DEF 14A 1 ny20019676x1_def14a.htm DEF 14A
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
SCHEDULE 14A INFORMATION
Proxy Statement Pursuant to Section 14(a) of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934 (Amendment No.)
Filed by the Registrant ☒
Filed by a party other than the Registrant
Check the appropriate box:

Preliminary Proxy Statement

Confidential, for Use of the Commission Only (as permitted by Rule 14a-6(e)(2))

Definitive Proxy Statement

Definitive Additional Materials

Soliciting Material under §240.14a-12
RICHMOND MUTUAL BANCORPORATION, INC.
(Name of Registrant as Specified In Its Charter)
 
(Name of Person(s) Filing Proxy Statement, if other than the Registrant)
Payment of Filing Fee (Check all boxes that apply):
No fee required
Fee paid previously with preliminary materials
Fee computed on table in exhibit required by Item 25(b) per Exchange Act Rules 14a-6(i)(1) and 0-11


April 11, 2024
Dear Fellow Stockholder:
On behalf of the Board of Directors and management of Richmond Mutual Bancorporation, Inc., I cordially invite you to attend our 2024 annual meeting of stockholders. The annual meeting will be held at 9:00 a.m., Eastern Time, on Wednesday, May 15, 2024, at the First Bank Richmond Financial Center located at 31 North 9th Street, Richmond, Indiana.
The matters expected to be acted upon at the annual meeting are described in detail in the attached Notice of Annual Meeting of Stockholders and proxy statement. An important part of the annual meeting is the stockholder vote on corporate business items. I urge you to exercise your rights as a stockholder to vote and participate in this process. At the annual meeting, we will present management’s report to you on Richmond Mutual Bancorporation’s 2023 financial and operating performance.
We encourage you to carefully review this year’s notice and proxy statement which contain important information about the proxy voting and the business to be conducted at the annual meeting. We encourage you to vote your shares by proxy as promptly as possible by telephone, the Internet or mail in advance of the annual meeting even if you plan to attend. Every vote is important, and we want to ensure that your shares are represented at the meeting. Your prompt response will save us the additional expense of soliciting proxies and will ensure that your shares are represented at the meeting. Returning the proxy card by mail or voting telephonically or electronically prior to the meeting does NOT deprive you of your right to attend the meeting or to vote your shares in person at the meeting.
Your Board of Directors and management are committed to the continued success of Richmond Mutual Bancorporation and the enhancement of the value of your investment. As Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer, I want to express my appreciation for your confidence and support.
 
Sincerely,
 

 
Garry D. Kleer
 
Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer

RICHMOND MUTUAL BANCORPORATION, INC.
31 North 9th Street
Richmond, Indiana 47374
(765) 962-2581
NOTICE OF ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS
TO BE HELD MAY 15, 2024
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the annual meeting of stockholders of Richmond Mutual Bancorporation, Inc. will be held as follows:
TIME
Wednesday, May 15, 2024, at 9:00 a.m., Eastern Time
 
 
 
PLACE
First Bank Richmond Financial Center
31 North 9th Street
Richmond, Indiana
 
 
 
BUSINESS
(1)
Election of two directors of Richmond Mutual Bancorporation, Inc., each for a three year term.
 
(2)
Ratification of the appointment of FORVIS, LLP as Richmond Mutual Bancorporation, Inc.’s independent registered public accounting firm for the year ending December 31, 2024.
 
 
 
RECORD DATE
Holders of record of Richmond Mutual Bancorporation, Inc. common stock at the close of business on March 28, 2024, are entitled to receive this Notice and to vote at the annual meeting of stockholders, or any adjournment or postponement thereof.
 
 
 
PROXY VOTING
It is important that your shares be represented and voted at the annual meeting. To ensure that your shares are represented at the annual meeting, please take the time to vote by Internet or telephone or by mailing a completed proxy card as soon as possible. Regardless of the number of shares you own, your vote is important. Please act today.
 
BY ORDER OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
 

 
Garry D. Kleer
 
Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer
Richmond, Indiana
April 11, 2024
Important Notice Regarding the Availability of
Proxy Materials for the Stockholder Meeting to Be Held on May 15, 2024.

Richmond Mutual Bancorporation Inc.’s proxy statement, Annual Report on Form 10-K and
electronic proxy card are also available on the Internet at http://www.proxyvote.com.

You are encouraged to review all of the information contained in the proxy statement before voting.



31 North 9th Street
Richmond, Indiana 47374
(765) 962-2581
PROXY STATEMENT
INTRODUCTION
The Board of Directors of Richmond Mutual Bancorporation, Inc. (the “Company,” “Richmond Mutual Bancorporation,” “we,” “us” or “our”) is using this proxy statement to solicit proxies from the holders of common stock of the Company for use at our upcoming annual meeting of stockholders. The annual meeting of stockholders will be held at 9:00 a.m., Eastern Time on Wednesday, May 15, 2024, at the First Bank Richmond Financial Center located at 31 North 9th Street, Richmond, Indiana. We strongly recommend that you vote your shares in advance of the annual meeting.
At the annual meeting, stockholders will be asked to vote on two proposals which are set forth in the accompanying Notice of Annual Meeting of Stockholders and are described in more detail below. Stockholders also will consider any other matters that may properly come before the annual meeting, although the Board of Directors knows of no other business to be presented. Certain information in this proxy statement relates to First Bank Richmond, a wholly owned subsidiary of the Company.
By submitting your proxy, either by executing and returning the enclosed proxy card or by voting electronically via the Internet or by telephone, you authorize the Company’s Board of Directors to represent you and vote your shares at the annual meeting in accordance with your instructions. The Board of Directors also may vote your shares to adjourn the annual meeting from time to time and will be authorized to vote your shares at any adjournments or postponements of the annual meeting. This proxy statement and the accompanying materials are first being made available to stockholders on or about April 11, 2024.
Your vote is important. You may vote your shares by Internet or telephone. You also may vote by sending a completed proxy card by regular mail or by submitting a ballot in person at the annual meeting. We encourage you to attend the annual meeting in person. Whether or not you plan to attend the annual meeting, please read the proxy statement and vote your shares by Internet or telephone or by sending a completed proxy card by regular mail as promptly as possible. This will ensure that your shares are represented at the annual meeting.

