First Bank & Trust Company of Illinois (“FB&T”) announced the appointment of Nicholas “Nick” Dizonno as its Chief Executive Officer, effective April 20, 2026. Dizonno is a seasoned community bank leader known for driving disciplined credit performance, building reliable and recurring profitability, and leading organizations through periods of transformational growth.
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“Nick brings the rare combination of credit strength, operational discipline, and forward‑looking leadership that aligns directly with FB&T’s strategic direction.” — Adrienne Thorson, Chairwoman, FB&T Board; CEO, AmeriNat
A long‑time Chicagoland banking executive and licensed Illinois attorney, Dizonno most recently served as President & CEO of Millennium Bank, where he expanded the bank’s commercial credit capabilities, strengthened governance, and delivered sustained high performance. Under his leadership, Millennium grew from approximately $70 million to more than $800 million in assets while maintaining a sound credit culture and consistent earnings.
“Nick brings the rare combination of credit strength, operational discipline, and forward‑looking leadership that aligns directly with FB&T’s strategic direction. Our vision is to be a credit‑focused institution with strong, regular‑recurring profitability; a bank that leverages technology intelligently; and a bank that is proactive, constructive, and operates with a strong compliance discipline. Nick understands that vision deeply and he knows how to execute it.”
— Adrienne Thorson, Chairwoman, FB&T Board; CEO, AmeriNat
FB&T’s next chapter emphasizes modernization and growth supported by a strong credit core, technology‑enabled operations, and thoughtful risk management. Dizonno will lead efforts to enhance the Bank’s national commercial lending channels, strengthen scalable systems, and broaden offerings to customers in line with its strategic direction.
“What stands out about Nick is not just what he has built, but how he has built it — with clarity, judgment, and an instinct for creating long‑term value. He is a natural fit for a bank that operates on a nationwide basis, within the broader ecosystem of our independent affiliates. Nick brings genuine enthusiasm for collaboration across the OSP Group, and he understands how coordinated effort across lending, servicing, deposit management, capital strategy, and insurance can unlock meaningful long‑term value across the entire platform.”
— Jerry O’Brien, FB&T Board Director; CEO, O’Brien‑Staley Partners (OSP), an independent affiliate of FB&T
Dizonno’s leadership philosophy centers on accountability, transparency, and developing teams through structured coaching and aligned incentives. Known for his ability to build high‑performance environments, he also brings a strong command of commercial credit, lending, governance, risk management, and operational excellence.
“FB&T has a clear mission—consistent profitability, disciplined credit, and the ability to reinvest for long‑term growth. I’m honored to join a bank with a 60‑year legacy, a talented team, and an ownership group that brings a sophisticated, enterprise‑wide perspective. I look forward to working across FB&T and the OSP Group to build an even stronger future.”
— Nicholas “Nick” Dizonno, incoming CEO, First Bank & Trust Company of Illinois
Dizonno holds a B.S. in Finance from Northern Illinois University and a Juris Doctor from DePaul University College of Law. A native of the northwest suburbs, he resides in Elmhurst, Illinois, grew up in Palatine, and maintains deep connections throughout the Chicago market.
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