Meet Commercial Lender Jim Wolfington. Jim joined Chelsea State Bank as Vice President, Commercial Lender in 2007. He began his banking career over 30 years ago at the Bank of Galesburg (now First Midwest Bank), Galesburg, Illinois. Moving to Michigan in 1988, Jim also worked as a commercial lender at National Bank of Detroit (now Chase) and the Bank of Ann Arbor.

Known for his financial expertise and altruism, Jim is fondly called the “community banker” by his peers because of the time and energy he puts into the community he serves. Jim is also well known for the work he does to help secure affordable housing in Washtenaw County. In 2018, he was the recipient of the Federal Home Loan Bank of Indianapolis (FHLBI) Community Spirit Award for his work in community housing, particularly with Avalon Housing. The Community Spirit Award is given annually to the top community banker in Michigan and Indiana combined.

In January, Jim received the Kiwanis Hixson Fellowship Award. The Kiwanis Children’s Fund is an organization that helps kids around the world. Local clubs look out for their communities and the international organization takes on large-scale challenges, such as fighting disease and poverty.

“Jim is a brilliant commercial lender and an unassuming community advocate,” said Chelsea State Bank President and CEO Joanne Rau. “Jim exemplifies everything the Hixson Fellowship award is intended to recognize, particularly his involvement in making our communities a better place for our families to live and our businesses to thrive.”

Joining the Ann Arbor Kiwanis Club in 2004, Jim is an active Kiwanian evolving into the Sales Chair and sitting on the Investment Committee. He is also the treasurer of Lurie Terrace, an Ann Arbor senior apartment community, and serves on the Ann Arbor Community Board of Ele’s Place, a not-for-profit organization to support grieving children. He formerly sat on the Boards of Directors at Michigan Ability Partners and the Humane Society of Huron Valley.

“It was an honor to receive the Hixson Fellowship award from my fellow Kiwanians,” recalled Jim. “Supporting our community is important to me. Kiwanis is an organization where we care about making a difference in our community, and we care about each other, too. It’s very rewarding.”

Earning his Bachelor of Arts in Economics from Knox College, Galesburg, Illinois, Jim also has his Master of Business Administration in Finance from the University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa. Born and raised in St. Louis, Missouri, Jim and his husband Ernie reside in Ann Arbor with their crazy Cocker Spaniel, Buddy.

Fun Facts about Jim!

• What do you like most about your work at the Bank? The almost family like atmosphere we share at Chelsea State Bank.
• Do you have a favorite position or story from your time at CSB? Several years ago we provided a loan to a young woman who was starting her own business. Both she and John Mann were Chelsea Wellness Center members and when John was leaving the Center one morning, he heard someone calling to him – it was our new client thanking him for the Bank’s help.
• What is your favorite pastime? Travel.
• What are your hobbies? Collecting rotary dial telephones and fountain pens.
• What is your favorite food? Chicago style hot-dogs.
• If you were stuck on an island, what would you bring? My Kindle.
• What is your favorite holiday, and why? Fourth of July, with very fond memories from my childhood.
• What is on your favorite playlist? Steely Dan, Foreigner, The Cars, Earth, Wind and Fire, Sinatra, Tony Bennett, Sammy Davis Jr., Miles Davis, Philip Glass, Dave Brubeck and basically any rock created between 1965 and 1982.
• Current books you are interested in? Domby and Son, A Promised Land
• TV show you can’t miss. The ReidOut.
• Favorite quote? “If you are done, take yourself out of the oven. You are finished.” (Miss Evans my third and fourth grade teacher.)
• What area do you live in and for how long? West side Ann Arbor, 30 years.