First Bank Midwest has announced the upcoming retirement of longtime banker and community advocate Susan Ruch, who will conclude a 27-year career with the organization on October 2, 2026.
A Frankfort native, Ruch, has spent 29 years in the banking industry, including 27 years with The Farmers Bank, now called First Bank Midwest. Throughout her career, she has become known for her expertise in small business lending and her commitment to helping individuals, businesses and nonprofit organizations throughout Clinton County thrive.
“Susan’s career is a wonderful example of what community banking is all about,” said Chris Cook, CEO of First Bank Midwest. “For 27 years, she has invested herself in the success of her customers, colleagues and community. She has helped people purchase homes, entrepreneurs build businesses, nonprofit organizations expand their impact and generations of employees grow professionally. The relationships she has built and the difference she has made will remain an important part of our organization and community for years to come.”
The Farmers Bank Impact
Ruch joined The Farmers Bank on September 7, 1999, as a Commercial Loan Clerk. She became a Retail Loan Officer in 2001 and Commercial Loan Officer Manager in 2005 before moving into small business lending in 2008. Prior to joining The Farmers Bank, she began her banking career with Purdue National Bank.
“Small business owners are the backbone of America and assisting them in making their businesses successful is a role I have never taken lightly,” Ruch said. “It has been an honor to join so many of them on their journey and provide the tools and financing they need to move forward. Helping people achieve their dreams has been one of the greatest privileges of my career.”
Ruch’s impact has extended well beyond traditional lending. During the past decade, she has spearheaded efforts with the Federal Home Loan Bank of Indianapolis that resulted in more than $2.59 million in grant funding for individuals, businesses and nonprofit organizations in Clinton County.
Those efforts include more than $2.03 million through the SHARP program to assist area homeowners with deferred home maintenance, $65,000 through the Elevate program to support three local small businesses and a $500,000 Affordable Housing Program grant that helped One80 Recovery Resources establish a 16-bed residential.
About First Bank Midwest
First Bank Midwest is a community bank serving customers through 26 full-service locations across Indiana and Ohio, committed to delivering relationship-focused banking, local decision-making, and personalized financial solutions for individuals, families, businesses, and the communities it proudly serves. First Bank Midwest operates under the parent company Richmond Mutual Bancorporation, Inc., which trades on the NASDAQ under the ticker symbol RMBI. Richmond Mutual Bancorporation, Inc. is headquartered in Richmond, Indiana, and First Bank Midwest is headquartered in Frankfort, Indiana. Member FDIC. Equal Housing Lender.