James Weekley
As vice president of commercial banking, James Weekley serves as a trusted advisor to customers and prospective customers, employing a holistic approach to provide a full suite of banking solutions. During the rollout of the SBA’s Paycheck Protection Program, he worked diligently to help more than 30 clients secure $5.7 million, ensuring they could keep their businesses operational during the pandemic. He was selected by executive leadership to participate in Commerce Bank’s 2020 Leadership Development Program, geared toward high-potential performers and emerging leaders within the company.
A strong advocate for the Heart of Illinois United Way, Weekley began volunteering for the organization in 2015 as chair of Commerce Bank’s Pacesetter Campaign, which earned the “Best in Class” award. After chairing the campaign for two years, he began serving on the United Way’s Campaign Cabinet in the Business Services Division, talking to local business owners about starting and growing their own United Way campaigns.
Weekley joined the board of the Hult Center for Healthy Living in 2017, serving on the Executive Committee as secretary, then vice chair and now as president. He chaired the committee for Hult’s Uncorked fundraiser in 2017 and 2018, helping to grow attendance and raising nearly $100,000 over a six-month span. He also lends his handyman skills to Rebuilding Together Peoria, volunteering for the last six years and serving as Commerce Bank’s house co-captain in 2015 and 2017.
A 2016 graduate of the Peoria Area Chamber of Commerce Community Leadership School, Weekley joined the committee to plan the program in 2018, serving as co-chair of the 2019 and 2020 sessions. Among his honors and awards, he received Commerce Bank’s New Role, High Impact Award as a first-year relationship manager in 2016, the Illinois Market’s Commerce Trust Company Sales Partner Award in 2017, and the Top New-to-Bank Production Award in 2019 for being among the top-producing relationship managers across all community markets. PM