Availa Bank announced it has hired Kevin Geis as Ames market president and eastern regional manager for its Ames Branch. Geis joined the Availa Bank team earlier this month. Availa, which has Iowa roots dating back to 1870 in Carroll County, opened its Ames branch in June 2019. Geis, who has 40 years of banking experience, has lived in the Ames community for more than 25 years. He currently serves as a board member for the Matthew 25 House, a social justice outreach program, and is a member of the State Center Lions Club. He is past president of the Ames Chamber of Commerce and has also served as a board member for Habitat for Humanity, the Ames Economic Development Commission, the United Way of Ames and the Christ Community Church. The Carroll-based bank, which rebranded as Availa Bank in 2017, has acquired a number of branches in the past three years and now has locations in 14 Iowa communities.