INFORMATION ABOUT THE ANNUAL MEETING
What is the purpose of the annual meeting?
At the annual meeting, stockholders will be asked to vote on the following proposals:
Proposal 1.
Election of two directors of Richmond Mutual Bancorporation, each for a three year term.
Proposal 2.
Ratification of the appointment of FORVIS, LLP as Richmond Mutual Bancorporation’s independent registered public accounting firm for the year ending December 31, 2024.
Stockholders also will transact any other business that may properly come before the annual meeting, although as of the date of this proxy statement the Board of Directors knows of no other business to be presented. If any other proposal properly comes before the stockholders for a vote at the annual meeting, the proxy holders will vote your shares in accordance with their best judgment. Members of our management team will be present at the annual meeting to respond to appropriate questions from stockholders.
How does the Board of Directors recommend I vote on the proposals?
The Board of Directors recommends that you vote:
FOR the election of the two director nominees named in this proxy statement.
FOR ratification of the appointment of FORVIS, LLP as Richmond Mutual Bancorporation’s independent registered public accounting firm for the year ending December 31, 2024.
Who can vote at the annual meeting?
The record date for the annual meeting is March 28, 2024. Only stockholders of record at the close of business on that date are entitled to receive notice of and to vote at the annual meeting. The only class of stock entitled to be voted at the annual meeting is the common stock of the Company. Each outstanding share of common stock is entitled to one vote for each matter before the annual meeting; provided, however, that pursuant to Section D of Article 5 of the Company’s charter, no stockholder who beneficially owns more than ten percent of the shares of the Company’s common stock outstanding as of that date may vote shares in excess of this limit. At the close of business on the record date, the Company had 11,115,887 shares of common stock outstanding.
If your shares are held in a stock brokerage account or by a bank or other nominee, you are considered the beneficial owner of shares held in street name and these proxy materials are being forwarded to you by your broker or nominee. As the beneficial owner, you have the right to direct your broker or nominee how to vote.
Can I attend the annual meeting?
If you are a stockholder as of the close of business on March 28, 2024, you may attend the annual meeting. However, if you hold your shares in street name, you will need proof of ownership to be admitted to the annual meeting. A recent brokerage statement or a letter from your bank or broker, are examples of proof of ownership. If you want to vote your shares of Richmond Mutual Bancorporation common stock held in street name in person at the annual meeting, you must get a written proxy in your name from the broker, bank or other nominee who holds your shares.
What are the quorum and vote requirements?
The annual meeting will be held only if there is a quorum. A quorum exists if the holders of at least one-third of the outstanding shares of common stock entitled to vote, represented in person or by proxy, are present at the annual meeting. If you return valid proxy instructions or attend the annual meeting in person, your shares will be counted for purposes of determining whether there is a quorum, even if you abstain from voting. Broker non-votes also will be counted for purposes of determining the existence of a quorum. A broker non-vote occurs when a broker, bank or other nominee holding shares for a beneficial owner returns a proxy but does not vote on a particular proposal because the nominee does not have discretionary voting power with respect to that item and has not received voting instructions from the beneficial owner.
How many votes are required to approve the proposals?
Directors are elected by a plurality of the votes cast. Votes may be cast for or withheld from a nominee. Votes that are withheld and broker non-votes have no effect on the election of the director nominees. Ratification
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of the appointment of FORVIS, LLP requires the affirmative vote of a majority of the votes cast on the matter. Abstentions and broker non-votes will not be counted as votes cast on these matters. Accordingly, abstentions and broker non-votes will have no effect on ratification of the appointment of FORVIS, LLP.
How do I vote?
You may vote on the Internet. If you are a registered stockholder, that is, if you hold your stock in your own name, you may vote on the Internet by following the instructions included with the proxy card. If you vote on the Internet, you do not have to mail in your proxy card.
You may vote by telephone. If you are a registered stockholder, that is, if you hold your stock in your own name, you may vote by telephone by following the instructions included with the proxy card. If you vote by telephone, you do not have to mail in your proxy card.
You may vote by mail. If you properly complete and sign the accompanying proxy card and return it in the enclosed envelope, it will be voted in accordance with your instructions.
You may vote in person at the meeting. If you plan to attend the annual meeting and wish to vote in person, we will give you a ballot at the annual meeting. However, if your shares are held in the name of your broker, bank or other nominee, you will need to obtain a proxy form from the institution that holds your shares indicating that you were the beneficial owner of Richmond Mutual Bancorporation common stock on March 28, 2024, the record date for voting at the annual meeting.
Can I vote on the Internet or by telephone if I am not a registered stockholder?
If your shares are held in “street name” by a broker or other nominee, you should check the voting form used by that firm to determine whether you will be able to vote on the Internet or by telephone.
Can I change my vote after I submit my proxy?
You may revoke your proxy at any time before the vote is taken at the annual meeting. If you are a registered stockholder, you may revoke your proxy and change your vote at any time before the polls close at the annual meeting by:
signing another proxy with a later date;
voting by telephone or on the Internet -- your latest telephone or Internet vote will be counted;
giving written notice of the revocation of your proxy to the Secretary of Richmond Mutual Bancorporation prior to the annual meeting; or
voting in person at the annual meeting. Attendance at the annual meeting will not in and of itself constitute revocation of your proxy.
If you have instructed a broker, bank or other nominee to vote your shares, you must follow directions received from your nominee to change those instructions.
What if I do not specify how my shares are to be voted?
If you submit an executed proxy by Internet, telephone or mail but do not indicate any voting instructions, your shares will be voted:
FOR the election of the two director nominees named in this proxy statement.
FOR the ratification of the appointment of FORVIS, LLP as the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2024.
What if my shares are held in “street name” by a broker?
If your shares are held in “street name” by a broker, your broker is required to vote those shares in accordance with your instructions. If you do not give instructions to your broker, your broker nevertheless will be entitled to vote the shares with respect to “discretionary” items but will not be permitted to vote your shares with respect to any “non-discretionary” items. In the case of non-discretionary items, the shares will be treated
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as “broker non-votes.” Whether an item is discretionary is determined by the exchange rules governing your broker. Your broker will provide information to you indicating how you can forward voting instructions and whether you can forward them by Internet, telephone or mail.
What if my shares are held in Richmond Mutual Bancorporation’s employee stock ownership plan?
If you hold shares in the Richmond Mutual Bancorporation, Inc. Employee Stock Ownership Plan (the “ESOP”), you will receive one proxy card that covers the shares held for you in the ESOP, as well as any other shares registered directly in your name (but not shares held beneficially through a bank, broker or other holder of record). Under the terms of the ESOP, each participant is entitled to instruct the trustee of the plan how to vote the shares of common stock allocated to the participant’s ESOP account. If you submit voting instructions for your ESOP shares via the Internet, by telephone or by mail, as described above, by 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time on May 9, 2024, the trustee of the ESOP will vote your shares as you have directed, or if no direction is given, the ESOP trustee will vote your shares “FOR” each of the proposals set forth in this proxy statement. The ESOP trustee, subject to the exercise of its fiduciary duties, will not vote allocated shares for which no proxy is submitted and will vote all unallocated shares held by the ESOP in the same proportion as shares for which it has received timely voting instructions.
Participants in the ESOP may attend the annual meeting. However, shares held in the ESOP may only be voted as described in this paragraph and cannot be voted at the annual meeting.
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BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP OF COMMON STOCK
The following table shows, as of March 28, 2024 (the voting record date), the beneficial ownership of the Company’s common stock held by:
(1)
any persons or entities known by management to beneficially own more than 5% of the outstanding shares of Richmond Mutual Bancorporation’s common stock;
(2)
each director and director nominee of Richmond Mutual Bancorporation;
(3)
each executive officer of Richmond Mutual Bancorporation named in the 2023 Summary Compensation Table; and
(4)
all of the directors and executive officers of Richmond Mutual Bancorporation as a group.
An asterisk (*) in the table indicates that an individual beneficially owns less than one percent of the outstanding common stock of Richmond Mutual Bancorporation. The address of each of the beneficial owners, except where otherwise indicated, is Richmond Mutual Bancorporation’s address. Beneficial ownership is determined in accordance with the rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”). As of March 28, 2024, there were 11,115,887 shares of Richmond Mutual Bancorporation common stock issued and outstanding.
Name of Beneficial Owner
Number of
Shares
Beneficially
Owned(1)
Percent of
Common
Stock
Outstanding
5% or Greater Beneficial Owners
 
