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After forty-three years in the banking industry, Joanne Swan of Minnwest Bank Slayton is moving on to retirement. The Slayton High School graduate started working at what was then Northwestern State Bank on February 26, 1979 and has been one of the friendly faces behind the counter for most of those years. “I’ve worked for five bank presidents and experienced five bank name changes,” said Joanne. “I started working in bookkeeping, and two years later I took a position in the teller line. Eventually I was promoted to lead teller, and in 1994 I became the teller supervisor.”
Of course when Joanne began her career, all the work was still done manually. “All of the posting and book balancing was done by hand every day,” she recalled. “I remember when the first computer was wheeled in - it was huge! It was kept in the back room and not used for customer transactions.” Technology was just one of the changes Joanne experienced during her tenure, as her position evolved into many different responsibilities through the years. Joanne said, “As teller supervisor I hired and trained new tellers and I really enjoyed that part of the job. When the Lake Wilson bank was purchased I began covering shifts there when staff needed time off.” Joanne served on the board of Southwest Minnesota Safe Deposit Box Association for many years as a board member and in leadership positions. About thirty years ago she noticed a Good Neighbor Christmas Tree at a bank in Tracy and took the initiative to begin the program in Slayton. Working with county social services staff, the program has grown through the years and connected people’s lives through generosity and dignity. A special memory is when she worked with the University of Minnesota to arrange for a student from Holland to complete her six-month internship at Minnwest Bank back in 2000. “It was so much fun for us to learn about her culture and a unique experience for our customers too.”
Joanne has been preparing for her retirement for nearly a year as her work responsibilities will be distributed to several other employees. But she remarked that the difficult part of leaving will be her relationships with customers and coworkers. “We are a team of support. I’ve served on many of the bank committees through the years and I will truly miss my coworkers. I enjoy people so much and we see our customers change over the years. We see people in the best and worst times of their lives and it’s satisfying knowing we can give great service through all of it.”
Joanne and her husband Gordon live on the family farm north of Hadley. Their 45th wedding anniversary will be celebrated on her June 4th birthday and they are planning a wonderful trip to the Black Hills. “Retirement should give us more time to try camping and more time with our grandchildren,” said Joanne. The community will have the opportunity to thank Joanne on May 27th between 9:00-3:00 in the Minnwest Bank Slayton lobby. Stop by and share a smile with the delightful employee who has served our community so well for so many years!
