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John Steele Joins Rural 1st® as Regional Vice President of Sales

Experienced leader joins Kentucky team to help those who desire a rural lifestyle get Closer to What Matters®

John Steele
// Company News

John Steele, an experienced leader with more than 20 years of lending experience, has joined Rural 1st® as regional vice president of sales for Kentucky. Steele leads Rural 1st sales team members who help individuals and families secure financing for rural lot, land, construction or home loan purchases across the Commonwealth.

“Rural 1st helps people achieve their dreams of rural living in areas often overlooked by traditional lenders. We understand the nuances of financing rural properties and ensure our customers have the resources they need to get Closer to What Mattersrdquo; said Steele. “I look forward to growing both personally and professionally in this new role, leading our talented team, learning from their experiences and contributing to our mission to secure the future of rural communities."

Steele holds a Business Management degree from Wright State University and brings extensive lending experience to his new role. He was previously Vice President of Retail Operations for Farm Credit Mid-America in Ohio, leading a team across 21 offices. Before that, he spent 11 years in community banking in Columbus, Ohio, focusing on residential and commercial lending.

“We are thrilled to welcome John to our team in Kentucky. His extensive lending experience and proven leadership make him an invaluable addition,” said Matt Neal vice president of Rural 1st  sales. "We are confident John will continue to drive our mission forward and help us serve our customers with excellence."

Rural 1st is the leader in rural lending and currently available to rural residents through partnerships with 14 other Farm Credit associations in 19 states. For more information, visit rural1st.com.  

Rural 1st is a tradename and Rural 1st, the Rolling Hills Window icon, Rural Logic, and Closer to What Matters are exclusive trademarks of Farm Credit Mid-America, NMLS 407249. Rural 1st products are available to consumers within the territories of participating Farm Credit System Associations. Equal Housing Lender.


* Loans and leases are subject to credit approval. Additional terms and conditions may apply. Farm Credit Mid-America is an equal opportunity lender.

† Patronage is an annual decision made by the Board of Directors to return earnings to eligible customers. To learn more about patronage or patronage eligibility, please visit our Patronage page.

Farm Credit Mid-America territory includes Arkansas, Indiana, Kentucky, Missouri, Ohio and Tennessee. Arkansas includes Clay, Craighead, Crittenden, Cross, Desha (northeast of the White River), Greene, Lee, Mississippi, Phillips, Poinsett, and St. Francis counties. Missouri includes Carter, Ripley and Wayne counties. Kentucky excludes Ballard, Calloway, Carlisle, Fulton, Graves, Hickman, Marshall and McCracken counties. Ohio excludes Crawford, Hancock, Lucas, Marion, Ottawa, Sandusky, Seneca, Wood and Wyandot counties. We serve all counties in Indiana and Tennessee. 

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