Employee Spotlight: Keri Uzpen, Chief Credit Officer
A people-first leader who looks beyond the numbers to understand every story
We are thrilled to introduce our new Chief Credit Officer, Keri Uzpen. Keri studied finance and accounting and began her accounting career in fuel distribution, construction, and manufacturing, which gave her a practical appreciation for the challenges and opportunities businesses face every day.
Uzpen says, “I entered the world of banking in 2008, a time that taught me a great deal about resilience, thoughtful decision-making, and the importance of strong customer relationships.” She held many different roles in banking, which shaped her perspective as our new Chief Credit Officer. Such roles include credit analyst, portfolio manager, commercial banker, market president, credit officer, and process improvement.
Her favorite part about working at Coulee Bank so far is the people. She says everyone has been welcoming and helpful, and she looks forward to learning more from the team.
As Chief Credit Officer, Keri believes that taking time to understand our communities and the customers we serve is a top priority. She intends to do this by listening, asking questions, and seeking to understand the people and business behind the numbers.
Getting to know her colleagues and our customers is something she is truly looking forward to. She says, “There is always something meaningful to learn about the people and the job.”
Outside of Coulee Bank, she loves to take a break to enjoy her family. “I’ve been married to my high school sweetheart for more than 30 years. We have two daughters, two sons-in-law, two grandbabies—with another on the way—a yellow Lab and three grand dogs,” says Uzpen.
She says her ideal weekend is having the whole family at her house, enjoying good food, laughter, and unhurried time together. She also loves hiking and spending time on the water. And without fail, the sound of a baby laughing always makes her laugh, too.
When it comes to music or podcasts, she favors both. She says, “I enjoy Christian contemporary music and the Craig Groeschel Leadership Podcast. The music is a continual reminder of what matters most in life, while the podcast gives me practical ideas that help me be a better leader, coworker, and family member.”
When it comes to food, Keri is a seafood fan—especially pan-fried panfish fresh out of the ice. When she is not enjoying seafood for dinner, she loves breakfast for dinner. She also has a fondness for kitchen gadgets and vacuums, even though she admits she is not much of a cook and her husband does most of the vacuuming!
Keri Uzpen, we are so grateful you chose Coulee Bank to further your career. We look forward to seeing you grow in your new role.