 
Richmond Mutual Bancorporation, Inc. Employee Stock Ownership Plan
1,073,452
9.7%
AllianceBernstein L.P.
501 Commerce Street
Nashville, TN 37203
804,512(2)
7.2%
 
 
 
Directors and Executive Officers of Richmond Mutual Bancorporation
 
 
Garry D. Kleer, Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer of the Company and Chairman and CEO of First Bank Richmond
254,580(3)
2.3%
E. Michael Blum, Director
59,033(4)
*
Harold T. Hanley, III, Director
84,937(5)
*
Jeffrey A. Jackson, Director and Director Nominee
88,973(6)
*
Kathryn Girten, Director
77,933(7)
*
M. Lynn Wetzel, Director and Director Nominee
85,172(8)
*
Paul J. Witte, President and Chief Operating Officer of First Bank Richmond
78,120(9)
*
Dean W. Weinert, President of Mutual Federal, a division of First Bank Richmond
149,235(10)
1.3%
Directors and executive officers of Richmond Mutual Bancorporation as a group (9 persons)
909,007(11)
8.2%
(1)
Except as otherwise noted in these footnotes, the nature of beneficial ownership for shares reported in this table is sole voting and investment power.
(2)
Based on a Schedule 13G/A filed with the SEC on February 14, 2024. This is the most recent information that is publicly available, and the amount held by this shareholder as of December 31, 2023 may be more or less than the amount stated above.
(3)
Includes 34,628 shares of restricted stock over which Mr. Kleer has sole voting and no investment power, 8,154 shares allocated to Mr. Kleer under the ESOP over which he has shared voting power and no dispositive power, and options to acquire 129,856 shares over which Mr. Kleer has no voting or dispositive power.
(4)
Includes 7,034 shares of restricted stock over which Mr. Blum has sole voting and no investment power, and options to acquire 20,348 shares over which Mr. Blum has no voting or dispositive power.
(5)
Includes 7,034 shares of restricted stock over which Mr. Hanley has sole voting and no investment power, 27,802 shares that are held in a family trust of which Mr. Hanley and his spouse are co-trustees and share voting and investment power and options to acquire 24,348 shares over which Mr. Hanley has no voting or dispositive power.
(6)
Includes 7,034 shares of restricted stock over which Mr. Jackson has sole voting and no investment power, 18,000 shares held in his spouse’s IRA over which Mr. Jackson has shared voting and investment power, and options to acquire 24,348 shares over which Mr. Jackson has no voting or dispositive power.
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(7)
Includes 7,034 shares of restricted stock over which Mrs. Girten has sole voting and no investment power, 6,000 shares held by her spouse over which Mrs. Girten has shared voting and investment power, and options to acquire 24,348 shares over which Ms. Girten has no voting or dispositive power.
(8)
Includes 7,034 shares of restricted stock over which Mr. Wetzel has sole voting and no investment power, and options to acquire 24,348 shares over which Mr. Wetzel has no voting or dispositive power.
(9)
Includes 10,820 shares of restricted stock over which Mr. Witte has sole voting and no investment power, 5,386 shares allocated to Mr. Witte under the ESOP over which he has shared voting power and no dispositive power, 100 shares owned by his two adult sons as to which Mr. Witte disclaims beneficial ownership, and options to acquire 40,581 shares over which Mr. Witte has no voting or dispositive power.
(10)
Includes 30,000 shares of common stock held jointly by Mr. Weinert and Robin S. Weinert, his spouse, 9,740 shares owned by Mrs. Weinert directly, 10,820 shares and 6,492 shares of restricted stock over which Mr. Weinert and Mrs. Weinert, respectively, have sole voting and no investment power, 6,384 shares and 4,637 shares allocated to Mr. Weinert and Mrs. Weinert, respectively, under the ESOP over which they have shared voting power and no dispositive power, and options to acquire 40,581 shares and 24,348 shares over which Mr. Weinert and Mrs. Weinert, respectively, have no voting or dispositive power. Mrs. Weinert serves as Sr. Vice President of Operations and Retail Banking for First Bank Richmond.
(11)
Includes shares held by current directors and executive officers directly, in retirement accounts, in a fiduciary capacity or by certain affiliated entities or members of the named individuals’ families, with respect to which shares the named individuals and group may be deemed to have sole or shared voting and/or dispositive powers. Also includes 102,258 shares of restricted stock over which the individuals have sole voting and no investment power, and options to acquire 369,339 shares over which the individuals have no voting or dispositive power.
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PROPOSAL 1 - ELECTION OF DIRECTORS
Richmond Mutual Bancorporation’s Board of Directors is currently composed of six members, each of whom is also a director of First Bank Richmond. Pursuant to the Company’s charter, the directors shall be divided into three classes with approximately one-third of the directors elected annually.
The following table sets forth certain information regarding the composition of Richmond Mutual Bancorporation’s Board of Directors, including each director’s term of office. The Richmond Mutual Bancorporation Board of Directors, acting on the recommendation of the Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee (the “CGN Committee”), has recommended and approved the nominations of Jeffrey A. Jackson and M. Lynn Wetzel to serve as directors of the Company for a term of three years to expire at the annual meeting of stockholders to be held in 2027.
It is intended that the proxies solicited on behalf of the Richmond Mutual Bancorporation Board of Directors (other than proxies in which the authority to vote for a nominee is withheld) will be voted at the annual meeting “FOR” the election of the Company’s director nominees. If a director nominee is unable to serve, the shares represented by all valid proxies will be voted for the election of such substitute nominee as the Board of Directors, acting on the recommendations of the CGN Committee, may recommend. At this time, we know of no reason a director nominee might be unable to serve if elected.
Except as disclosed in this proxy statement, there are no arrangements or understandings between the director nominees and any other person pursuant to which the nominees were selected. The Board of Directors unanimously recommends that you vote “FOR” the election of the nominees whose names appear below.
Name
Age(1)
Positions with Richmond Mutual Bancorporation
Director
Since(2)
Term
Expires
 
 
Director Nominee
 
 
Jeffrey A. Jackson
68
Director
2018
2027(3)
M. Lynn Wetzel
74
Director
2016
2027(3)
 
 
 
