Stearns Bank Names Heather Plumski New President

St. Cloud, MN (March 26, 2025)—Today, Stearns Bank announced that Heather Plumski will serve as its new President, effective immediately. Plumski will report to Kelly Skalicky, who will continue as CEO.

As the new President of Stearns Bank, Plumski will oversee the organization’s day-to-day operations, drive its national strategic plan, spearhead national growth and expansion initiatives, champion product innovation and development efforts, and build and retain the highest-performing teams across the organization. Prior to being named President of Stearns Bank, she served as the bank’s EVP, Chief Financial & Strategy Officer.

“For more than two decades, Heather has been an instrumental leader at Stearns Bank—helping us grow and expand into new markets and communities while transforming our digital technology and navigating the ever-evolving economic landscape,” said Kelly Skalicky, CEO of Stearns Bank. “It’s an awesome and monumental moment for our banking enterprise as we have now exceeded $3 billion in assets that Heather will be the first President of Stearns Bank to take these reins after more than 60 years of my father and me in that role. It’s so well earned as Heather is perfectly suited. Heather’s financial and business acumen is extraordinary, and her strong leadership skills and tenacious commitment to our company’s values and success will maximize our potential and unleash innovative transformation to enhance enterprise value, elevating Stearns Bank to the next level in our growth journey. On a personal level, Heather is the most upstanding, trustworthy, and honorable individual you will ever meet, and she lives by the highest ethical standards with a deep commitment to her moral compass. And Heather is a friend. I’m excited to continue to work with Heather in her new role and will be thrilled to see her achieve great success, both professionally and personally, as she brings forth her financial mastery and fierce tenacity as President of Stearns Bank.”

Since starting her career over 22 years ago within Stearns Bank’s Credit Department, Plumski has held many key roles including VP, Director of StearnsConnect and Chief Strategy & Data Officer. Throughout her tenure at Stearns Bank, she has overseen the development, implementation and scaling of key Stearns Bank divisions and product offerings including Stearns Salaam Banking, Nonprofit Banking Solutions, StearnsConnect, and BankONStearns, among others. Internally, she has led and serves on internal organizational committees—like the Employee Stock Ownership Program (ESOP), Enterprise Risk, and Asset Liability Management Committees—aimed at increasing employee engagement and satisfaction levels, promoting companywide salary and benefits transparency and rolling out strategic diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts.

“I’m honored to lead Stearns Bank as we continue to help our customers, small businesses, entrepreneurs, and the communities we operate in reach their full economic potential and succeed in today’s ever-changing banking landscape,” said Plumski. “Together with our talented and exceptional Stearns Bank team, I look forward to providing strategic leadership that ensures the organization achieves its key financial and operational goals, continuing to foster a best-in-class workplace culture where everyone can thrive and positioning the bank as the trusted and integral banking provider of the communities we serve nationwide.”

Additionally, Heather’s executive support and sponsorship efforts have helped the company earn numerous industry accolades including being named in the Top Ten of S&P Global Market Intelligence’s Top 50 U.S. Community Banks of 2024, Fortune Magazine’s “Great Place to Work”, American Banker’s “Best Banks to Work For,” and Minnesota’s Best Bank and Best Ag Lender by the Star Tribune.

With Skalicky moving into the CEO role fulltime, she will focus on driving Stearns Bank’s corporate-level strategic priorities and top-line revenues, while continuing to increase employee ownership, maximize company value, and expand employee engagement and diversity recruitment efforts. Skalicky will also remain a Board Member of the Stearns Bank National Association Board of Directors.

Outside of Stearns Bank, Plumski serves on her local parish finance council, the ICBA Operations Committee and is active with various school sports activities. She earned her bachelor’s degree in accounting from the College of St. Benedict and is based in Avon, MN.

To learn more about the innovative and industry-leading banking services, products and solutions available at Stearns Bank, please visit: www.StearnsBank.com.

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About Stearns Bank N.A.
Stearns Bank National Association is a majority women-owned and governed financial services institution committed to empowering people, entrepreneurs, small businesses, and local communities to reach their full financial potential. As a privately held, employee-owned entity, Stearns Bank offers a wide array of national products and services including consumer and small business banking, affordable housing financing, USDA and SBA lending, and equipment and small business financing. Headquartered in Minnesota, the well-capitalized institution has branch locations in Minnesota, Florida, and Arizona. Guided by a commitment to fostering a diverse, inclusive, and equitable workplace, Stearns Bank is regularly recognized as one of the nation’s highest performing banks and ‘Best Banks to Work For’ by American Banker. Member FDIC. Equal Housing Lender. Learn more at www.StearnsBank.com.

Media Contact
Armando Diaz
Armando.Diaz@StearnsBank.com
C: 561-729-6091