“I feel leaders need to be comfortable with being agile and flexible,” he said. “A true leader must embrace trying new things, understanding the business model that their company executed on five years ago is not relevant today.”
Citywide Banks is a division of HTLF Bank with $19 billion in assets. Decision-making in the company is kept to a local level, and HTLF was named a Forbes Best Bank in 2022, 2021, 2020, 2019, 2018, 2017 and 2013. Citywide is the top performer in the HTLF portfolio. It grew by $100 million in 2021, the year Wamsganz was named president and CEO, and it grew another $321 million in 2022.
Wamsganz was born and raised in St. Louis, and he credits his Midwest upbringing for his work ethic and desire to learn and gain new skills. He earned his B.S. in business management and marketing from Southeast Missouri State University and was selected to join the prestigious Pacific Coast Banking School in partnership with the Foster School of Business at the University of Washington. Wamsganz was approved by the board of directors in March 2021 for the president and CEO role at Citywide Banks. His journey spans 33 years in banking, with an extensive background in the commercial, small business, consumer, credit and risk management banking segments. He previously held various leadership positions at Huntington National Bank, Bank of the West, U.S. Bank and Citibank. His leadership roles have included hundreds of billions of dollars in customer portfolios and divisions. His extensive, specialized banking development has taken him to 44 countries, developing payment networks and treasury management products and risk management.
Wamsganz serves on the boards of the Colorado Chamber of Commerce, Colorado Banker Association, Downtown Denver Partnership and the University of Colorado Customer Experience Advisory Board.
Wamsganz has prioritized helping small businesses in Colorado, giving eight branch-level bankers the mission to help those business owners. “This is a big win for Denver,” the company said. “Customers are attracted to Michael’s core business foundation. It is this national and local Denver, Colorado, success that has led to Michael being considered a Titan in the banking industry.”
