Northwest Bank’s Pelzer named to ICBA’s annual 40 Under 40 list

Northwest Bank
Adam Pelzer

Adam Pelzer, executive vice president at Northwest Bank & Trust Company, Davenport, has been named to the industry’s prestigious list of 40 Under 40: Community Bank Leaders. 

“Independent Banker” magazine, the award-winning monthly publication of the Independent Community Bankers of America (ICBA), recently unveiled its sixth annual 40 Under 40: Community Bank Leaders list. 

The award recognizes community bank innovators, collaborators, educators, strategists, advisors, and civic servants. 

“ICBA congratulates Adam Pelzer on this well-deserved recognition,” ICBA President and CEO Rebeca Romero Rainey said in a news release. “Adam exemplifies the talent, dedication, and community spirit that define our industry. We commend his outstanding contributions and look forward to his continued growth and success as a community bank leader.”

The “Independent Banker” feature story in its June issue highlights how the 40 Under 40 honorees have navigated challenges and remained innovative while staying true to the guiding principles that make community banking special. 

Honorees were chosen from hundreds of entries, and candidates were judged on their character, leadership, community involvement, and innovation. 

‘A tremendous honor’

“Being named to ICBA Independent Banker’s 40 Under 40 is a tremendous honor,” said Mr. Pelzer. “I’m proud to be a community banker. Thanks to Joe (Slavens) and the opportunity at Northwest Bank, I am surrounded by an excellent board of directors and team throughout our organizations. His leadership has created immeasurable opportunities and has given me a world-class education on the business of banking.”

Mr. Pelzer, a native of Tipton, Iowa, graduated from Brown University with honors, earning a bachelor’s with a concentration in Business, Entrepreneurship & Organizations. He began his career as an investment banking analyst at William Blair. He joined Northwest Bank in 2016 and was promoted to senior vice president and elected to the Board of Directors in 2017. Mr. Pelzer was named executive vice president in 2022. 

Mr. Pelzer also was honored as a member of the QCBJ’s inaugural Forty Under 40 class in 2022. 

In addition to serving as the bank’s chief financial officer and cashier, Mr. Pelzer also oversees Centennial Tax & Accounting, a Northwest Bank subsidiary.

Well-deserved honor

“Including Adam among this distinguished list of community bank leaders is well-deserved public recognition of what those of us at Northwest Bank & Trust Company already know,” Joe Slavens, Northwest Bank’s president & CEO, said in the release. “Adam delivers extraordinary value to our team, our customers, our shareholders and our Quad Cities community.”

Northwest Bank & Trust Company is a family and employee-owned community bank with Quad Cities roots dating back more than 80 years. In addition to its banking services, its Investment Management Group has been assisting clients with trust, investment, and estate planning for more than 50 years and now has almost $500 million in assets under management. 

The bank also acquired and merged several accounting firms to create what now is Centennial Tax & Accounting. The firm, with locations in Davenport and Rock Island, was named the Fastest Growing Business in 2023 by the Quad Cities Regional Business Journal.

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