OakStar Bank Announces Two Leadership Promotions

Published 4:00 am Tuesday, September 8, 2026

Sara Box and Avery Howe Advance to Expanded Roles at OakStar Bank’s Bolivar and Hermitage Locations

 OakStar Bank is pleased to announce the promotions of Sara Box in the Central Missouri region and Avery Howe at its location in Hermitage.

Box, an eighteen-year veteran of OakStar Bank, has been promoted from VP, Retail Manager, to VP, Corporate Services Development Officer and will maintain an office at the Bolivar North location. In her new role, Sara will build relationships with business and personal clients throughout Bolivar, Hermitage, Macks Creek, Buffalo, Urbana, Clinton, and the surrounding communities, providing corporate services solutions and wealth management referrals across the Central Missouri region.

Throughout her career with OakStar, Box has served in a variety of roles, including Universal Banker and Loan Assistant. She is actively involved in the community, serving as Treasurer of the Wheatland School Board and the Wheatland High School Booster Club, and as a member of the Hickory County Health Department Board.

In her new role as Retail Manager, Howe will return to the Hermitage branch, where she began her banking career, to oversee retail banking operations and play an integral role in guiding her team’s continued commitment to exceptional customer experiences and personalized service.

As she approaches her fifth anniversary with OakStar, Howe brings experience from several positions across the bank, including Universal Banker, Loan Assistant, and member of the Centralized Loan Document Processing Team. Prior to joining OakStar, Avery worked in retail and customer service, building a strong foundation for her new role.

“We are thrilled to see Sara and Avery step into these new roles,” says Don Koenig, Community Bank President at OakStar Bank Hermitage. “Sara’s extensive banking experience, coupled with her customer service skills and strong community connections throughout the region, make her an excellent fit to support the growing needs of our clients in Central Missouri. Avery has consistently demonstrated exceptional dedication to our customers and team, and we are confident in her abilities to lead our retail team and continue strengthening relationships in the communities we serve.”

Box and Howe look forward to continuing to support the financial needs of individuals, families, organizations, and businesses throughout Hickory and Polk Counties and the surrounding Central Missouri communities.