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Washington Evening Journal
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Washington, IA 52353
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Jessica Anderson adds personal touch as personal banker at Washington State Bank
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FAIRFIELD – Jessica Anderson is a personal banker at Washington State Bank in Fairfield.
Anderson, née Longerbeam, is a native of Cedar Rapids, and moved to Fairfield in 1997 when she was in sixth grade before graduating from Fairfield High School in 2005. She had no idea she would end up working in a bank one day, but she’s now an experienced member of Washington State Bank with nine years under her belt.
Anderson worked in data entry for Wells Fargo Bank in the Des Moines area, and moved back to Fairfield in 2016. The branch manager of Washington State Bank in Fairfield at the time was Mike Greiner, now the company’s executive vice president, and he saw that Anderson would be a good fit at his branch. Anderson said she appreciated the “grace” she received from upper management in those early months on the job while she was getting her feet wet. Today, she works under branch manager LaNelle Kopsieker.
As a personal banker, Anderson wears a lot of hats.
“We manage everything from the vault to the ATM,” she said. “We field phone calls, take loan payments, and any type of over-the-counter transaction.”
Anderson and her co-worker Krista Fulton each have nearly a decade of experience at the bank. The two personal bankers are responsible for teller work, opening accounts, and doing the administrative part of loans. Loan issuance is handled by the branch’s loan officer, Spencer Peterman.
“I bet it took me four or five years to actually feel comfortable enough in my position,” Anderson said. “And banking is always evolving, with new scams and debit card fraud. Every day presents a new challenge in customer service especially.”
Washington State Bank opened its Fairfield branch in 2015, and acquired a bank in Columbus Junction the same year. Most recently, it expanded into Pella in 2023. Anderson said the personal bankers work one Saturday per month at the Washington office, and help at the other branches when they need it. The bank’s employees love volunteering at events in the communities they serve, such as working the Columbus Day festival in Columbus Junction.
When she’s not at work, Anderson keeps herself busy by serving on the Fairfield Area Chamber of Commerce Board of Ambassadors, plus its Christmas Committee and Teacher Appreciation Committee.
“I enjoy networking and being out in the community,” she said. “I did not involve myself in high school in any which way, shape or form. I don’t know what happened in my 30s, but I just decided to dive in and be more involved. I love the magic of Christmas and thought it would be great to put my creative thoughts into that. With teacher appreciation, the teachers are so grateful, and I also have a daughter in the school system so I thought it would be important for me to involve myself with that as well.”
Just recently, Anderson has taken on a side business doing spray tans. The business is called “Mobile Sunshine,” which she started in September.
“I love making people feel comfortable, and I’m careful with the application,” she said.
Outside of work, Anderson enjoys spending time with her 8-year-old daughter such as riding bikes and roller blading. She plays rec volleyball at Cambridge SportsPlex, likes using the town’s trails, and loves playing pickleball with her friends.
Call Andy Hallman at 641-575-0135 or email him at andy.hallman@southeastiowaunion.com
