AgriBank has appointed Matthew Basler as Chief Executive Officer, effective February 22, 2027, bringing a financial services executive with more than three decades of investment banking, capital markets, and credit experience to the Farm Credit System institution.
Basler will succeed Jeffrey Swanhorst, who previously announced plans to retire in July 2027 after 44 years with Farm Credit.
Swanhorst will serve as a senior advisor from February 22 until his retirement to support the leadership transition.
Basler most recently served as Managing Director and Global Head of Asia Pacific Capital Markets at Bank of America, based in Hong Kong.
From 2020 through 2026, he co-led a team that originated and executed a broad range of capital markets products across the Asia Pacific region.
Before that assignment, Basler was a Managing Director and Group Head of Financial Institution Capital Markets at Bank of America in New York.
Earlier in his career, he spent more than a decade advising institutions within the Farm Credit System, including AgriBank.
Basler grew up in Ohio and has family ties to agriculture, adding another link to AgriBank’s mission of supporting rural communities and agricultural borrowers.
AgriBank’s Board of Directors conducted an extensive search, with assistance from executive search firm Spencer Stuart.
AgriBank is part of the nationwide, customer-owned Farm Credit System.
Under its cooperative structure, local Farm Credit Associations primarily own the bank and provide financial products and services directly to agricultural and rural customers.
AgriBank raises funds and provides financial solutions to those associations.
The AgriBank District spans 15 states, stretching from Wyoming to Ohio and from Minnesota to Arkansas.
Basler said supporting the association owners who fund farmers, ranchers, and other rural borrowers will remain the institution’s central priority.
KEY QUOTES:
“Matthew brings more than three decades of leadership experience spanning investment banking, capital markets and credit.”
Chris Roberts, Board Chair Of AgriBank
“Helping our Association-owners deliver needed funding and financial solutions to U.S. farmers, ranchers and other borrowers will remain our top priority.”
Matthew Basler, Incoming Chief Executive Officer Of AgriBank
