St. Louis (April 2023) – Bank of Washington Vice President of Commercial Lending Chris Eckelkamp was chosen as one of the “Top 100 St. Louisans to Know To Succeed in Business.” Eckelkamp, along with 99 other St. Louisans, were recently featured in the April 2023 issue of The St. Louis Small Business Monthly and will be honored at a luncheon on May 10.

A group of community leaders identified the individuals for the edition. They are all key executives, financiers, notable achievers, connectors, and other business-community leaders. The judges chose the individuals based on their contributions to area businesses and the overall business community.

“These are the bridge builders of St. Louis,” said Ron Ameln, publisher of SBM. “They are building the bridges that are helping entrepreneurs, employees and residents in the St. Louis region reach their goals. They were all chosen because they take the steps, every day, to help others. Some of them are helping entrepreneurs with little experience get started in business, while others are helping experienced business owners reach levels they never imagined they could accomplish. Being included on this list speaks volumes to the quality of the service provided and the work performed by these individuals and their firms.”

Eckelkamp joined the Bank of Washington in 2012, starting as a credit analyst where he gained a deep understanding of the entire loan process, examining financial data, evaluating risk, and studying credit opportunities for individuals, companies, and institutions. Applying this knowledge to the relationships Eckelkamp has formed with his customers throughout his career has allowed him to provide a highly personalized experience, becoming a true resource for his customers and helping them even beyond a loan.

Eckelkamp is also greatly involved in the community. He is a member of the St. Louis CCIM (Certified Commercial Invest Member) Chapter, the Historic Washington Foundation Board, the Washington Historical Society board, and the St. Francis Borgia Parish Finance Committee. He coaches Youth Sports and has been a mentor for youth in the community through the YMCA. He is also a member of the St. Louis Sigma Chi Alumni Association, Knights of Columbus, and St. Francis Borgia High School Athletic Association. He is a graduate of St. Francis Borgia High School and earned his Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration with a specialization in Finance from Southeast Missouri State University. Additionally, he is a graduate of the Missouri Bankers Association Advanced School of Lending and Missouri Bankers Association Banking Leadership Missouri program, and a 2017 recipient of the Washington Area Chamber of Commerce Young Professional Award. Eckelkamp and his wife, Kayla, are members of St. Francis Borgia Parish and reside in Washington with their two children, Leo and Hallie, and are expecting their third child this month.

St. Louis Small Business Monthly is St. Louis’ locally owned business publication, bringing business tips, strategies and analysis to the presidents, CEOs, owners and top executives of 25,000 businesses in the St. Louis Metropolitan region. SBM, founded in 1988, publishes every month and also provides information via the Internet at www.SBMon.com and through a variety of business-related forums.

The Bank of Washington is a full-service bank headquartered in Washington, MO. It is the oldest and largest community bank in Franklin County, serving the community for more than 145 years. The investments that the Bank of Washington makes in the local community and surrounding area ranks it as one of the largest commercial lenders in the St. Louis area. The Bank of Washington is consistently voted the No. 1 bank and mortgage lender in the Washington Missourian Readers’ Choice Awards and consistently selected by the St. Louis Small Business Monthly readers as one of the Best Banks in St. Louis and Best in Customer Service in St. Louis.