Craig M. Dwight

Craig M. Dwight’s Indiana roots run deep in starting when his family moved from South Dakota to Northwest Indiana in the mid 1960’s. He remained in Indiana to obtain his B.A. Business Administration from Indiana University, Bloomington, Indiana in 1979 with a concentration in accounting. Immediately following graduation he began his career with Horizon Bank in the Management Training Program and through 1985 held several positions including branch manager, human resource director and commercial loan officer.
In 1985 he tested the State of Michigan working for First of America Bank in Holland, Michigan as Vice President and Senior Commercial Loan Officer. During his tenure at First of America he was responsible for improving asset quality while at the same time doubled the size of the loan portfolio within five years and led the state of Michigan, in total loans enrolled into the Capital Access Loan Program.

In 1990 he returned to Michigan City and Horizon Bank as Vice President and Senior Commercial Loan Officer. In 1997 he became Executive Vice President responsible for all sales and lending areas of the company. In 1998 he was promoted to President and CEO of Horizon Bank and in 2003 the board of directors named him Chairman & Chief Executive Officer of its holding Company, Horizon Bancorp, Inc. Under his leadership, Horizon increased its total assets from approximately
$400 million to over $7.80 billion. Horizon Bancorp has reported strong earnings year-to-date and throughout the great recession, as well as increasing and paying uninterrupted dividends.
As CEO of Horizon Bank and during his 25 years at the helm, Craig was instrumental in acquiring 14 banks, 1 trust company and engaged in multiple capital and public debt offerings.

Throughout his life he contributed to his community by being active in many community organizations. Craig has served and chaired the local hospital board, United Way of La Porte County, the local economic development corporation, and the regional economic development company known as One Region. Craig served on the boards of The MC Chamber of Commerce, St. Paul School Foundation, Michigan City Brownfield Development Corp., Unity Foundation, One Region, and served as President of the Michigan City Mainstreet Association. In addition he has chaired several fund raising campaigns including the United Way, Salvation Army, Boys and Girls Club, The Martin Luther King Center, Michigan City Area Schools and the La Porte County YMCA. In addition to his leadership roles, he has served on the Michigan City Aviation Commission, the Michigan City Economic Development Commission, Purdue North Central Advisory Board, Valparaiso University Board and the Chicago Federal Reserve Bank’s Community Financial Institutions Counsel, Indiana Bankers Association Board, and One Region Board of Directors, which he chaired in 2021-22. He has served on the Blue-Ribbon Commission La Porte County Fair, the local American Rescue Plan Act Committee and as a member of Northwest Indiana Regional Opportunities Council. In addition, he was inducted into the Times of Northwest Indiana Business & Industry, Hall of Fame, has received the Michigan City Economic Development Lifetime Achievement Award, was named one of the Indiana Business Journal’s Most Influential People in the State of Indiana for two years running, and was honored with the Indiana Bankers Association’s Leaders in Banking Excellence Award. Craig was honored to ring the opening bell for the NASDAQ in New York City in 2019.

Most recently Craig was honored to receive the Sagamore of the Wabash Award, from Governor Holcomb, for his service to the community. The award was presented by State Senator Mike Bohacek and State Representative Jim Pressel. The Sagamore of the Wabash Award is the highest State award presented to Indiana residence in recognition to contributions to their communities.

Craig and Pam Dwight live in La Porte, Indiana; have second home in University Park, Florida, have been happily married for forty-two years; have three wonderful children and six beautiful grandchildren. Craig’s family enjoys travel, hiking, bicycling, water & snow skiing, boating, golf, and the great outdoors.

Craig Dwight Additional Awards/Accolades:
1998 Named President & CEO of Horizon Bank
2010 Named Northwest Indiana’s Top CEOs by Northwest Indiana’s Business Quarterly 2011 Horizon Bank honored in national rankings by US Banker Magazine
2012 Horizon Bancorp named top 200 Community Banks by American Banker 2013 Named Chairman of the Board of Directors for Horizon Bancorp
2017 Indiana Business and Industry Hall of Fame
2020 Leaders in Banking Excellence Award from the Indiana Bankers Association 2022 received the Michigan City Economic Development Lifetime achievement Award
2022 & 2023 Named Most Influential People in the State of Indiana Award per the Indianapolis Business Journal
2023 Sagamore of the Wabash recipient
Under his leadership, won Best Banks to Work for from American Banker in 2021 and 2022
Continuously given Bauer Financials highest 5 Star rating for financial soundness
Horizon Bank received Pandemic Lending Award in 2021 through Southwest Michigan Regional Chamber and the Cornerstone Alliance
Horizon Bancorp Named One of 20 “Performance Powerhouses” in National 2021 Ranking Banking by Bank Director
American Rescue Plan Committee – Michigan City 2022 to 2023
One Region (Regional Economic Board) – chair 2022- 2023
Horizon Bank Board of Directors – 1998 to 2025
Valparaiso University Board of Directors – 2024 to present.