TRAVERSE CITY, MICH., July 28, 2009 - Northwestern Bank has announced that Larry Johnson has joined the Investments | Trust | Retirement Services area of the bank as vice president and trust officer.

Larry brings over 20 years of trust experience to his new position. He has devoted his entire career to trust services, including administration, employee benefits and business development. Before joining Northwestern he served as a trust advisor for another financial institution in the Traverse City area.

Northwestern Bank was chartered in 1955 and is now the largest independent community bank in northern Michigan. A growing financial institution with over $875 million in assets, the bank is one of the leading mortgage, consumer, and commercial lenders in the region. Based in Traverse City, Northwestern Bank offers complete banking, investment and trust, and employee benefit services from 27 offices throughout northern lower Michigan. Northwestern is well-known for its "I can do that!" approach to service, which empowers its people to make decisions on the spot to meet customer needs and exceed their expectations.