Brian Gilbert earned his bachelor’s degree in Agricultural Business and Economics with a minor in Agricultural Marketing from South Dakota State University in 2002. He furthered his education and earned his graduate degree from the School of Banking from the Southwest Graduate School of Banking in Dallas, Texas. He is quoted as sharing that “some of my favorite classes, while I was at SDSU, were money and banking, microeconomics, macroeconomics.” Clearly, he was destined for a banking career.
Mr. Gilbert is the Agricultural Banking Manager at The First National Bank in Sioux Falls and has over 20 years of agricultural lending experience. He leads a team of Ag Bankers and Crop Insurance specialists who provide expert financial advice to agricultural producers and agribusinesses. When he started, the bank had four ag lenders. Today they have 10 lenders, a crop insurance specialist, four underwriters and several loan assistants.
Mr. Gilbert was selected as the 2020 Agri-Business Citizen of the Year by the Sioux Falls Area Chamber of Commerce Agri-Business Division. He is currently Chairman of the Board of the Independent Community Bankers of South Dakota, is Vice-President of the Broad of Director of Dakota Business Finance, and is a graduate of the South Dakota Ag and Rural Leadership Class IX.
Outside of work, Brian serves on the SDSU Ag and Bio Advisory Board, is on the SD Cattleman’s Foundation board, Sioux Falls Stockyards Experience board and is an active volunteer with many community organizations. He takes pride in helping farmers achieve their financial goals and understands the importance of keeping the family legacy strong through comfortable and challenging times. Brian grew up in Hitchcock, SD on his family’s cow-calf and row crop farm operation. Brian, his wife, Ann and their three children: Addy, Camden and Natalie reside in Dell Rapids.