JOHNSTON, Iowa (Sept. 21, 2026) — Iowa Bankers Mortgage Corporation (IBMC) President Robert Hartwig has announced he will retire in 2027. Nathan Smithey will assume the role of IBMC president following Hartwig’s retirement. Smithey currently serves as senior vice president of loan production and has spent the past 14 years with IBMC. IBMC is an affiliate of the Iowa Bankers Association (IBA).
Hartwig started at the IBA in 1997, and prior to his current position as IBMC president, held roles including legal counsel for regulatory compliance, government relations, and legal counsel for the IBA and its affiliates. Under Hartwig’s leadership, IBMC crossed a significant milestone of servicing over $10 billion in mortgage loans.
“After starting my career as an Iowa banker, it has been my greatest honor to also get to represent them in the public policy arena, as well as provide superior products to help them serve their customers – promoting growth and prosperity in the communities they serve,” said IBMC President Robert Hartwig. “I can’t think of a better group of honest, hardworking Iowans than local bankers. Their role is critically important to the vitality of Iowa communities.”
Prior to joining IBMC in 2012, Smithey served as vice president of mortgage at Liberty Bank in West Des Moines. Smithey has more than 27 years of experience in the mortgage industry and is a graduate of Iowa State University.
“It’s an incredible opportunity to lead such an impactful organization within a family of businesses that are dedicated to the growth and well-being of community banks and the people they serve,” said Nathan Smithey, IBMC senior vice president of loan production. “The strong foundation, built on decades of mission-oriented growth, will allow IBMC to continue capitalizing on new opportunities, leveraging new technologies, and providing both industry-standard and cutting-edge solutions for banks of all sizes.”
IBMC delivers trusted mortgage solutions to support banks. The full-service mortgage company serves more than 250 financial institutions across 11 states, services more than 60,000 mortgage loans totaling over $10 billion, and is recognized as a leading secondary market aggregator.
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About the Iowa Bankers Association
The Iowa Bankers Association represents Iowa banks and savings institutions. Iowa bankers are committed to the values of honesty, hard work and community service, and have been a trusted resource for Iowans for more than 135 years. Iowa banks offer FDIC insurance and lend over $88 billion to help individuals, business owners and agriculture. Nearly 40,000 Iowans work at an Iowa bank, and bank employees volunteer more than 300,000 hours to support local communities each year. To learn more, visit www.iowabankers.com.