Star Bank is proud to announce that Alissa Sandholm, Vice President of Marketing, has been named to Independent Banker magazine’s 2026 40 Under 40: Community Bank Leaders List.
Presented annually by the Independent Community Bankers of America (ICBA), the prestigious national recognition honors emerging leaders who are helping shape the future of community banking through innovation, leadership, and service.
Since joining Star Bank, Alissa has played a key role in advancing the bank’s marketing, digital banking, innovation, and employee development initiatives. Her career at Star Bank has included roles as Digital Product Manager, Director of Products and Innovation, and now Vice President of Marketing. In her current position, she leads strategic marketing efforts, oversees digital services, manages key bank-wide projects, and supports employee development initiatives.
Beyond her work at the bank, Alissa is actively involved in industry advocacy and leadership through organizations such as the Minnesota Bankers Association and BankIn Minnesota. She is passionate about strengthening communities and has helped lead numerous charitable, educational, and community engagement initiatives throughout Star Bank’s footprint.
“Being named to ICBA Independent Banker’s 40 Under 40: Community Bank Leaders List is a tremendous honor,” said Sandholm. “Community banking is about building relationships, serving the community, and helping local families and businesses thrive. I’m proud to be a community banker and to further the work of Star Bank in support of our communities every day.”
“Alissa leads by example and brings purpose and passion to her work that makes our bank better and our community stronger,” said Katie Wahlquist, President and CEO of Star Bank. “Her vision, creativity, and dedication have helped drive innovation across our organization while strengthening our connections with customers, employees, and communities. We are incredibly proud to see her recognized on a national stage.”
The 40 Under 40 honorees were selected based on their character, leadership, community involvement, and innovation. The feature story appears in the June/July issue of Independent Banker magazine.
Please join us in congratulating Alissa on this outstanding achievement and well-deserved recognition.