A Northwest Indiana Life in the Spotlight: Kim Swartz

A Northwest Indiana Life in the Spotlight: Kim Swartz

Twelve years ago, Kim Swartz was on the job hunt. She’d grown up and graduated from high school in Hebron, done a bit of college at Indiana University Northwest, but wasn’t entirely sure what she wanted out of a career. Then, she saw something. Then she saw it again, and again, and again.

“I saw billboards all over the place saying Centier Bank was the best place to work,” Swartz said. “I just thought that if I’m looking for a job, I really want to work for a good employer. So I submitted my application and was blessed to get in.”

That was almost 12 years ago when she started as a scanner and would scan loan documents into Centier’s imaging system. Now, she is a Consumer Loan Documentation Officer/Team Lead and could not be happier with her position.

“I worked my way up the ladder and it’s been fantastic,” Swartz said. “I’m planning on staying here until retirement.”

Most of her day-to-day involves making sure that all of the laws and company regulations related to loans are being properly followed. Additionally, as a team lead, Swartz is responsible for organizing her team and making sure that all Centier clients receive the high level of service the brand represents.

“I love leading and supporting my team,” she said. “I’m really passionate about encouraging others. I think that life is hard, there are a lot of things that can bring us down. So it’s super important to have positivity around you and to let people know how much they mean, especially in the workplace.”

Swartz is also a leader at her church, Cornerstone Community Church. She spends a lot of her free time helping out and taking part in different activities and programs as their worship coordinator and a worship team leader.

“I’ve always been involved in church. I think it’s super important to give back,” she said. “They have a phrase: 80 percent of the work is done by 20 percent of the people. You always want to put your best foot forward so that the new faces coming in are open to the Gospel. We all have to use our own passions and talents wherever we can in support of others.”

Church is also where Swartz showcases some of her musical talents – on the ukulele.

“It’s kind of a totally random instrument but it actually works and doesn’t sound funny,” she said. “Singing and playing the ukulele is kind of my outlet as well as my service. I’ve been playing for about 11 years. I have a guitar too, but I haven’t moved up the ladder yet because I have little kids and not much spare time to learn.”

Outside of work and church, Swartz is big on family and community. She lives in Kouts with her husband, Brian, and two daughters, Madilyn and Eliza.

“My favorite thing about Kouts is just that small-town feel,” she said. “You can always take everyone at their word. It’s integrity – a handshake does it.”