By: Jonathan Riley

Printed in the Missourian on October 7, 2024

Daniel Tobben, vice president of deposit operations at the Bank of Washington, was named a 2024 outstanding Young Professional after being nominated by the bank's president, Buzz Eckelkamp.

"Danny always steps up to provide leadership and guidance across the entire retail and deposit side of the bank. He genuinely cares for his teams, ensuring they are equipped with the tools they need to succeed in their positions, continuously providing them with learning and growth opportunities," Eckelkamp wrote in nominating Tobben. 

Tobben said he was not expecting to be selected for the recognition. 

"It definitely caught me by surprise, but I feel incredibly honored to be a part of the 2024 OYP class," he said in an email. "Many Bank of Washington employees have been honored with this award in the past and I have a tremendous level of appreciation for everything that those individuals have done for the bank and our community."

What it means to Tobben to be an Outstanding Young Professional is to demonstrate "both a strong commitment to the Washington community and the ability to stand out and lead professionally," he said. 

Tobben described his work in community banking as "incredibly rewarding," saying the people he gets to interact with are one of the highlights of the job. 

"Working here makes it very easy to meet all kinds of different people, including fellow employees and customers," he said. "The best thing about it though, is just knowing the active role that Bank of Washington has in the overall growth and success of our community."

In addition to his other duties, Tobben "also helped initiate and implement an entirely new department of the bank with the creation of our first dedicated contact center," Eckelkamp wrote. "Additionally, Danny has helped spread community awareness regarding consumer and business fraud, identity theft, and other scams. He continues to remain focused on providing our customers and our employees with a positive experience and ensuring our mission of Do Good is fully executed." 

Tobben holds a bachelor of science degree in finance from the University of Missouri - Columbia. He also graduated from the Missouri School of Bank Management through the Missouri Bankers Association in 2018 and received a master certificate in business analytics from Michigan State University in 2020. Additionally, he is a member of the Missouri Bankers Association - Young Bankers Leadership Division. 

Tobben has been consistently involved in the Walk to End Alzheimer's, serving as captain of the bank's team. He also coaches St. Francis Borgia Grade School kindergarten and first grade boys soccer and is a member of the local chapter of Knights of Columbus. Tobben and his wife Rachel are members of St. Francis Borgia Parish and live in Washington with their two children, Peter and Ryan.