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When Lori Gentert was 18 and attending classes at CSI, she wasn’t quite sure what she wanted to do when she grew up. So she got a job at First Federal Bank in the meantime.

Twenty-three years later, she’s still there — and she couldn’t be happier about it.

“I loved it, so I stayed,” Lori says simply of her decision to build a career at First Fed. As the Mortgage Loan Processing Manager, she now oversees systems, processors, disclosure teams, loan funders, and most recently, the commercial processing department. But her journey to this role took her through nearly every facet of banking.

A Journey Through Banking

Lori started as a teller at the bank’s Eastland office, then became a loan assistant for a year and a half and also served as a backup for new accounts. The loan assistant role opened the door to lending, and she’s been there ever since.

“Back in 2004, it was crazy, so I would just go over and help,” Lori recalls of learning mortgage processing during one of banking’s busiest periods. Those early days of jumping in and learning different aspects of the business shaped her versatility today.

The Problem-Solving Manager

Today, Lori’s customers are mostly internal — loan officers and processors who need help troubleshooting situations or building system improvements. She calls it “nerding out,” and it’s her favorite part of the job.

“I love problem solving and trying to find a solution for something,” she explains. Whether it’s getting a loan to work correctly in the system or implementing new programs, Lori focuses on ensuring that everything she does ultimately impacts customers positively.

One memory still stands out from her early processing days. First Fed had just started offering reverse mortgages when a customer came in who was facing foreclosure. “We were able to help this customer obtain a reverse mortgage to pay off that loan so she could stay in her home,” Lori remembers. “That one, I think, will always stand out.”

Community and Culture

Outside of work, Lori volunteers at her church’s youth group — even chaperoning an annual nine-day trip to Hume Lake Christian Camp in California with middle schoolers. First Fed provides community service hours that have allowed her to support these efforts over the years.

When she’s not volunteering, Lori is “chasing around her girls,” traveling far and wide for her daughters’ games at their small private school.

Why She Stays

Banking has changed dramatically since Lori started. Paper files have given way to digital systems, improving efficiency across the industry. But through it all, what’s kept Lori at First Fed is simple.

“I love the culture here. I feel like management and just everybody that works here truly cares about the employees and the customers,” she says. “I want to be able to see that we’re making a difference.”

For someone considering a banking career, Lori has this advice: “Even if you’re a little bit shy, we do have positions at the bank where you can be a little more behind the scenes while still making an impact. If you’re more of an introvert like me, it doesn’t mean that it’s not for you.”