Old Kent Names M.J. Whalen to Newly Created Credit Policy Job

Old Kent Financial Corp., Grand Rapids, Mich., promoted Michael J. Whalen to the newly created job of senior credit officer.

Mr. Whalen, who had been president and chief executive officer of Old Kent Bank Illinois, Chicago, since 1993, was also named senior vice president of the holding company and chairman of its credit policy committee. He is responsible for advising senior management on credit policy matters.

He remains interim president of Old Kent's Vanguard Financial Service Corp.

Mr. Whalen joined Old Kent Bank Southwest, Kalamazoo, in 1985 as executive vice president and manager of lending. He became chairman, president, and chief executive of Old Kent Bank Grand Traverse in Traverse City, Mich., in 1987; and president of Old Kent Bank Illinois in 1990.

James A. Hubbard was hired to succeed Mr. Whalen at Old Kent Illinois. He was also named an executive vice president of Old Kent Financial.

He came from American National Bank, the middle-market lending unit of what is now First Chicago NBD Corp. A 15-year veteran of American National, he was most recently a senior vice president and group head responsible for numerous lending units, including former First Chicago Corp. and NBD Corp. bankers and their clients.