Continuing Directors
 
 
Kathryn Girten
67
Director
2016
2026
Garry D. Kleer
68
Chairman, President, Chief Executive Officer
2002
2025
E. Michael Blum
68
Director
1993
2025
Harold T. Hanley, III
70
Director
2019
2025
(1)
At December 31, 2023.
(2)
Includes years of service on the Board of First Bank Richmond.
(3)
If elected at the annual meeting.
Business Experience and Qualifications of Directors and Director Nominees
The business experience of each director and director nominee of Richmond Mutual Bancorporation for at least the past five years and the experience, qualifications, attributes, skills and areas of expertise of each director that supports his or her service as a director are set forth below.
Jeffrey A. Jackson. Mr. Jackson currently is a director at Brady Ware & Company, a regional accounting firm with more than 150 professional team members, serving clients throughout the Midwest and in Georgia in a variety of industries. He joined Brady Ware & Company in 1980 and became a director in the firm in 1989 and served on its executive committee until December 2018. Mr. Jackson serves a wide variety of industries including manufacturers, contractors, retailers, agricultural businesses and professionals, with a focus on tax and financial planning issues of business owners and their closely-held businesses. Mr. Jackson has served nearly ten years as a member of the Board of Directors of the Economic Development Corporation of Wayne County and also currently serves on the Business Advisory Council for IU East School of Business and Economics. He is also a member of the board of the Richmond Symphony Orchestra. Mr. Jackson’s past board service includes the Reid Health Foundation and the Forest Hills Country Club, where he also served as president. Mr. Jackson joined the United States Army upon graduation from high school and, following his military service, graduated Magna Cum Laude with a degree in accounting from Ball State University. Mr. Jackson, who serves as our audit
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committee financial expert, is a Certified Public Accountant and has received his Personal Financial Specialist credentials from the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants. Mr. Jackson was inducted into the Eastern Indiana Junior Achievement Business Hall of Fame in 2017. Mr. Jackson’s qualifications to serve as a board member include his extensive and varied accounting experience, as well as his knowledge of and involvement in the communities we serve.
M. Lynn Wetzel. Mr. Wetzel began working in the automobile industry in 1973, purchasing his first dealership in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, a Mercedes-Benz dealership, in 1983. Mr. Wetzel currently owns and operates four dealerships in Richmond, Indiana, which include Honda and Dodge dealerships purchased in 1998, Chrysler and Jeep dealerships purchased in 2004, and Ford and Chevrolet dealerships purchased in 2007. He serves as a trustee on the board of the Boys and Girls Clubs of Wayne County, is a former board member of the Wayne County Area Chamber of Commerce, past president and former board member of the Pittsburgh Auto Dealers Trade Association and former board member of the Pennsylvania Automobile Dealers Association. Mr. Wetzel also actively supports multiple charitable causes in the community including sponsorship, in partnership with First Bank Richmond and the Wayne County Area Chamber of Commerce, of the “School is Cool” program which gives an automobile or scholarship annually to a senior high school student with perfect attendance during the school year. Mr. Wetzel’s business acumen, including his broad range of knowledge in the areas of finance, leasing, negotiations and day-to-day business operations resulting from his extensive career in the automobile industry makes him a valuable asset to our board and the committees on which he serves.
Kathryn Girten. Mrs. Girten, recently retired, served as Chancellor of Indiana University East from July 2013 to July 2022, and Acting Chancellor of Indiana University Southeast from August 2021 to July 2022. Both are regional campuses of Indiana University. As Chancellor, Mrs. Girten exercised broad responsibilities for all aspects of the academic, student, financial, development and administrative operations of the campus in coordination with Indiana University central administration. Her responsibilities also included strategic planning, risk assessment (including Information Technology threats and security), federal and state regulatory compliance and maintenance of accreditation standards. Prior to joining Indiana University East in 2013, Mrs. Girten was Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs at California State University, Monterey Bay, from 2007 to 2013, leading all aspects of the academic operations of the university and serving as its second-in-command. Before that she was at Northern Arizona University from 1989 to 2006, serving four years as Dean of the College of Social and Behavioral Sciences. Mrs. Girten serves on the boards of the Richmond Art Museum, the Wayne County Foundation (Immediate Past Board Chair) and Reid Health. She has been honored with the Indiana University President’s Medal, the Wayne County Area Chamber of Commerce Art Vivian Distinguished Community Leader Award, the Amigos Community Achievement Award and the Wayne County ATHENA Leadership Award. She earned her BA from Middlebury College, followed by an M.A. and Ph.D. from the University of Chicago. Mrs. Girten’s extensive leadership, management and strategic planning experience, as well as her civic and community involvement, provide her with valuable skills beneficial to our board and the committees on which she serves.
Garry D. Kleer. Mr. Kleer currently serves as Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer of Richmond Mutual Bancorporation and as Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of First Bank Richmond. Mr. Kleer joined the Bank in 1994 as Vice President of Commercial Lending and was promoted in 2001 to President and Chief Executive Officer. He also serves as Chairman of the Mutual Federal advisory board of directors. Mr. Kleer is a member of the Large Community Bank Council of the Independent Community Bankers of America and the American Bankers Association’s Membership Council. During 2022, Mr. Kleer served as Chairman of the Indiana Bankers Association (“IBA”) and continues to serve on its board as the ABA constituent director. Mr. Kleer was named a Sagamore of the Wabash and inducted into the IBA Leaders in Banking Excellence in 2022. Mr. Kleer’s community involvement includes service on the boards of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Wayne County, Richmond Symphony Orchestra, and Reid Health. He has also been recognized with the Indiana University East Chancellor’s Medallion, Junior Achievement Business Hall of Fame, Richmond/Wayne County Distinguished Community Leader and Boys & Girls Clubs Man and Youth Award. In 2020, he was awarded the Indiana University Bicentennial Medal for distinguished service. Mr. Kleer is a graduate of Indiana University, the ABA Graduate School of Commercial Lending and the Stonier Graduate School of Banking. With 40+ years of experience working in the banking industry, his service on the boards of numerous community organizations and his extensive involvement in our community, Mr. Kleer brings outstanding leadership skills and a deep understanding of the local banking market and issues facing the banking industry.
