each year.

American State Bank celebrated Rick’s banking career with an Open House at the bank on June 28th. Also, the bank had a summer outing at the Iowa Cubs the following Saturday and Rick was honored by throwing out the first pitch of the game. Finally, Rick was honored by the community as he served as Co-Grand Marshall in the parade on July 4th.

Rick reflects, “Retirement from American State Bank has been in my plans for some time and one of my main concern was to assure my customers would receive the same responsive service they have grown accustomed to. I was pleased that we were able to hire Ethan Abbott well in advance to my retirement. Having had 18 months to directly mentor Ethan, I am confident he will do a great job for the bank and for my customers.”

American State Bank is a locally owned State of Iowa chartered bank with assets over $210 million and locations in Osceola, Lamoni, and Winterset.