First Farmers and Merchants Bank President and CEO Mike Engesser has announced he will retire Dec. 31 after 35 years at the bank.
Engesser, who also serves as Senior Vice President of 215 Holding Co., started in 1981 for First Bank Luverne, which became First Farmers and Merchants Bank in 1987 after the Short Family bought it.
Brian P. Short, President and CEO of 215 Holding Co., announced last week that Engesser will retire.
“During his long career with First Farmers & Merchants Bank and its predecessor, Mike has done great things for our bank, the communities we serve, and every member of all the First Farmers & Merchants Banks,” Short said.
In that time, Short said Engesser emerged as a leader in the organization.
“When working on the acquisition of the bank, I got to know Mike and was very impressed with his quiet competence and his firm grasp of all of the details of First Bank Luverne,” he said.
“Mike has played a leading role in the bank and our whole banking company ever since. As we built this company, we faced many challenges, and Mike had a hand in overcoming every one.”
Engesser said he decided to retire in order to pursue other interests, including woodworking, golf and stained glass art.
“I have been working since I was able to work, and with the consuming nature of this job I have given up all of the hobbies I had,” he said. “I would like to start them back up and spend more time at the lake and more time with my family.”
His family includes his wife, Jenny, who will continue teaching in Luverne Elementary School, and their grown sons, Chris in Minneapolis and Matt in Cary, North Carolina.
Engesser said he’ll miss his job at the bank.
“What I enjoyed most is the people I was able to work with. They made my job easier and they are just great people,” he said.
“The job gave me opportunities and challenges to use my education and life experiences to help grow the organization and help in the community.”
Short said Engesser’s contributions to the community are noteworthy.
“He has held leadership positions with many community organizations,” Short said. “The community is indeed a better place because of him.”
Those include the Luverne Lions Club, the Luverne Chamber of Commerce, the Luverne Community Economic Development Committee, the Luverne Housing and Redevelopment Authority, the Luverne Economic Development Authority, Beaver Creek Mutual Insurance Company, the Luverne School Foundation, St. Catherine's Church and the Luverne Area Community Foundation.
Engesser said he’ll continue to serve the community, but he plans to pare down some of those contributions.
“I look forward to relaxing and not getting up at 4 a.m. so I can get things done,” he said. “I look forward to spending time at the lake and being able to enjoy my hobbies again while I am still able to do them.”