Mike Schnitkey Promoted to Market President for Northwest Ohio at F&M Bank
Rhea-AI Summary
F&M Bank (Nasdaq: FMAO) announced the promotion of Mike Schnitkey to Agri-Finance and Northwest Ohio Market President, effective during a transition that is underway on Dec. 17, 2025. Schnitkey has worked at F&M since September 1995 and currently leads the bank’s agricultural lending operations as Agri-Finance Manager.
He oversees a customer portfolio and a high-performing team, brings commercial banking experience, and operates a cash grain farm. Management says the move aligns local leadership with F&M’s growth strategy and aims to strengthen agricultural and commercial services across Northwest Ohio.
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News Market Reaction 1 Alert
On the day this news was published, FMAO gained 2.26%, reflecting a moderate positive market reaction.
Data tracked by StockTitan Argus on the day of publication.
Key Figures
Market Reality Check
Peers on Argus
FMAO was down 1.16% while peers showed mixed, mostly modest moves: BWFG (-0.08%), BMRC (-0.57%), BRBS (-0.22%), GCBC (+2.78%), OBT (-0.86%). This points to stock-specific dynamics rather than a broad sector move.
Historical Context
| Date | Event | Sentiment | Move | Catalyst |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 31 | Executive appointment | Positive | +1.0% | New Chief Marketing & Experience Officer to lead brand and experience. |
| Oct 27 | Earnings results | Positive | -2.5% | Strong Q3 2025 earnings with higher net income and loan growth. |
| Oct 20 | Executive hire | Positive | +4.9% | Senior Small Business Banking Manager hire to expand small business services. |
| Sep 30 | Dividend increase | Positive | +1.8% | 31st consecutive annual dividend increase and higher quarterly payout. |
| Sep 30 | Community initiative | Positive | -3.8% | Golf classics raised funds for local charities, reinforcing community focus. |
Recent news with positive fundamentals or strategic hires often saw aligned price moves, but strong earnings and community events previously showed mixed or even negative next-day reactions.
Over the last few months, FMAO combined solid fundamentals with ongoing franchise-building initiatives. Q3 2025 earnings on Oct 27, 2025 highlighted a 35.9% net income increase to $8.9M and loan and deposit growth. The company also marked its 31st consecutive annual dividend increase at $0.2275 per share and showcased community engagement with golf events raising $48,500 for charity. Multiple leadership appointments in marketing and small business banking underscored a strategy of strengthening local market presence, into which this new Market President promotion fits.
Market Pulse Summary
This announcement highlights FMAO’s continued emphasis on experienced local leadership by elevating a nearly 30-year veteran to Agri-Finance and Northwest Ohio Market President. It follows recent steps such as Q3 2025 earnings strength, a 35.9% rise in net income to $8.9M, and the 31st consecutive annual dividend increase. Investors may watch how this leadership role influences agricultural lending growth, commercial banking relationships, and execution of the broader regional market strategy.
Key Terms
Agri-Finance financial
AI-generated analysis. Not financial advice.
ARCHBOLD, Ohio, Dec. 17, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- F&M Bank (“F&M”), an Archbold, Ohio-based bank owned by Farmers & Merchants Bancorp, Inc. (Nasdaq: FMAO), is pleased to announce the promotion of Mike Schnitkey to Agri-Finance and Northwest Ohio Market President.
Mike, a respected leader within F&M Bank, has been a dedicated member of the team since September 1995. A graduate of The Ohio State University, he has built an accomplished career in agricultural finance while becoming a trusted partner to farm families and agri-businesses across Northwest Ohio.
In his current role as Agri-Finance Manager, Mike oversees the Bank’s agricultural lending operations, leads a high-performing team, and manages a robust customer portfolio. In addition to his agricultural expertise, he brings extensive commercial banking experience, partnering with business owners across a range of industries to provide customized financing solutions that support growth, expansion, and long-term success. As an operator of a cash grain farm, Mike combines deep industry knowledge with real-life experience, giving him firsthand insight into the needs, challenges, and opportunities faced by today’s producers.
