February 2026
Washington, MO – Bank of Washington Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer L. B. Eckelkamp, Jr. is pleased to announce the promotion of Gary Tod to Chief Credit Officer.
Gary has been an invaluable member of the Bank of Washington team since joining the organization in 2021 as Vice President of Commercial Lending, later serving as VP, Director of Credit Administration. Throughout his tenure, he has consistently demonstrated exceptional expertise, sound judgment, and a steady leadership style that has strengthened the bank’s credit culture. His commitment to excellence and his ability to guide and mentor others have made a meaningful impact across the organization.
“Gary’s leadership, experience, and commitment to our mission make him exceptionally well suited for this role,” said Bank of Washington President Louis B. “Buzz” Eckelkamp, III. “His focus on building strong relationships and his disciplined approach to credit administration have been invaluable to our organization. We look forward to his continued impact and leadership.”
With nearly two decades of commercial banking experience prior to joining the bank, Gary brought a deep background in commercial and industrial lending, commercial real estate, and homebuilder finance, as well as active involvement in the Risk Management Association and Missouri Bankers Association. His continued dedication and leadership have further elevated the bank’s strong credit foundation.
In his new role as Chief Credit Officer, Gary will lead the bank’s credit strategy and oversee all aspects of credit administration. He will continue to ensure the Bank of Washington remains a strong, community focused institution rooted in responsible lending and thoughtful decision making.
“I am honored to be a part of a strong community bank driven by a mission to Do Good,” stated Tod. “I look forward to helping lead Bank of Washington with a balanced approach of growth and risk management.”
The Bank of Washington was established in 1877 and is rooted in serving the community. Its mission is to do good – by prioritizing employees, customers, community, and relationships. The Bank is tied to the communities it serves, providing personalized, relationship-based banking services. The Bank’s focus is to keep local communities vibrant and growing and 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 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.