Itasca Bank & Trust Co. appoints Deborah Bartelt as chief operating officer
Itasca Bank & Trust Co. recently appointed Debbie Bartelt as chief operating officer.
A seasoned banking executive and former regulator, Bartelt brings extensive experience in strategic leadership, operational and financial management, and risk oversight to her new role.
“Her expertise in risk management, credit and financial oversight, and operational excellence will be instrumental as we continue to support the Bank’s growth,” said John Hunt, president of Itasca Bank & Trust Co.
Bartelt most recently served as senior vice president and senior director of risk management at Byline Bank, where she oversaw regulatory affairs, enterprise risk processes, and the implementation of new product and change management frameworks. She previously spent more than 25 years at Inland Bank & Trust, with the majority of her tenure as executive vice president, chief operating and risk officer.
Earlier in her career, Bartelt held leadership and analytical roles at Cambridge Bank, GE Capital Auto Financial Services, LaSalle Bank, and the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC), where she began her career as a commissioned bank examiner.
Savant CEO Brent Brodeski recognized as Chicago Titan
The Chicago Titan 100 program named Brent Brodeski, founder and CEO of Savant Wealth Management, to its list of 2026 Titan 100 recipients.
Brodeski, who also was named a 2026 Chicago Titan 100 Hall of Fame Honoree, previously received the Titan 100 award in 2024 and 2025. The award recognizes accomplished business leaders in their industries, demonstrating exceptional leadership, vision, and passion. According to the program’s website, the 2026 Chicago Titan 100 honorees and their companies generate more than $120 billion in annual revenues and employ more than 207,000 individuals.
Representing eight markets across the U.S., the Titan 100 recognizes award recipients in a variety of industries, including manufacturing, construction, health care, information technology, financial services, and nonprofits.
Brodeski said being named a Titan for the third consecutive year reflects the organization’s continued momentum and dedication to excellence.
In Illinois, Savant Wealth Management has suburban offices in Downers Grove, Hoffman Estates, Lincolnshire, Naperville, and St. Charles.
Savant names Matt Lane chief people officer
Savant Wealth Management has named Matt Lane as its chief people officer.
Lane will lead all aspects of Savant’s people initiatives and programs, partnering with founder and CEO Brent Brodeski and the executive leadership team to drive the firm’s talent agenda, sustain Savant’s employee engagement, and enhance the firm’s high-performance culture as it scales for growth.
Lane brings more than 25 years of business-focused human capital leadership, with a track record in management consulting, private equity, and high-growth, middle-market firms. He has advised organizations on value creation, talent strategy, and M&A integration, and most recently served as interim chief people officer for several private equity portfolio companies in the wealth management industry.
“Matt’s experience in building high-performing cultures and driving strategic talent initiatives makes him the right choice to help us strengthen our talent initiatives and achieve our strategic goals,” said Brodeski.
PNC Bank to open new branches
PNC Bank recently announced it will be opening more than 300 new branches by 2030, adding 100 new branches to expansion plans announced last November and increasing its total investment to roughly $2 billion.
The additional branches, in markets including Nashville, Chicago, Sarasota and Winston-Salem, extend PNC’s expansion efforts to nearly 20 markets nationwide.
PNC also plans to complete the renovation of 100% of its branch network by 2029. By 2030, PNC plans to hire more than 2,000 new employees in support of its retail expansion efforts.
In Chicago, PNC will be adding roughly 25 branches to its existing 113 locations across the region.
“This investment strengthens our connection to the city’s vibrant communities and thriving business districts, creating more opportunities to deliver trusted financial guidance, personalized service, and expanded access to resources that help Chicagoans and their families succeed,” said Scott Swanson, PNC Midwest territory executive and regional president of Illinois.
PNC Bank ranks as the fourth-largest branch network in the United States, operating more than 2,200 branches nationwide.
Bank of America issues report on businesses
Bank of America recently released its 2025 Business Owner Report.
The annual study captures the viewpoints, goals and concerns of small and mid-sized business owners across the U.S. This year’s survey shows, despite inflation, labor shortages, and supply chain pressures, small business owners are cautiously optimistic about what lies ahead.
Here are a few of the report’s findings:
• 74% of business owners expect revenue growth in 2026
• 59% plan to expand operations, 43% plan to hire and just 1% anticipate layoffs
• Labor shortages are affecting 61% of business owners surveyed
• 77% of businesses have integrated AI into operations
• 52% plan to raise prices because of supply chain pressures
• Economic concerns such as inflation (70%), tariff policy (64%), and interest rates (58%) remain top of mind
Many business owners say their confidence would grow with stabilization in tariff policy (53%), cooling inflation (52%), and stronger supply chains (39%), which could help shape the business landscape in the coming year.