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E. Michael Blum. Mr. Blum sold his business in 2023 and is now retired. Since 1987, he was the President and Owner of Bullerdick’s, a furniture and mattress store located in Richmond, Indiana, which had been in business since 1930. He is a member of the Richmond Redevelopment Commission and was a past president and director of Main Street Center City Development, a former community-based nonprofit organization dedicated to the revitalization of the historic downtown area of Richmond, Indiana. Mr. Blum’s years of work with and running Bullerdick’s has provided him with strong leadership, management, financial and administrative skills, which together with his 30 years of service as a bank director, brings valuable knowledge and skills to our organization. In addition, his participation in our local business community for over 30 years brings knowledge of the local economy and business opportunities to First Bank Richmond.
Harold T. Hanley, III. Mr. Hanley, until his retirement in August 2019, was a Managing Director of Keefe, Bruyette & Woods, Inc., a Stifel Company (“KBW”). He joined KBW in January of 1995 after 14 years as Chief Financial Officer of two financial institutions located in the Midwest. Prior to entering the financial services industry, Mr. Hanley was with KPMG (Peat Marwick & Co.) for several years. During his career with KBW, Mr. Hanley led many financial institutions in their mutual conversions and stock offerings. He has also managed both the buy and sell sides of many merger and acquisition transactions of financial institutions, provided financial consulting services to clients in conjunction with their capital management strategies, and provided advice to assist in reaching their financial objectives. Over the years Mr. Hanley has been a regular speaker at various banking conferences. Mr. Hanley earned his Bachelor of Business Administration degree from The University of Toledo in 1975 and obtained his CPA license in 1976. Mr. Hanley’s extensive experience in the financial institutions industry, and with capital markets and merger and acquisition transactions gives him a specialized knowledge which he draws upon for service on our board.
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Director Compensation
Our directors receive compensation for their service on the boards of the Company and First Bank Richmond. The following table provides compensation information for each member of our board of directors during the year ended December 31, 2023, except for Mr. Kleer, our Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer of the Company, whose compensation is presented in the Summary Compensation table under the caption “Executive Compensation” below.
Name
Fees Earned or
Paid in Cash
($)
Stock
Awards
($)(1)
Option Awards
($)(2)
All Other
Compensation
($)(3)
Total
($)
E. Michael Blum
$42,950
$4,924
$47,874
Harold T. Hanley, III
45,100
4,924
50,024
Jeffrey A. Jackson
42,700
4,924
47,624
Lindley S. Mann(4)
25,350
4,924
30,274
Kathryn Girten
44,200
4,924
49,124
M. Lynn Wetzel
43,050
4,924
47,974
(1)
As of December 31, 2023, each director named in the table held 7,034 shares of restricted common stock which is subject to future vesting.
(2)
As of December 31, 2023, each director named in the table held a total of 40,580 shares underlying stock options, except for Mr. Blum who held 36,580 shares underlying stock options.
(3)
Reflects dividends paid to the directors during 2023 on their restricted shares of Company common stock.
(4)
Retired from the Board of Directors effective May 17, 2023. Serves as a director emeritus of the Company.
In setting their compensation, our board of directors considers the significant amount of time and level of skill required for director service. During 2023, directors of Richmond Mutual Bancorporation received an annual retainer of $12,000 for service on the Richmond Mutual Bancorporation board, with no additional fees paid for attendance at any board or committee meetings. During 2023, directors of First Bank Richmond received an annual retainer of $14,500 for service on the First Bank Richmond board and $1,000 for each board meeting attended. In addition, each non-employee director of First Bank Richmond received $250 for each committee meeting attended and $300 per meeting for service as Committee Chair. All of the foregoing fees are included in the preceding table.
With respect to the restricted stock and stock options discussed in the footnotes above, vesting accelerates in the event of the director’s death or disability or in connection with a change in control of the Company or First Bank Richmond. In the event of a termination of service for any reason other than death or disability or in connection with a change in control of the Company or First Bank Richmond, all non-vested awards would be canceled and the exercise period on the remaining unexercised, vested option awards would be reduced to three months.
Directors have the option to enroll in First Bank Richmond’s health insurance coverage on the same terms and conditions that are available generally to all eligible employees and are provided or reimbursed for travel and lodging and other customary out-of-pocket expenses incurred in attending industry conferences and continuing education seminars.
Board of Directors’ Meetings and Committees and Corporate Governance
Director Independence. The rules of the Nasdaq Stock Market, as well as those of the SEC, impose several requirements with respect to the independence of our directors, including the requirement that at least a majority of the board be “independent” as that term is defined under the applicable rules. Our board of directors has undertaken a review of the independence of each director in accordance with these rules. Based on information provided by each director concerning his or her background, employment and affiliations, our board of directors has determined that continuing Directors Blum, Hanley, Jackson, Girten and Wetzel do not have relationships that would interfere with the exercise of independent judgment in fulfilling the responsibilities of a director and that each of these directors is “independent” as that term is defined under the applicable rules. In making these determinations, our board of directors considered the current and prior relationships that each non-employee director has with our company and all other facts and circumstances our board of directors deemed relevant in determining their independence, including the following relationship between us and our directors and executive
10

