Robert E. Forse Inducted to PA Bankers Association’s 50+ Year Club
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Robert E. Forse, former President and CEO of Woodlands Bank has been
inducted to PA Bankers Association's 50+ Year Club.
"It is great that Pennsylvania Bankers Association has a 50+ Year Club Banking Award that
recognizes bankers that have been in the business for a 50 year period regardless of their
position at their bank. Banking is such an important industry, and it is important to
recognize those that devote their entire career to it", says Forse.
Forse's first banking role model was his father. His father was the President and Chairman of
Bank of Central Pennsylvania. When Forse started college, he was unsure of what career path he
wanted to follow. He decided to major in economics and realized at the end of his college career
that he wanted to go into banking.
Forse started his banking journey as a dealer center collector for First National Trust Bank in
1970. He then went on to be a teller at Bank of Central Pennsylvania while working on
obtaining his MBA at Wilkes College. After completing his MBA, Forse became an Assistant
branch manager and later a branch manager with First Eastern Bank. After several other
banking positions, Forse went on to be a vice president in the Investment Department of
Commonwealth Bank.
After holding these positions and going through bank mergers, Forse saw the decline in customer
service and the need for a true community bank in Lycoming County. He and a group of
entrepreneurs began working on the idea of Woodlands Bank in 1989. After raising more than 4
million in capital, Woodlands Bank opened their doors in October of 1990 in Loyalsock
Township.
Forse was president and CEO of Woodlands Bank from 1990 to 2013. He was chairman of
Woodlands Bank's Board of Directors until December of 2021. He remains in emeritus status on
the Board of Directors. Through his leadership and mentorship, Woodlands Bank grew from one
location with a staff of ten to eight locations with over 100 employees serving both Lycoming
and Clinton County. Woodlands Bank continues to uphold Forse's vision of a community bank
that delivers personalized service and the latest banking products to individuals and local
businesses.
"For someone who has been both a mentor and a friend to me, it is special to see Bob honored in
this way. His impact on me and my career has been substantial, and his impact on the
community banking industry and on our local communities will be lasting. It was an honor for
me to be there in person at the PA Bankers Annual Convention to see Bob so deservingly
recognized for his impressive career", states Jon Conklin, President and CEO of Woodlands
Bank.
Forse is pleased that with the help of his wife, children, the bank organizers, original bank officers and staff, investors and customers that they were able to form and manage the opening of Woodlands Bank.