February 10, 2026 Local Stories in and Around St. Joseph, Illinois

A familiar face joins Longview Bank

Sara Bryan has always had a passion for helping people.

That passion was instilled in her by her father who worked for Primerica which provides insurance, investment, and financial services to middle-income families in the United States and Canada.

“I grew up in a family with a financial background,” Bryan said. “My father was a representative with Primerica and enjoyed helping people plan their futures.”

Bryan, who now works as a universal banker at the St. Joseph Longview Bank, said the best thing about her job is helping people.

“I enjoy helping people,” she said. “Whether it’s through an issue they don’t understand or have any control over, or if it’s helping them save and plan for their futures.”

Bryan said she learned how important financial services can be for families by watching her father help so many people.

“I watched my dad help people get out of debt and change their futures,” she said. “I remember the members of our church coming to him and showing their appreciation. That’s the level of service I strive to live up to.”

Bryan started at Longview earlier this fall after working at another bank in the St. Joseph community for many years.

“What I like best about the St. Joseph Community is the hometown feel,” she said. “You can walk into any store or business and you are guaranteed to see a friend or family member of a friend. St Joseph is a town where people go the extra mile and are willing to lend a hand.”

Bryan said she was happy to join the team at Longview because it is truly a community bank where the customers are like family and not just numbers on a report.

“I have the privilege to sit down with my customers and get to know them better,” she said.

Bryan said a lot of her customers she knows and built a relationship with at her previous employer.

“ I am proud to say those customers have become friends and I now get to continue those relationships through Longview,” she said.

Bryan hopes to learn more about Longview, grow its customer base, and continue being the banker where customers become friends.

“I thoroughly enjoy the St Joseph Community and the great people that make it the community it is,” she said.   “I chose to stay here because of the people. I look forward to serving my current clients, watching their little ones grow up, start their own families, and helping them as well.”
 

in Life, People
Banner
Related Posts

Get to know Senior SJO Marching Band member Bryce Collins

October 21, 2022

October 21, 2022

The community surrounding Marching Band is filled with some of the most talented, passionate, and downright amazing people I’ve ever...

10 things you don’t know about me… Jennifer Wayland

April 24, 2019

April 24, 2019

Jennifer Wayland is the owner of the Island Travel Group. She is also co-chairing the St. Joseph Chamber of Commerce...

10 things you don’t know about me… Steve Peters

October 10, 2024

October 10, 2024

Steve is a member of the St. Joseph Zoning Board and a Paramedic / Firefighter with the St. Joseph- Stanton...

Food pantry in need of donations

August 23, 2019

August 23, 2019

The shelves are almost bare at the St. Joseph Community Food Pantry. The pantry, housed in the St. Joseph Church...

Kids say…

June 17, 2019

June 17, 2019

Every week we ask five St. Joseph area students a question about farming. Today, five students from PVO South tell...

Frisby to fly high at Illinois State

May 14, 2019

May 14, 2019

A welcome packet from Normal told St. Joseph-Ogden High School senior Justyn Frisby all he needed to know — he...

Kids say…

July 19, 2019

July 19, 2019

Second graders from PVO South tell us what they would have on their farm. This post is sponsored by Longview...

‘Her heart was golden’ — Short loses battle with cancer

June 10, 2019

June 10, 2019

Nine years ago, Sarah Logan Loomis raised her hand at a meeting of parents. The meeting was for her daughter,...

Kids say… St. Joseph Second Grade

March 14, 2019

March 14, 2019

Every week we ask five students from a local school to answer a question on a worksheet. This week the...

SJO to name football field in Duval’s honor

May 26, 2020

May 26, 2020

Like most people who have ever known Dick Duval, Brian Brooks can remember their first-ever meeting. It happened 17 years...

‘I will always have memories that I won’t forget’ by Kenly Taylor

June 16, 2020

June 16, 2020

Hello! I’d like to take a few minutes to welcome each and every one of you to the St. Joseph-Ogden...

Ask the Doctor with Dr. Jeanelle Murphy

April 6, 2020

April 6, 2020

How much screen time should my child have? What are the pros and cons for letting a toddler or grade...

Van Buskirk reflects on successful expo

May 1, 2019

May 1, 2019

Dawn Van Buskirk loves the Christie Clinic Illinois Marathon. Van Buskirk has been involved with the marathon since it started...

Get to know Steve Peters

March 25, 2025

March 25, 2025

Steve is running for the St. Joseph Village Board. What is the best thing about St. Joseph? I have been...

10 things you don’t know about me… Amy Gibbons

December 18, 2019

December 18, 2019

How did you come up with the name for your salon? 192 is actually the St. Joseph exit number. I...

Comments
Leave a Reply