Cody Bateman

Born and raised in Evanston, Wyoming, Mr. Bateman graduated with a degree in Accounting from Utah State University in 2000 and promptly embarked on a career in banking at First National Bank, a local financial institution. Beginning his journey as an Assistant Controller and IT Officer, he expanded his skills over the next two years by stepping into the role of a consumer loan officer at the same institution.

After a short stint in lending, an abrupt departure from the Bank's previous CFO allowed Mr. Bateman the opportunity to serve in the CFO position at the Bank only 2 1⁄2 years after beginning his banking career. In his new position, Mr. Bateman was able to work closely with federal and state regulators, including the Officer of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC), the Federal Reserve Bank (FRB), and the State of Wyoming, Division of Banking. He also served as the primary contact for the bank's external audit firm and the head of the information technology and operations departments for all eight branches. 

During his tenure, Mr. Bateman played an instrumental role in the opening of two new branch locations, bringing the total number of branches to eight, for which he was fully responsible for the operational aspects. He also took part in executive and strategic decisions and oversaw federal financial reporting, tax preparation, and regulatory correspondence for the bank and its holding company. In the middle of his tenure, First National Bank was sold to Glacier Bancorp, a publicly traded regional bank holding company, and Mr. Bateman was retained as the divisional CFO. He was an integral part of implementing Sarbanes Oxley (SOX) controls at the new division due to publicly traded company requirements. Total assets of the Bank when he was hired were $125MM and slightly over $450MM at the time of his departure. 

In 2008, Mr. Bateman felt the new corporate structure provided an opportunity to pursue an offer as the CFO at Uinta Bank. During his time at Uinta Bank, Mr. Bateman, along with his executive team which included current State Bank President Jon Dolezal, made a series of significant achievements. Upon his arrival at the Bank, there were less than $25MM in total assets, less than $5MM in total loans, and a poor regulatory reputation stemming from the previous owner of the Bank. During his tenure, the Bank opened two new branch locations, grew total assets to nearly $200MM, grew net loans in excess of $65MM, and developed a highly respectable reputation with the regulatory agencies. While serving as CFO, Bateman completed a degree at the Colorado Graduate School of Banking, and obtained and retained a position on the Board of Directors at Uinta Bank, bolstering his leadership acumen. 

Always seeking new challenges, Mr. Bateman ventured into commercial real estate and retail establishments while serving as CFO, acquiring over 100,000 sq. ft. of commercial space and five successful retail establishments. He attributes a significant part of his success to his active community involvement in Evanston, which enabled his ability to foresee changes and opportunities in local markets.

Another opportunity presented itself in 2020 when the possibility of acquiring State Bank became a reality. Mr. Bateman successfully managed the acquisition process by working closely with the State of Wyoming, The FDIC, and the Federal Reserve Bank. Through this process, he was also the primary contact with the law firm representing the ownership group. Using the relationships he had cultivated over the previous 20 years, he was able to assemble a respectable board of directors that agreed to work without compensation until the bank had returned to profitability. The application for change in control was approved on February 19, 2021, and the acquisition was completed on March 31, 2021. 

Since the acquisition of State Bank, Mr. Bateman has led the team in resurrecting the bank from the brink of receivership. The Consent Order in effect at the time of acquisition has been successfully removed which is reflective of the improved regulatory standing of the bank. The total assets of the bank have increased from $31.11 million to $52.69 million, marking a return to profitability for the first time since 2016, a testament to achieving the strategy outlined in the change in control application. Correspondingly, the loan portfolio has experienced an increase, growing from $10.38 million to $37.72 million, reinforcing the bank's lending ability and market competitiveness. Internally, the bank has undergone a technological overhaul, introducing advancements that have modernized operations, created additional efficiencies, and enhanced customer experiences. Under Mr. Bateman’s leadership, State Bank has cemented its position as a forward-thinking financial institution, capable of meeting the demands of an evolving banking landscape. 

The shared belief among bank management is that a bank should be proactively involved in the community both physically and financially. Mr. Bateman has volunteered many hours in the last 20 years, in addition to serving on the following boards:

• Evanston Housing Authority

• Chairman, past Vice-Chairman, past Treasurer (City Council appointment and approval)

• Evanston Parks and Recreation Department

• Board Member (Uinta County School District #1 appointee)

• Evanston Youth Club

• Board Member, Strategic Planning Committee

• Wyoming State Liquor Association 

• Board Member, appointed member of Governor's task force to assist in the creation of efficiencies to retail operations

• The B.E.A.R. Project

• Board Member

• The Lodging Tax Board

• Board Member

Throughout his career, Mr. Bateman has worked tirelessly to comply with the strict regulations placed upon financial institutions and view challenges as opportunities. His high regard with regulatory agencies with a personality focused on customer-centric solutions positioned him well to serve as the CEO of State Bank. He has been able to meet and exceed expectations as evidenced in his performance with past institutions, investments, and business opportunities. He looks forward to continuing this trend at the helm of State Bank.