First National opens Finance Dept, Council Bluffs branch

Northwestern Financial Review, Dec 15-Dec 31, 2008

Two subsidiaries of First National of Nebraska, Omaha, made major announcements recently. First National Investment Banking announced the opening of its new Public Finance Department, and First National Bank of Omaha unveiled its first branch in Council Bluffs, Iowa.

David Cota, senior managing director, First National Capi- tal Markets, said the new Public Finance Department will sig- nificantly strengthen the investment firm's capabilities. He said the new unit will "bring value-added new issue underwriting, financial advisory and derivative product capabilities to state and local governments, hospitals, higher education and 501(c)(3) organizations, as well as to all types of corporate issuers of tax-exempt bonds." The Public Finance team will partner with these entities as they issue debt for the financing of new facilities, equipment and infrastructure improvements or the refinancing of existing debt, he said.

The team is comprised of Charles Ziese, managing director; Keri Trolson, vice president; and Jennifer Kobza, associate. Ziese has a broad base of experience in public finance, having served as investment banker, issuer and guarantor of municipal bond issues, and as an investment banker on virtually all types of tax-exempt debt financing. Before joining First National Investment Banking, he was the senior public finance banker for Janney Montgomery Scott, LLC, a Philadelphia-based brokerage/investment banking firm, focusing on the utility and renewable energy sectors, municipal advance refundings, pension debt restructurings and variable rate bond issuance for small issue industrial development borrowers and specialty 501(c)(3) organizations.

Trolson has a decade of experience in the municipal finance industry, managing the structuring and issuance of more than 80 bond issues. She has completed project financings and refundings for municipalities, higher education institutions and a diverse group of health care providers. Trolson also has expertise in cash flow modeling, debt capacity analysis, credit analysis and derivatives analysis.

Kobza previously specialized in individual and S corporation tax compliance at Deloitte and Touche.

First National Bank of Omaha's new Council Bluffs office is located in the Metro Crossing Shopping Center. The location is the latest version of First National Bank's new branch model, featuring a combination of high-tech innovation and personal service designed to provide a unique banking experience. First National of Nebraska, Inc., has had a community banking presence in Iowa since 1945, but this is First National Bank's first branch in Council Bluffs, according to Daniel O'Neill, president, FNNI.

"We are an in- dependent, vibrant company that has had numerous cus- tomer relationships in Council Bluffs for a long time and we are thrilled to have a physical presence in the community by opening a full- service branch here," said Rajive Johri, president, First National Bank of Omaha. "The Metro Crossing branch and our new location in Des Moines are the blueprint for how First National Bank will deliver its quali- ty products and superior service to our new customers throughout Iowa."

Johri said the branch features a small business center, iris-scanning equipment for safe deposit box access; Wi-Fi capability throughout the branch; a "super ATM" machine that scans checks and prints images of those checks on the deposit receipt; a concierge, a Scooters(TM) gourmet coffee bar and a children's playroom. The branch also has the capability to issue Visa check cards instantly.

"We have seen a positive response from our Shadow Lake and Old Market branches and want to continue to provide a 'destination banking' experience to our customers," said Rolland Johannsen, senior vice president, retail distribution group. The bank's Shadow Lake and Old Market branches were the first designed with the additional features.

First National of Nebraska has grown into the largest privately owned banking company in the United States. First National and its affiliates have $21 billion in managed assets and over 7,500 employees located in 35 states. Primary banking offices are located in Nebraska, Colorado, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, South Dakota and Texas.