PriMerit Bank has named Dan J. Cheever chief executive officer. Mr. Cheever is also the president of the bank and had been chief operating officer.
PriMerit Bank, Las Vegas, is Nevada's largest financial institution, with 25 offices in the state. The bank also has seven offices in the Phoenix area.
As CEO, Mr. Cheever succeeds Kenny C. Guinn, who will continue as chairman of PriMerit Bank and as chairman and chief executive officer of its parent company, Southwest Gas Corp.
Mr. Guinn said the increasing demands on his time by both the bank and Southwest Gas necessitates the change in CEO at the bank.
Mr. Cheever assumes overall responsibility for the bank's strategic direction, which will focus on enhancing the bank's primary lines of business, including retail, business, and mortgage banking with continued emphasis in real estate lending.
N. Y. Banker's Aide
Joins Sims PR Firm
Robert S. Cole, former director of public relations for the New York State Bankers Association, has joined the public relations firm of Sims & Associates Inc., New York, as senior associate.
Sims & Associates provides public relations and marketing communications services to companies in a broad ranges of industries, with an emphasis on business-to-business products and services and financial services.
Mr. Cole, who headed the New York State Bankers Association's public relations activities for 12 years, previously held public relations managerial positions with Bank of America and Chase Manhattan Bank.
He teaches public relations at St. John's and Pace Universities, and is a director of the New York City Chapter of the Public Relations Society of America.
Grigsby Elected Head
Of Illinois Bank Group
R. Scott Grigsby, president and chief executive officer of UnionBank/Streator, has been elected president of the Illinois Bankers Association for the 1992-93 year.
Mr. Grigsby has held the offices of vice president, secretary, and treasurer at the bank group, and is a former chairman of the committee on state legislation and regulation.
The newly elected vice president of the association is William S. Badgley, chairman and president of Magna Group Inc. and chairman of Magna Bank of St. Clair County, Belleville.
Robert R. Wallace, president and chief executive officer of Champaign National Bank, has been elected secretary.
Elected treasurer was Robert T. Stevenson Jr., president and chief executive officer of First of American Bank-Illinois, Peoria.
Chryst Elected Head
Of S.C. Bank Group
Stephen L. Chryst, president and chief executive officer of Anchor Bank, Myrtle Beach, has been elected president of the South Carolina Banker's Association, effective today.
He will serve as the 92d president of the association, which was founded in Columbia in 1900.
Mr.Chryst succeeds Joel A. Smith 3d, president, NationsBank Carolinas, Columbia.
Other 1992,93 officers elected were: president-elect, Mack I. Whittle Jr., chairman and chief executive officer of Carolina FirstBank, Greenville; first vice president, W.D. King, president of South Carolina National Bank, Columbia; second vice president, William L. Pherigo, president and chief operating officer of the National Bank of S.C., Sumter; and treasurer, Douglas T. Yeates, president of Commercial Bank of the South, Columbia.
New members elected to the association's board of directors for 1992-93 are: James R. Lientz, NationsBank of S.C., Columbia; Curtis Tyner, Palmetto Bank, Greenville; Ashpy Lowrimore, Southern National Bank of S.C., Florence; and Nathaniel I. Ball 3d, Bank of South Carolina, Charleston.
Cornett to Head Retail
At National City Bank
National City Bank, Cleveland, said William I. Cornett Jr. will head its retail banking group and its properties and purchasing departments, effective today.
Mr. Cornett most recently was an advisory task force leader for National City Corp.'s "Vision" project. The project is a comprehensive effort to redesign the corporation's cost base and is expected to generate annual savings of $50 million to $100 million in 1993.
"Bill played an instrumental role in the initial stages of the Vision project,"said William E. MacDonald 3d, president of National City Bank. "I know that this experience along with his extensive retail background will prove invaluable to National City Bank." In his new position, Mr. Cornett will report to Mr. MacDonald.
A native of Louisville, Mr. Cornett joined First National Bank of Louisville in 1969. He was named vice president of the bank in 1978 and senior vice president of asset product management in 1983.
In 1985, he assumed responsibility for the bank's branch administration group and all retail lending activities. In 1989, he became executive vice president of the entire retail banking group.
In other moves, National City announced organizational changes within its corporate banking area.
Paul G. Clark, senior vice president of the company's Vision project, has become manager of the metro/Ohio division, of corporate banking.
James R. Bell 3d, senior vice president, metro/Ohio division, is now manager of the multinational division of corporate banking and will be named co-chairman of the senior loan committee. Mr. Clark and Mr. Bell report to W. Douglas Bannerman, executive vice president, National City Bank.
Robert J. Ondercik, senior vice president, has been named chairman of the corporate credit committee and remains a member of the senior loan committee.
The corporate credit committee is responsible for approving credits over $25 million throughout National City Corp. Mr. Ondercik reports to Gene F. Carpenter, vice chairman, National City Corp.
Responsibilities of the corporate banking area include evaluating portfolios to ensure that products and services are appropriately priced, maintaining credit quality, and developing technology in credit products and cash management.
