2 community banking leaders

Two leaders in Portage County’s community banking scene will retire at the end of December.

Kevin Lewis, CEO of Portage Community Bank and one of its charter executives, steps down Dec. 28. Brian Bialik, chief lending officer of Hometown Bank who developed Hometown Bank’s commercial lending division, retires Dec. 29. Brian has been with Hometown Bank for 22 years.

Kevin Lewis, Portage Community Bank

Kevin grew up a backyard neighbor to Rick Coe in Ravenna and joined Rick in founding Portage Community Bank. Kevin had been a star producer wherever he had worked: Second National Bank in Ravenna, now part of Society, Huntington Bank in Kent, and Chase Bank in Akron, which was where Rick was employed when the idea of starting a truly community bank became the mission both men decided to pursue