First State Bank: Fries Named Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer of First State Bank

First State Bank is pleased to announce the appointment of Matthew J. Fries as its new Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer. In this role, Fries will lead the Bank’s finance and accounting functions, as well as oversee its IT and facilities departments.

Fries has nearly 15 years of experience in the banking industry. Most recently, he served as Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer at Bristol Morgan Bank in Fond du Lac. While there he managed IT, facilities, deposit operations, human resources, payroll functions, and collaborated closely with the CEO and Board of Directors on strategic initiatives. Prior to that, Matt advanced to the position of Chief Financial Officer at Timberwood Bank in Tomah, where he held various roles from 2011 to 2020.

Fries holds a Bachelor of Science in Accounting and Business Administration from the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point. In 2015 he graduated from the Graduate School of Banking at the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

“Matt brings a wealth of knowledge to the already talented Senior Management team. We are excited to tap into his insight and expertise as First State Bank continues to grow and develop in the communities we serve,” said Matthew R. Lemke, President and CEO of First State Bank. “He will help us focus on aligning our financial strategies with the goals of our organization.”