Karen WalterSVP/Director of Community Development & Charitable Giving

Karen Walter serves as Senior Vice President and Director of Community Relations & Charitable Giving at First Bank. In this role, she leads initiatives that strengthen community engagement and charitable giving, including oversight of the FirstBank Charitable Foundation. Her work focuses on advancing the bank’s mission of community service and fostering meaningful partnerships with nonprofit organizations and the community.

Karen brings over 25 years of experience in banking, having served in leadership roles including COO, EVP, and SVP across retail, consumer, and small business banking. Her expertise spans sales, service, operations, lending, marketing, development, and product strategy. She also successfully led nonprofit organizations before returning to the financial sector, combining her knowledge of both worlds to enhance community development efforts. Karen has worked extensively with for-profit and nonprofit boards and continues to serve on several nonprofit boards of directors.

She attended Susquehanna University and Florida State University, earning a degree in Psychology, completed master’s-level work at FSU, and holds a certificate in Business Marketing Strategies from Cornell University.

Outside of work, Karen is deeply involved in local organizations and networking groups, including the Exton Chamber and its Community Partnership Council, and Ryerss Farm for Aged Equines.