Washington, MO – Bank of Washington Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer L. B. Eckelkamp, Jr. recently announced the promotions of Tim Tobben, Chris Eckelkamp and Sam Unnerstall to the position of Vice President of Commercial Lending.“Tim, Chris, and Sam are a great team,” stated Bank of Washington President Louis B. “Buzz” Eckelkamp, III. “They continuously excel, provide exceptional customer service, and are always eager to learn. Their commitment and dedication to their customers and to the Bank is demonstrated time and again, and we are fortunate to have each of them at the Bank of Washington.”
Tobben started in banking at Enterprise Bank and Trust as a commercial credit analyst, joined the Bank of Washington in 2009 as a credit review officer, was promoted to assistant vice president of commercial lending in 2013 and became a Director on the Bank of Washington Board in 2019. Tobben is a St. Francis Borgia Regional High School alum and graduated from St. Louis University, where he earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Management with an emphasis in Entrepreneurship. Locally, Tobben serves as a member of the St. Francis Borgia Athletic Association, a member of the Knights of Columbus, Advisory Board Member and past treasurer of the Franklin County Area United Way, and volunteers with Meals on Wheels. Additionally, he is on the Mercy Hospital Washington Foundation Board, a member of the Franklin County Planning and Zoning Board of Zoning Adjustment, and an active committee member of the Alzheimer’s Association. He and his wife, Jenna, reside in Washington, with their two children Megan and Benjamin, and are parishioners of St. Vincent DePaul, Dutzow, Parish.
Eckelkamp joined the Bank of Washington in 2012 as a credit analyst and was most recently promoted to assistant vice president of commercial lending in 2017. He is a graduate of St. Francis Borgia Regional High School and earned his Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration with a specialization in Finance from Southeast Missouri State University. In 2016, he graduated from the Missouri Bankers Association Advanced School of Lending and is a member of the Missouri Bankers Association – Young Bankers Leadership. Eckelkamp is heavily involved in the community through the Washington Town and Country Fair, Youth Sports, Downtown Washington, Inc., and has been a mentor for youth in our community through the YMCA. He is also a member of the Knights of Columbus, St. Francis Borgia Regional High School Athletic Association, and St. Louis Sigma Chi Alumni Association. He is a 2017 recipient of the Washington Area Chamber of Commerce Young Professional Award. Eckelkamp and his wife, Kayla, are members of St. Francis Borgia Parish and reside in Washington with their two children, Leo and Hallie.
Unnerstall joined the bank in 2014 as a credit analyst and was most recently promoted to assistant vice president of commercial lending in 2018. 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 master’s in business administration. He completed the Missouri School of Lending in March 2016 through Missouri Bankers Association and finished in the top 10 percent of his class, earning an honor distinction. He also completed the advanced School of Lending in 2017 and is currently enrolled in the Graduate School of Banking at Colorado where he will complete his studies in July 2021. Unnerstall is 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, former treasurer and board member of Primero Agua, board member of the Washington Junior Football League, former board member and chairperson of the St. Francis Borgia Grade School Board of Education, member of St. Francis Borgia Parish finance council, member of Downtown Washington Economic Vitality committee, member of the Society of Joseph and former board member, and a member of the Washington Missouri Elks, Knights of Columbus and the Buhr’s Club. He and his wife, Melissa, are members of St. Francis Borgia Parish and 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 more than 140 years. 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 have been consistently voted the No. 1 bank and mortgage lender in the Washington Missourian Readers’ Choice Awards.