Within 10 years, Joe Chybowski rose from controller at a small bank to CFO of one of the largest publicly traded banks in Minnesota. At 31, he led Bridgewater Bank’s IPO, raising over $58 million and making it the first state bank to go public in about
25 years. Under his leadership, the St. Louis Park-based bank’s assets rose from $460 million in 2013 to $5.1 billion in 2024, most of which happened organically. In 2024, the year he became president, Chybowski also led the acquisition of First Minnetonka City Bank, Bridgewater’s first bank M&A deal since 2016. His expertise extends to corporate development, enterprise risk management, and technology automation. Colleagues say he leads with a humble, people-first mentality.