David Shooltz has been named new community president of Fifth Third Northern Michigan. He comes to Traverse City from Saginaw, where he was community president of Fifth Third's Tri-City region and led the commercial banking team.

Shooltz succeeds George Bailey, who is returning to lead the middle-market commercial division in Grand Rapids.
According to bank officials, Bailey – who was named to the position when Community President Mark Eckhoff retired last spring – was not able to concentrate on the needs of the northern Michigan community due to his other chief responsibility – overseeing commercial banking functions for the entire affiliate. As the commercial banking climate continued to grow, Bailey was spending the majority of his time downstate.

Shooltz was subsequently assigned some of the responsibilities of the bank’s northern Michigan market while serving as community president for the Saginaw market. Bank officials said his leadership in strengthening his team, combined with his demonstrated desire to take on new responsibilities, made him the ideal candidate for the northern Michigan market.

“Looking at our long-term vision for the Grand Traverse Northern Michigan Region, we felt we needed a leader who thrived on deepening relationships and investing in the community,” said Tom Welch, president and CEO of Fifth Third Bank Western Michigan, of Shooltz’s appointment.