officers, which is not required to be reported under “Transactions with Certain Related Persons” below. Mr. Jackson’s daughter is an employee in the leasing division of First Bank Richmond.
Board Leadership Structure. We currently combine the positions of Chief Executive Officer and Chairman into one position. We believe that this structure is appropriate for the Company because of the primarily singular operating environment of the Company and First Bank Richmond, with our predominant focus on being a provider of retail financial services. Having the Chief Executive Officer and Chairman involved in the daily operations of this focused line of operations improves the communication between management and the Board and ensures that the Board’s interest is represented in our daily operations, particularly with regard to risk management. Because the Chief Executive Officer and Chairman positions are currently combined, the Board of Directors decided to designate a non-management director (currently Director Blum) to serve as lead director. The lead director is responsible for presiding over executive sessions of the non-management directors held outside the presence of the Chairman, and for serving as a liaison between the non-management directors and the Chairman.
Board Role in Risk Oversight. Our Board of Directors is responsible for consideration and oversight of risks facing Richmond Mutual Bancorporation and is responsible for ensuring that material risks are identified and managed appropriately. The Audit Committee meets quarterly with management, or more frequently as needed, in order to review our major financial risk exposures and the steps management is taking to monitor and control such exposures. The Information Technology Board Committee and IT Steering Committee work to manage our technology and cyber risks. These committees work to ensure compliance with regulatory requirements. Several of our Board members serve on the Information Technology Board Committee, while the IT Steering Committee is appointed by our Board of Directors. Directors also serve on various committees that focus on major areas of risk to Richmond Mutual Bancorporation and First Bank Richmond that include but are not limited to loans and compensation. Directors discuss risk and risk mitigation strategies with management within these committees. All risk oversight discussions are included in committee reports to the full Board of Directors.
Stock Pledging and Hedging Policies. The Company’s “Policy and Procedures Governing Trading in Company Securities and Confidentiality of Inside Information,” among other things, prohibits the Company’s directors and executive officers from holding Company stock in a margin account or pledging Company stock as collateral for a loan. In addition, the policy prohibits directors and executive officers of the Company from using any financial instruments (including without limitation prepaid variable forward contracts, equity swaps, collars, and exchange funds) or otherwise engaging in transactions that hedge or offset, or are designed to hedge or offset, any decrease in the market value of the Company’s securities owned by the director or executive officer.
Board Meetings and Committees. Meetings of Richmond Mutual Bancorporation’s Board of Directors are generally held on a quarterly basis. The membership of First Bank Richmond’s Board of Directors is identical to Richmond Mutual Bancorporation’s Board of Directors. Meetings of First Bank Richmond’s Board of Directors are generally held on a monthly basis. For the year ended December 31, 2023, the Board of Directors of Richmond Mutual Bancorporation held four regular meetings and one special meeting, and the Board of Directors of First Bank Richmond held 12 regular meetings and no special meetings. During 2023, no incumbent director attended fewer than 75% in the aggregate of the total number of meetings of each Board and the total number of meetings held by the committees of each Board on which committees he or she served.
The Board of Directors of Richmond Mutual Bancorporation has standing Compensation, Audit, and Corporate Governance and Nominating committees. Information regarding the functions of the Board’s committees, their present membership and the number of meetings held by each committee for the year ended December 31, 2023, is set forth below:
Compensation Committee. The Compensation Committee operates under a formal written charter adopted by the Board of Directors. The Compensation Committee is responsible for: (i) determining and evaluating the compensation of the Chief Executive Officer and other executive officers; (ii) reviewing and monitoring existing compensation plans, policies and programs and recommending changes to the goals and objectives of these plans, policies and programs to the entire Board; and (iii) reviewing and recommending new compensation plans, policies and programs. The Compensation Committee also recommends to the Board of Directors any changes in
11

