PONTIAC - Freestar Bank wants to handle money its own way. Basically, that method comes down to keeping a belief in community banking and working to remain a growing independent company, even as the bank changes presidents, said David Kuhl, chairman of the board of directors.

Thomas Criswell, executive vice president and chief financial officer of Freestar Bank, will continue that vision as bank president and chief executive officer when Edward Vogelsinger retires from that role, effective Sept. 30.

"We want to remain an independent community bank in these markets," said Criswell, 53, of Bloomington. "You have to earn the right to remain independent."

Not a lot of bank consolidation is expected in the short term because of the industry's current struggles, but more community banks will sell to larger regional and national banks in the long term, Criswell said.

As leader of the Pontiac-based Freestar Bank, Criswell's primary goal is for the bank to generate returns needed to stay independent. To accomplish that task, employees need to build and maintain good relationships with customers, he said.

"We put a big value on relationships," Criswell said.

Criswell's ability to build relationships is one quality that landed him the new job, Kuhl said.

A graduate of the University of Illinois with 32 years of banking and finance experience, including 11 years at Freestar Bank, Criswell has a good accounting background, experience with the lending side of the business and tremendous management skills, Kuhl said.

"We had the right person right inside the bank," Kuhl said. "(Criswell) knows community banking inside and out."

Freestar Bank has assets of $410 million and 12 branches in Livingston, McLean and Champaign counties.

Vogelsinger will continue to be involved with Freestar Bank through his role on the board of directors and as president of PNB Holding Co., which owns the bank.