Washington, MO – Bank of Washington Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer L. B. Eckelkamp, Jr. recently announced the promotion of Sam Unnerstall to Assistant Vice President Commercial Lending.

“Sam has a strong financial background, an eagerness to grow and learn with the Bank, and is also dedicated to our community,” stated Bank of Washington President Louis B. “Buzz” Eckelkamp, III.   “He has done a great job of growing new relationships and managing existing relationships with our customers.  We know he will continue to do an excellent job.”

Unnerstall joined the bank in 2014 as a credit analyst and was promoted to commercial lender in 2017.  His financial experience started in public accounting preparing tax returns, financial statements and attestation, as well as consulting services.   He is a graduate of St. Francis Borgia Regional High School and attended East Central College, St. Louis University, a collaboration of online Universities and currently holds Associates and Bachelor Degrees in Accounting and a Masters in Business Administration.  He completed the Missouri School of Lending in March 2016 through Missouri Bankers Association and finished in the top 10% of his class, earning an honors distinction. He also completed the Advanced School of Lending in 2017.

“I am very excited and humbled with the opportunity to expand my role at the Bank of Washington,” said Unnerstall.  “I look forward to continue helping individuals and businesses who wish to invest in the Washington and surrounding communities, to make the area an even better place to work and live. There is not a better community to be part of than Washington.  The Bank of Washington’s commitment to this area is big part of what helps the area thrive, and I look forward to being a part of that commitment for many years to come. The family and community centric focus at the Bank of Washington is something I value very much, and feel very fortunate to have this opportunity.”

Unnerstall is a member of St. Francis Borgia Parish, a member and trustee of the St. Francis Borgia Regional High School Athletic Association (SFBRHS), Chairman of the Men’s Golf Tournament Fundraising Committee for the SFBRHS Athletic Association, Treasurer and Board Member of Primero Agua, Board Member of the Washington Junior Football League, Certified Football Official in the State of Missouri, Member of the Society of Joseph and former Board Member, volunteers as the Bank of Washington team leader for Alzheimer’s Association fundraising, and is a member of the Washington Missouri Elks, Knights of Columbus and the Buhr’s Club. 

He and his wife, Melissa, reside in Washington with their two sons, Louis and Theodore. 

The Bank of Washington is the oldest and largest community bank in Franklin County, serving the community for over 140 years.  The bank has six branch locations and is open seven days-a-week at its branch location inside Schnucks in Washington. The investments that the Bank of Washington makes in the local community ranks them as one of the largest commercial lenders in the St. Louis area and they were voted the number one bank and mortgage lender in the Washington Missourian Readers’ Choice Awards.