the compensation structure for non-employee directors and conducts an annual performance review of the Chief Executive Officer. The Compensation Committee does not delegate its authority to any one of its members or any other person, however, Mr. Kleer does make recommendations to the Compensation Committee for all compensation, except his own.
The Compensation Committee currently is comprised of Directors Wetzel (chair), Girten and Hanley, each of whom is “independent” as that term is defined for compensation committee members in the Nasdaq Marketplace Rules (the “Nasdaq Rules”). The Compensation Committee is scheduled to meet at least once a year and on an as-needed basis. The Compensation Committee met one time during 2023.
Audit Committee. The Audit Committee operates under a formal written charter adopted by the Board of Directors. The Audit Committee is appointed by the Board of Directors to provide assistance to the Board in fulfilling its oversight responsibility relating to the integrity of our consolidated financial statements and the financial reporting processes, the systems of internal accounting and financial controls, compliance with legal and regulatory requirements, the annual independent audit of our consolidated financial statements, the independent auditors’ qualifications and independence, the performance of our internal audit function and independent auditors and any other areas of potential financial risk to Richmond Mutual Bancorporation specified by its Board of Directors. The Audit Committee also is responsible for the appointment, compensation, retention and oversight of our independent auditors, including pre-approval of all audit and non-audit services to be performed by the independent auditors.
The current members of the Audit Committee are Directors Jackson (chair), Hanley and Girten. All members of the Audit Committee, in addition to being independent directors as defined under Rule 4200 (a)(15) of the Nasdaq Rules, (i) meet the criteria for independence set forth in Section 10A(m)(3) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and (ii) are able to read and understand fundamental financial statements, including our balance sheet, income statement, and cash flow statement. Additionally, Jeffrey A. Jackson has had past employment experience in finance or accounting and/or requisite professional certification in accounting that results in his financial sophistication. The Board of Directors has determined that Mr. Jackson meets the requirements adopted by the SEC for qualification as an “audit committee financial expert.” During 2023, the Audit Committee held four meetings.
Corporate Governance and Nominating (CGN) Committee. Our CGN Committee currently is comprised of Directors Blum (chair), Girten, Wetzel and Jackson, each of whom is “independent” as that term is defined for compensation committee members in the Nasdaq Rules. The CGN Committee is scheduled to meet at least once a year and on an as-needed basis. The CGN Committee met one time during 2023. The CGN Committee operates under a formal written charter adopted by the Board of Directors. The CGN Committee is responsible for identifying and recommending director candidates to serve on the Board of Directors. Final approval of director nominees is determined by the full Board, based on the recommendations of the CGN Committee. The nominees for election at the meeting identified in this document were recommended to the Board by the CGN Committee. The CGN Committee has the following responsibilities under its charter:
(i)
recommend to the Board the appropriate size of the Board and assist in identifying, interviewing and recruiting candidates for the Board;
(ii)
recommend candidates (including incumbents) for election and appointment to the Board of Directors, subject to the provisions set forth in the Company’s charter and bylaws relating to the nomination or appointment of directors, based on the following criteria: (i) business experience, education, integrity, reputation, independence, conflicts of interest, diversity, and age; (ii) number of other directorships and commitments (including charitable obligations); (iii) tenure on the Board; (iv) attendance at Board and committee meetings: (v) stock ownership; (vi) specialized knowledge (such as an understanding of banking, accounting, marketing, finance, regulation and public policy); (vii) residency and a commitment to the Company’s communities and shared values; and (viii) overall experience in the context of the needs of the Board as a whole. As a general rule, it is the desire of the Board of Directors that directors shall live and/or work in the communities served by the Company’s subsidiary bank;
(iii)
consider and evaluate nominations from stockholders using the same criteria as all other nominations;
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(iv)
annually recommend to the Board committee assignments and committee chairs on all committees of the Board, and recommend committee members to fill vacancies on committees as necessary; and
(v)
perform any other duties or responsibilities expressly delegated to the CGN Committee by the Board.
The Company does not currently have a formal diversity policy; however, as noted above, diversity is one of the factors that the CGN Committee considers in identifying nominees for director. The CGN Committee reviews the requisite skills and characteristics of Board members as well as the composition of the Board as a whole when recommending nominees for the Board. The CGN Committee has no predefined minimum criteria for selecting director nominees, although it believes that all directors should share qualities such as business experience, excellent decision-making ability, good judgment, personal integrity and outstanding reputation. In any given search, the CGN Committee may also define particular characteristics for candidates to balance the overall skills and characteristics of the Company’s Board and its perceived needs. However, during any search, the CGN Committee reserves the right to modify its stated search criteria for exceptional candidates. The table below provides certain highlights of the composition of our board members and nominees as of the date indicated. Each of the categories listed in the below table has the meaning as it is used in Nasdaq Rule 5605(f).
Board Diversity Matrix (As of March 28, 2024)
Total Number of Directors
6
 