“Mike brings unmatched agricultural expertise, proven leadership, and a genuine commitment to the communities we serve,” said David Gerken, Chief Lending Officer at F&M Bank. “His long-standing relationships, both inside and outside the Bank, make him an exceptional fit to lead our Agri-Finance division and our Northwest Ohio market. We are confident Mike will continue to elevate the Bank’s presence and service to customers across the region.”
Throughout his nearly 30-year career with F&M, Schnitkey has demonstrated a strong commitment to community involvement. He has served in various leadership roles and currently sits on the boards of Henry County Soil & Water and the Ridgeville Telephone Company.
“Our investment in experienced market leadership reflects the Company’s commitment to combining disciplined growth with the community-banking principles that have defined our success for more than a century,” said Lars Eller, President and CEO of F&M. “Throughout 2025, F&M has strategically expanded and strengthened our roster of Market Presidents to ensure that each community benefits from empowered, local decision-makers who understand the unique needs of their customers and businesses. This latest promotion reinforces that approach, aligning local expertise with the Bank’s broader growth strategy, while enhancing execution across our footprint, and supporting long-term value creation.”
As Agri-Finance and Northwest Ohio Market President, Schnitkey will oversee market strategy, customer relationships, and the continued growth of agricultural and commercial services throughout the region. His transition into the role is underway.
Schnitkey and his wife, Stephanie, reside in Northwest Ohio and are the proud parents of three children: Kaity, Kara, and Kaleb.
About F&M Bank
F&M Bank is a local independent community bank that has been serving its communities since 1897. F&M Bank provides commercial banking, retail banking and other financial services. Our locations are in Butler, Champaign, Fulton, Defiance, Hancock, Henry, Lucas, Shelby, Williams, and Wood counties in Ohio. In Northeast Indiana, we have offices located in Adams, Allen, DeKalb, Jay, Steuben and Wells counties. The Michigan footprint includes Oakland County, and we have Loan Production Offices in Muncie, Indiana, and Perrysburg and Bryan, Ohio.
Safe harbor statement
Farmers & Merchants Bancorp, Inc. (“F&M”) wishes to take advantage of the Safe Harbor provisions included in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Statements by F&M, including management’s expectations and comments, may not be based on historical facts and are “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. Forward-looking statements are typically identified by words such as “believe,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “intend,” “plan,” “seek,” “estimate,” “project,” “target,” “goal,” “will,” “would,” and similar expressions. Actual results could vary materially depending on risks and uncertainties inherent in general and local banking conditions, competitive factors specific to markets in which F&M and its subsidiaries operate, future interest rate levels, legislative and regulatory decisions, capital market conditions, deposit flows and pricing, liquidity and access to wholesale funding, interest rate and asset-liability management, credit quality (including commercial real estate exposures), collateral values, inflation and macroeconomic conditions, changes in laws and regulations (including capital and liquidity requirements and the implementation of “Basel III Endgame”), FDIC assessments, stress testing and supervisory expectations, cybersecurity and third-party/vendor risks, competition and technological change, geopolitical events, severe weather and natural disasters, agricultural sector conditions, the accuracy of CECL estimates and other accounting judgments, capital and dividend restrictions, and other risks described in F&M’s filings with the SEC. F&M undertakes no obligation to update any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law. For more details, please refer to F&M’s SEC filing, including its most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K and quarterly reports on Form 10-Q. Such filings can be viewed at the SEC’s website, www.sec.gov or through F&M’s website www.fm.bank.
| Company Contact: | Investor and Media Contact: |
| Lars B. Eller President and Chief Executive Officer Farmers & Merchants Bancorp, Inc. (419) 446-2501 leller@fm.bank | Andrew M. Berger Managing Director SM Berger & Company, Inc. (216) 464-6400 andrew@smberger.com |
FAQ
What role did Mike Schnitkey receive at F&M Bank (FMAO) on December 17, 2025?
How long has Mike Schnitkey worked at F&M Bank (FMAO)?
What responsibilities will Schnitkey have as Northwest Ohio Market President for F&M (FMAO)?
What experience does Mike Schnitkey bring to his new F&M Bank (FMAO) role?
How does F&M Bank (FMAO) describe the strategic purpose of this promotion?
