Hawthorn Bank hires regional president

Lee's Summit-based Hawthorn Bancshares Inc. (Nasdaq: HWBK) has hired a local banker as president for its southwest region.

Scott Franklin assumed the role of regional president in charge of one Hawthorn Bank branch apiece in Springfield and Branson, effective March 11, he said. Franklin said he succeeded Jim Riggins, who exited the post for reasons unknown to Franklin roughly 10 months ago.

Franklin most recently served as senior vice president of Ozark Bank.

"I was intrigued by the opportunity. I was really happy at Ozark Bank. I wasn't looking for a job by any means," Franklin said. "I had a recruiter contact me. It was a little bit more of a management role, which is what I'm used to. I really felt like it was a good fit."

In a news release, Hawthorn Bank CEO David Turner said the company would draw on Franklin's 25 years of banking experience.

"He has an excellent record of overall bank management, lending, loan administration and SBA lending," Turner said in the release.

Hawthorn Bancshares, parent company of Hawthorn Bank of Jefferson City, ended 2012 with earnings of $2.82 million, roughly flat from profits of $2.86 million in 2011, according to a separate release.

HWBK shares were trading at $11.64 as of 10 a.m., compared to a 52-week range of $6.92 to $12.05.