Wichitan Bruce Frost wins Pioneer Award for ag banking

Bruce Frost of Wichita was recently named the winner of the 2016 Pioneer Award, given annually to an agricultural banker in Kansas.

The award, from the Kansas Bankers Association’s agriculture bankers arm, goes every year to a banker who exemplifies “the best in agricultural lending,” according to a news release.

Frost, 67, is senior vice president of American State Bank and Trust Co., specializing in the areas of agriculture and commercial lending.

“I was greatly honored to receive this award,” said Frost in an e-mail Thursday. “However, the real reward I had was in working with the state’s agricultural bankers over the past 40 years.”

Formerly of Emprise Bank and Intrust Bank, among other institutions, Frost got his start in the banking industry in 1970 after a two-year stint in the U.S. Army. He received a degree in agriculture economics from Kansas State University.

Frost retired in 2015 after 21 years at Intrust and works part time at American State Bank. The award was presented earlier this month.

Roger Kepley, president and CEO of Rose Hill Bank, nominated Frost for the award. American State Bank and Rose Hill Bank are owned by American State Bancshares, a Wichita-based holding company.

This story was originally published March 24, 2016 at 6:48 PM with the headline "Wichitan Bruce Frost wins Pioneer Award for ag banking."