First Federal promotes 2 employees

Van Wert independent/contributor content

Mike Cross, president of First Federal Savings and Loan Association of Van Wert, announces the promotion of two employees.

At the December board meeting of First Federal Savings and Loan Association of Van Wert, Rhonda Belt was promoted to loan officer and Suzanne M. Grimes was promoted to controller.

Belt started at First Federal in June 2009 and has a combined 22 years of banking and finance experience.  She currently performs real estate lending duties and assists with staff training at First Federal.  She is a graduate of Adams Central High School, International Business College, Ohio School of Banking, School of Advanced Real Estate Lending and Bank Leadership institute.  She also is a member of the Van Wert Service Club.

Belt and her husband, Russ, reside in Van Wert.

Suzie Grimes joined First Federal three years ago and is currently staff accountant.  She is a graduate of Van Wert High School and the University of Northwestern Ohio with two associate’s degrees, majoring in accounting and business administration.

Grimes is a also a graduate of the Chamber of Commerce Leadership School and currently serves on the Chamber’s Leadership Committee. She is a member of St. Mary of the Assumption Church in Van Wert, where she volunteered for the Knights of Columbus’ Bingo as cashier for seven years.

Grimes enjoys playing volleyball and plays in several leagues in the area. She is married to Jon Grimes, who is a truck driver with D & K Unlimited, and has one son, Gavin Cross, and a stepson, Travis Grimes.