Jim Ghiglieri Jr., of Alpha Communty Bank in Toluca, Ill., has been nominated chairman-elect of the executive committee of the board of directors of the Independent Community Bankers of America in Washington, D.C., the nation's largest community bank trade group.

Ghiglieri is president and CEO of the $223 million-asset Alpha Community Bank. "I am honored to be named to this position," he said. "It gives me a chance to fight for community banks across the United States, which continue offering better values and better services to local consumers."  In 2007, Ghiglieri will become ICBA chairman

ICBA is the only national trade association dedicated exclusively to promoting the interests of locally operated community banks and savings institutions. With trusted financial expertise and quality customer service as their hallmarks, community banks offer the best financial services option for millions of consumers, small businesses, farms and ranches.  According to a recent study by the Federal Reserve, community banks also charge fewer and lower fees-ranging from 15 to 133 percent lower-than their mega bank counterparts.

"Jim is a dedicated community banker who is respected by his industry’s peers," said Dale L. Leighty, chairman of ICBA's Nominating Committee, and president of First National Bank of Las Animas, Las Animas, Colo. "We are delighted he will be offering his time and valuable professional talents to the service of the community banking industry."