The Rawlins National Bank appoints new president

Bruce Hellbaum has taken over as president of The Rawlins National Bank, with Richard Chenowith, former president, stepping down in retirement.

Starting in 1986, Hellbaum practiced law for 13 years in Wheatland, Wyo.

During that time, he was asked to sit on the board at First State Bank, who he would eventually work for.

Hellbaum switched his career over to banking and worked as their Chief Financial Officer and Chief Credit Officer and president. "I've done it all within the banking industry and a couple of years ago, First State Bank was purchased ... it just wasn't the same. I wanted to get back to a community bank type of setting."

"The search was rather extensive and long, and Bruce Hellbaum was the individual that came forward. We're happy to have him on board," Chenowith said.

"I think the goal with any bank is good, solid, steady growth ... the way you do that is with relationships with the people in the communities," Hellbaum said. Under Hellbaum's presidency, First State Bank grew from a $70 million bank to a $300 million bank. "It was a nice, steady rise.

"I'm not coming here to change anything. I'm here to see how they do it," Hellbaum said of the staff at Rawlins National Bank.

"I think Bruce will be a very good fit to not only our communities but certainly to our bank, and we're very pleased to welcome him as our new leader," said Dan Runner, vice president and manager of the Saratoga branch. "He doesn't come to us as an unknown, we've all known him at some point through the Wyoming Bankers Association activities ... so the board of directors went through a long arduous process and they found the right guy."