Innovate Springfield, the University of Illinois Springfield’s downtown hub for business incubation and talent development, is launching a six-week artificial intelligence workshop series designed to help local businesses implement practical AI solutions. Nine local businesses are already signed up for the program, which begins Feb. 26. Participants include Itty Bitty Fashion Truck, Bloom Wine & […]
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Positive banking trends on both sides of the balance sheet
In the fourth quarter of 2025, local bankers report that in this stable economy, savings and consumer lending are both showing strong growth, home equity loan activity has ticked up and technology is on the rise, as is fraud prevention, detection and education.Wyatt Wolven, chief financial officer with CEFCU, said, “Since I’m an accountant, I’ll […]
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Heartland Credit Union hires CFO
Patrick Smith has joined Heartland Credit Union as its new chief financial officer. Smith most recently worked at Kerber, Eck & Braeckel LLP where he specialized in financial institutions. Prior to that, he spent four years with Ernest & Young, where he focused on assurance services for a range of clients in the financial sector. […]
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New west-side restaurant in the works
The former Tacology 201 space in the West Iles Business Center has been vacant since the popular Mexican restaurant closed its doors in June, but now a new venture is in the works to take its place. Emanuel Lopez told SBJ he plans to open his first restaurant, Los Altos Cocina y Cantina, although he […]
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Boomers are aging out. So what?
By 2029, all baby boomers will be 65 or older. They are the 76 million Americans born between 1946 and 1964 in the baby boom that occurred after World War II. Sometimes maligned as self-absorbed and labeled the “me generation,” this aging cohort has shaped and overwhelmed every institution for the past six decades. They […]
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Land of Lincoln Legal Aid relocates office
Land of Lincoln Legal Aid has relocated its Springfield office to downtown. While Land of Lincoln has long served the community, this new space establishes a lasting home for the organization’s Northern Regional Office, which provides civil legal services to residents in Cass, Christian, Logan, Mason, Menard, Morgan, Sangamon, Scott and Shelby Counties. Land of […]
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Land of Lincoln Credit Union to acquire local bank
Land of Lincoln Credit Union has announced plans to acquire Williamsville State Bank and Trust. While the agreement is contingent on obtaining regulatory and WSB Financial, Ltd. stockholder approvals, the proposed transaction has been unanimously approved by the boards of directors of both institutions. The transaction is expected to close in the first half of […]