The executive team at First State Bank has announced that Timothy Grooms, chief risk officer, was recently awarded the Certified Enterprise Risk Professional (CERP) designation from the American Bankers Association.

“Earning the CERP certification validates Tim’s experience and thorough understanding of the complexities of risk management,” said Mike Pell, president and CEO of First State Bank.

The CERP certification is awarded to individuals who demonstrate excellence in the field of bank enterprise risk management. To qualify for the CERP certification, individuals must have certain levels of experience and education in the risk management profession, pass an exam and agree to abide by a code of ethics. The CERP exam covers credit risk, financial risk and non-financial risk.

Grooms attended Northern Kentucky University, earning a Bachelor’s of Organizational Studies with a concentration in Industrial Labor Relations and an Associate of Applied Science. He began his banking career in 2002, is a Certified Community Bank Internal Auditor (CCBIA) and has held positions as controller, compliance officer, BSA/OFAC officer, CRA officer, internal auditor, office manager, loan clerk, and teller. As chief risk officer, Grooms is responsible for ensuring the bank maintains an adequate and effective Enterprise Risk Management program.

An Adams County resident, Grooms serves as a director for the Ohio Bankers Foundation for Financial Literacy and participates in several community groups.

Submitted by Ellie Zint, First State Bank.