Leadership
AgriBank Appoints Bank of America's Matthew Basler CEO, Effective February 22, 2027
By News Desk ·
Key takeaways
- Matthew Basler will become AgriBank CEO on February 22, 2027, succeeding Jeffrey Swanhorst.
- Basler most recently served as Managing Director and Global Head of Asia Pacific Capital Markets at Bank of America in Hong Kong.
- Swanhorst, who has 44 years with Farm Credit, will serve as a senior advisor from February 22 until his retirement in July 2027.
- The AgriBank Board of Directors conducted the search with support from Spencer Stuart.
AgriBank has appointed Matthew Basler as CEO, effective February 22, 2027, succeeding Jeffrey Swanhorst, who previously announced plans to retire in July 2027 after 44 years with Farm Credit. PR Newswire carried the announcement on October 29, 2026. Basler most recently served as Managing Director and Global Head of Asia Pacific Capital Markets at Bank of America, based in Hong Kong.
Basler's Bank of America Background and AgriBank Transition
Basler, a longtime Bank of America leader, co-led a team in Hong Kong responsible for the origination and execution of a broad range of capital markets products from 2020 to 2026. He previously was a managing director and group head of Financial Institution Capital Markets at Bank of America in New York. AgriBank Board Chair Chris Roberts said Basler brings more than three decades of leadership experience across investment banking, capital markets and credit. "His broad and deep experience positions him to build on AgriBank's strong foundation and lead us into the future," Roberts said.
Basler said he grew up in Ohio with family ties to agriculture. "Earlier in my career, I spent more than a decade advising Farm Credit System institutions, including AgriBank," he said. "I look forward to building upon my longstanding relationships across the Farm Credit System." Basler said helping the Association-owners deliver funding and financial solutions to U.S. Farmers, ranchers and other borrowers will remain the top priority.
The appointment follows an extensive search by the AgriBank Board of Directors with support from Spencer Stuart. Spencer Stuart said on October 8, 2026, that it had appointed Colin Graham as Global Head of Board and CEO Practice, effective immediately, and that Sandy Ogg and Chris Gagnon joined from CEO.works to add expertise in CEO effectiveness, transformation and value creation, according to PR Newswire. AgriBank is part of the customer-owned, nationwide Farm Credit System, and its District covers a 15-state area from Wyoming to Ohio and Minnesota to Arkansas, the bank said.
Swanhorst's Advisory Role Through July 2027
Swanhorst will serve as a senior advisor from February 22 until his retirement to support the transition, AgriBank said. Basler takes the CEO role on February 22, 2027, and Swanhorst's retirement follows in July 2027.