DECATUR — Decatur State Bank has announced R. Mark Londaginas its president and chairman of the board.
Londagin replaces Vernon Austin, who retired from the position in May for health reasons after 34 years of service.
A native of Colcord, Okla .,Londagin graduated from Colcord High School in 1979. With strong ties to the Northeast Oklahomaand Northwest Arkansas area, he attended college at Northeast Oklahoma A & M in Miami, Okla., earning an associate’s degree. Hethen transferred to Northeastern State University in Tahlequah,graduating with a bachelor’s degree in banking and finance.
Londagin's introduction intoa career in banking started while still in high school, working part-time and during summer and Christmas breaks at Arkansas State Bank in Siloam Springs. Londagin continued gaining valuable knowledge and experience in banking while attending college and in 1984 began a career at Grand Savings Bank that continues to this day.
From teller to bookkeeping to loan officer and eventually president, Mark has done it the “old school” way with an enthusiasm and vigor that has followed him throughout his career. For the past 21 years he has served as president and CEO of Grand Savings Bank in Grove, Okla.
As a business man, Londagin hasmaintained that growth in banking should come at a steady, controlled pace. Goal-oriented and measured in his approach, he’s overseen the growth of Grand Savings Bank into the “one-stop financial place” that was envisioned by the original bank organizers through reinvestment back into the community. During his tenure as president of Grand Savings Bank, Londagin has seen a financial growth in assets from about $22 million to more than $236 million.
“I thank God, the stockholders, and the board of directors for providing me the opportunity to serve such a prestigious financial institution,” Londagin said of his new position at Decatur State Bank.
Being readily available 24/7 is a long-standing, practical philosophy with Londagin, routinelygiving his cell phone number to bank customers. He’s also in the bank between 5:30 and 6 every morning and if the phone is ringing that early, he’s answering it.
He is a founding member and elder of Church of the Shepherd in Grove and is also a supporting member of several civic organizations in the Grove and Jay area. In his spare time he enjoys boating, wakeboarding and surfing on Grand Lake.
Mark is married to the former Julie Strassheim of Siloam Springs and they have a 26-year-old daughter and a 15-year old son. Rounding out the family are their three dogs, Dusty, Russell and Nash.
Decatur State Bank and Grand Savings Bank look forward to continued success with Londagin at the helm.
News, Pages 1 on 06/29/2011