Douglas Briggs

 President/CEO

     Biography

Douglas Briggs has more than 25 years of finance and leadership experience. 

He began his career as a Credit Analyst and Internal Auditor for C.I.T. Group, a Fortune 500 Company.  Traveling fifty weeks of the year, Doug immersed himself in the credit and auditing processes, absorbing knowledge and instincts in the art of finance. During this time he opened offices for C.I.T. Group in Chicago, Dallas, and Kansas City. 

In 1983 Doug took a position with UMB Bank of Kansas City.  He began as Vice President in Business Development, generating top sales for several years in a wide range of services including employee benefits, deposits, cash management, corporate trust, international services, and loans.

In 1986 Doug was made manager of UMB’s State Line Bank, growing it from $60 million in deposits to $100 million, and tripling outstanding loans over a 2 ½ year period. 

Doug was soon promoted to Executive Vice President of Business Development at UMB’s main bank.  He led the Bank’s charter merger of the Kansas City regional banks, taking on the leadership of the resulting greater Kansas City Metropolitan Commercial Business Development division.

Over the years, Doug Briggs’s areas of responsibility grew to include managing the Kansas City area regional Community Bank Presidents and the calling officers for metropolitan and national accounts; overseeing Treasury Management and Merchant Bankcard business lines at the holding company level; coordinating Kansas City community events and community outreach, and serving as Chief Sales Officer of the holding company, UMB Financial Corporation.

In 2004, UMB chose to enter the Phoenix market.  Doug took on the leadership of this endeavor, forming a De Novo bank, UMB Arizona.  He was named Chairman and CEO and led in the creation and chartering of the bank.  He recruited a highly respected local board and successfully built a solid book of business.

At this point in his career Doug Briggs decided the time was right to take the reigns of the family bank, First State Bank & Trust Co., making him the fifth generation in leadership of this bank.  He began as President, CEO and Chairman in August of 2006, and has since established the bank’s fourth banking location, in Overland Park, Kansas.

Doug’s goal for First State Bank is to build on its 111-year foundation of commitment to community, while leading it into a future of strength, agility and growth.

Barnard Promoted

Pratt Banking Center
Diana Barnard has been promoted to Vice President and Bank Center Manager of Pratt. Diana is a graduate of Protection High School, Barton County Community College and Fort Hays State University. She is married to Bryan Barnard and they have four sons, Corey, Austin, Derek and Brett. Diana has over 19 years of banking experience and has lived in Pratt for 11 years. She is active in Sacred Heart Church as a religious education teacher, Eucharistic minister, School Endowment member, Parent Teacher Organization member, and past School Council member.
As Vice President and Bank Center Manager she is responsible for overseeing the daily operation of the branch location.

Westerhaus Promoted

Overland Park Banking Center

Joseph Westerhaus has been promoted to Assistant Vice-President of our Overland Park Banking Center.  Westerhaus joined the First State Bank team as Assistant Bank Center Manager.  He is a graduate of Pratt High School and The University of Kansas. He is currently obtaining his Master of Business Administration degree through Baker University School of Professional and Graduate Studies.    As the Assistant Bank Center Manager, Westerhaus is responsible for overseeing the day to day operations of the new bank center and also assist with new business development. 

Briggs Promoted

Overland Park Banking Center

First State Bank is pleased to announce that Leigh Briggs has been promoted to Vice President.  Leigh joined the team as the Bank Center Manager at our newest location in Overland Park.  Leigh is a graduate of Larned High School.  She graduated from Kansas State University with a Bachelor's degree in Business Finance. Leigh has over ten years of banking experience.  Her community involvement includes volunteer work with Boy Scouts, Rockhurst High School, and St. Thomas Aquinas High School. She serves as a Readers' Advisory Panelist and occasional guest writer for the Kansas City Star. 

Watkins joins First State Bank & Trust Co.

Larned Banking Center

Mattew D. Watkins has been hired as an Assistant Vice President and Loan Officer with the Bank.  Matt has two years agriculture lending experience and prior to that five years experience in the insurance and investment field.  Matt is a graduate of Hoxie High School and Washburn University majoring in Business Finance.

Blue joins First State Bank & Trust Co.

Overland Park Banking Center

Lance Blue has joined First State Bank & Trust Co. as Vice President, Loan Administration. Lance was formerly the Chief Lending Officer for Mercantile Bank in Kansas City.  He is a graduate of University of Missouri-Kansas City with an MBA in Finance. His office is located at our newest Banking Center on the northwest corner of College Boulevard and Metcalf Avenue in Overland Park, Kansas.