Tim Sladek follows in his father’s footsteps as a
community banker
Ask Tim Sladek how he discovered his calling to be a banker; he’ll tell you that he didn’t need to look too far or for too long.
His dad was his role model. His inspiration to take up banking started with watching his father Dean run the local bank while growing up in Bartley in southwestern Nebraska.
Tim, who first joined Waypoint Bank in 2015 and has served as Waypoint Bank’s Nebraska Market President since 2022, added the title President/CEO of Waypoint Bank after the retirement of Kirk Riley on February 1, 2024.
“I have always loved community banking, which began from my dad’s influence on me, as he was a community banker for over 35 years,” Tim explains. “Along the way, I’ve been fortunate to have a lot of great co-workers and mentors.”
Hitting the books and gaining a foothold in the banking business
Tim took a big stride toward his banking career by earning his business degree at the University of Nebraska Kearney in 2007. He followed this quickly by his first banking job as a credit analyst for State Bank Riverdale (now called Heartland Bank). After joining the Nebraska Department of Banking and Finance as a bank examiner in 2011, he still found time to go back to school for his MBA, which he finished in 2012 at the University of Nebraska. He also graduated from the Graduate School of Banking Colorado in 2015.
He returned to community banking in 2015 when he signed on with Waypoint Bank – Clay Center as a loan officer and vice president. He soon became a branch president before being promoted to Waypoint Bank – Cozad to serve as the company’s flagship branch president in January 2020. He was promoted to Nebraska Market President, overseeing five Waypoint branches in Nebraska, in 2022.
While his dad set an important example of how a community banker can make an impact, Tim also credits Kirk Riley for serving as a career mentor and for leaving Waypoint Bank on solid footing.
“His leadership has been instrumental to the success of Waypoint Bank,” Tim said of Kirk.
Kirk returns the praise.
“Tim will make a great President/CEO for Waypoint Bank,” Kirk said. “He brings fresh ideas to the organization; he understands the need for teamwork, he has a strong work ethic, strong character, and integrity.”
Setting sights on a prosperous future for Waypoint and its customers
“Waypoint Bank embodies community banking, and I have an amazing team around me,” Tim said. “I look forward to the challenges ahead of me, growing Waypoint Bank, and continuing to make Waypoint Bank the best community bank to work for and do business with.”
While his role at Waypoint is expanded, Tim plans to stay active in the Cozad community, where he serves as president for multiple service and business organizations, including Cozad Rotary, the Cozad Charitable Fund, the Cozad Development Corporation, and the Cozad Chamber of Commerce. He’s also active in Cozad Elks Lodge and the Cozad Board of Public Works.
When Tim isn’t busy with banking or community service, he’s also a husband and father. He and his wife Kelly are parents to two daughters, Hailey, 8, and Kenzie, 5. The family loves to travel together, and Tim enjoys the occasional round of golf along with cheering for the Nebraska Cornhuskers football team. He also admits to a soft spot for watching the Kansas Jayhawks play basketball – he hopes his daughters will follow suit. “The girls will watch parts of games with me,” Tim shares. “But I don’t have them 100% in the fan base yet!”
Tim and his wife Kelly are parents to two daughters, Hailey, now 8, and Kenzie, now 5.
