Heather Arendt

Heather Hess Arendt is Vice President Lender and Muenster Branch Manager, bringing over 23 years of banking experience across lending, operations and customer service. She specializes in agriculture, residential mortgages, construction, and commercial lending - with a focus on small business solutions like equipment financing and operating lines of credit. Her deep understanding of her client's needs comes from both professional expertise and personal experience as a small farmer. 

Heather's background spans retail banking, compliance, underwriting, loan processing, insurance documentation, and more - making her a thorough, knowledgeable, and hands-on lender. She emphasizes relationship banking, taking time to understand each client's goals and tailoring solutions to help them succeed. Known for her accessibility and willingness to meet clients on-site, Heather is passionate about being involved at every stage of the lending process.

She attended IBAT's Bank Lending Institute and is proud to lead the Muenster branch, which earned the Customer Service Team of the Year Award in 2022. Active in the community, Heather has served as President of both the Gainesville Chamber of Commerce and Kiwanis Club, and is involved in the Muenster PTO, FFA, and various local non-profits. Outside of work, she enjoys gardening, canning, attending community events, and working on her family farm with her children.