Andrew J. Briggs, 2019 chairman of the Indiana Bankers Association, was honored as a Sagamore of the Wabash by Gov. Eric J. Holcomb on Sept. 15. The award was presented by Thomas C. Fite, director of the Indiana Department of Financial Institutions, at the IBA Annual Convention in French Lick. The Sagamore of the Wabash award is given to exemplary Hoosiers in recognition of distinguished statewide service.
Briggs is first senior vice president for business development with Farmers & Merchants State Bank, Archbold, Ohio. In that capacity, he is the bank’s highest-ranking banking officer in Indiana. Additionally, he serves on the boards of Farmers & Merchants Bancorp and Farmers & Merchants State Bank. He previously held title as president and CEO of the Bank of Geneva since 1994 – the fifth generation of his family to lead the bank; Bank of Geneva merged with Farmers & Merchants State Bank in January. Briggs is active on the following boards: Indiana State Museum, treasurer; Limberlost State Historic Site, corporate secretary; Northeast Indiana Regional Development Authority, director; Adams County Economic Development, treasurer; and Adams Public Library System, treasurer. Briggs also was appointed in 2017 to the Indiana Board of Depositories by Gov. Eric J. Holcomb. He is past president of the Geneva Town Council, past treasurer of the Northeast Indiana Regional Partnership, and he has served on the IBA board of directors as first and second vice chairman and as northeast region director. Briggs is a graduate of Ball State University and a member of the IBA 40 Year Club.