Crews Bank & Trust announces retail banking leadership promotions

WAUCHULA, Fla., Sept. 30, 2026 — Crews Bank & Trust has announced retail banking leadership changes designed to strengthen branch support, foster continued relationship building and reinforce the high level of personal service customers have come to expect from the nearly 100-year-old bank.

Michelle Potter has been named Senior Retail Banking Officer and will oversee retail banking for the DeSoto and Hardee County areas. Her expanded role will help ensure continued service excellence and employee development.

Karla Huaman, Retail Banking Officer, has been promoted from Assistant Vice President to Vice President. She will continue overseeing Crews Bank & Trust’s Lakeland and Winter Haven branches, where she plays an important role in supporting service, team development and operational excellence.

Potter’s expanded leadership role builds on more than three decades of experience with Crews Bank & Trust. She joined the bank in January 1990 and has held a variety of roles, steadily advancing into management. She began her career as a teller in Arcadia before transitioning to new account services in 1995. Two years later, she moved into the bookkeeping department, where she completed a three-year tenure as head bookkeeper.

In 2005 Potter was promoted to Assistant Vice President of retail operations and within four years she earned the title of Vice President. In 2023 she was appointed regional retail administrator for the northern region of Crews Bank & Trust. In 2026 Potter rejoined the Arcadia team as Retail Banking Officer, continuing to build on long-standing customer relationships developed throughout her career.

A dedicated member of the DeSoto County community for more than 30 years, Potter has volunteered with Arcadia Main Street, Arcadia Kiwanis Club, Arcadia Centennial Lions Club and the DeSoto County Historical Society.

Huaman joined Crews Bank & Trust in 2021 as a personal banker, bringing more than 20 years of banking experience. She previously served as a branch operations manager at another financial institution. In 2024 she was promoted to Assistant Vice President, Retail Banking Officer, overseeing the Winter Haven and Lakeland locations. In that role, she managed day-to-day operations and developed plans for future growth and success in Polk County.

Born in Peru and raised in New York, Huaman moved to Florida in 2018. Outside of work, she enjoys spending time with her three children and visiting family in Japan, Canada and Spain. She also gives back to the community by participating in local food drives and distributing food to those in need, reflecting her commitment to serving others both inside and outside the bank.

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