Female
Male
Non-Binary
Gender
Undisclosed
Part I: Gender Identity
Directors
1
5
 
 
Part II: Demographic Background
African American or Black
 
 
 
 
Alaskan Native or American Indian
 
 
 
 
Asian
 
 
 
 
Hispanic or Latinx
 
 
 
 
Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander
 
 
 
 
White
1
5
 
 
Two or More Races or Ethnicities
 
 
 
 
LGBTQ+
0
Did Not Disclose Demographic Background
0
Pursuant to the Company’s bylaws, no person 76 years of age or older is eligible for election, re-election, appointment or re-appointment to the Company’s Board of Directors. No director who has attained the age of 76 shall continue to serve as a director beyond the annual meeting of stockholders at which his or her term as a director expires.
Nominations of persons for election to the Board of Directors may be made only by or at the direction of the Board of Directors or by any stockholder entitled to vote for the election of directors who complies with the notice procedures. Pursuant to the Company’s bylaws, nominations for directors by stockholders must be made in writing and received by the Secretary of the Company at the Company’s principal executive offices no earlier than 120 calendar days prior to the meeting date and no later than 90 calendar days prior to the meeting date. If, however, less than 100 calendar days’ notice or public announcement of the date of the meeting is given or made to stockholders, the Company must receive nominations not later than the close of business on the tenth calendar day following the earlier of the day on which notice of the date of the meeting was mailed or otherwise transmitted or the day on which public announcement of the date of the meeting was first made. In addition to meeting the applicable deadline, nominations must be accompanied by certain information specified in the Company’s bylaws.
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This description is a summary of our nominating process. Any stockholder wishing to propose a director candidate to the Company should review and must comply in full with the procedures set forth in the Company’s charter and bylaws, as well as the requirements of Rule 14a-19 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”). For additional information, see “Stockholder Proposals and Other Information Regarding the 2025 Annual Meeting.”
Communications with Directors. Any stockholder desiring to communicate with the Board of Directors, or one or more specific members thereof, should communicate in writing addressed to Lead Director, Richmond Mutual Bancorporation, Inc., 31 North 9th Street, Richmond, Indiana, 47374.
Attendance Policy at Annual Meetings. Although we do not have a formal policy regarding director attendance at annual stockholder meetings, directors are expected to attend these meetings. All of the Company’s directors attended last year’s annual stockholder meeting to the extent they were directors of the Company as of that date.
Committee Charters. The charters of the Audit, Compensation and CGN Committees are posted on our websites at www.firstbankrichmond.com and www.mutualbancorp.com and can be found by clicking on the “Investor Relations” link located at the bottom of our home page.
Code of Ethics. We have adopted a code of ethics that applies to our principal executive officer, principal financial officer, principal accounting officer, and persons performing similar functions, and to all of our other employees and our directors. You may obtain a copy of the code of ethics free of charge by writing to the Corporate Secretary of Richmond Mutual Bancorporation, 31 North 9th Street, Richmond, Indiana, 47374 or by calling (765) 962-2581. In addition, the code of ethics is available on our websites at www.firstbankrichmond.com and www.mutualbancorp.com and can be found by clicking on the “Investor Relations” link located at the bottom of our home page.
14

TRANSACTIONS WITH CERTAIN RELATED PERSONS
In the normal course of our business, we have engaged and expect to continue engaging in ordinary banking transactions with our directors, executive officers, their immediate family members and their affiliated entities, including loans to such persons. Except as set forth below, there were no transactions of this nature, the amount of which exceeded $120,000 during 2023 or 2022.
Federal law generally prohibits publicly traded companies from making loans to their executive officers and directors, but it contains a specific exemption from the prohibition for loans made by federally insured financial institutions, such as First Bank Richmond, to their executive officers and directors in compliance with federal banking regulations. At December 31, 2023 and 2022, all of our loans to directors and executive officers were made in the ordinary course of business, were made on substantially the same terms, including interest rates and collateral, as those prevailing at the time for comparable loans with persons not related to First Bank Richmond, and did not involve more than the normal risk of collectability or present other unfavorable features. These loans were performing according to their original repayment terms at both December 31, 2023 and 2022 and were made in compliance with federal banking regulations.
Robin Weinert serves as Senior Vice President/Operations & Retail Banking of First Bank Richmond. Mrs. Weinert is the spouse of Dean Weinert, who serves as President of Mutual Federal, a division of First Bank Richmond. As a result of her employment with First Bank Richmond, Mrs. Weinert received annual compensation of $210,190 in 2023 and $204,875 in 2022.
Kristi Herig serves as a Senior Vice President of First Bank Richmond’s leasing operations. Mrs. Herig is the daughter of Jeffrey Jackson, who serves as a director of the Company and First Bank Richmond. As a result of her employment with First Bank Richmond, Mrs. Herig received annual compensation of $142,083 in 2023 and $124,710 in 2022.
Except as stated above, we have not entered into any transactions since January 1, 2022, in which the amount involved exceeded $120,000 and in which any related persons had or will have a direct or indirect material interest.
15

EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION
Summary Compensation Table. The table below summarizes for the years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022 the total compensation paid to or earned by Garry Kleer, the Company’s Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer, and our two other most highly compensated executive officers. Each individual listed in the table below is referred to as a “named executive officer.”
Name and principal position
Year
Salary
($)
Bonus
($)(1)
Stock
Awards
($)
Option
Awards
($)
All Other
Compensation
($)
Total
($)
Garry D. Kleer
Chairman, President and
CEO of the Company;
Chairman and CEO of
First Bank Richmond
2023
479,423
200,350
88,758(2)
768,531
2022
460,962
112,850
100,023
673,835
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Dean W. Weinert,
President of
Mutual Federal,
a division of First
Bank Richmond
2023
231,731
30,350
31,171(3)
293,252
2022
222,846
30,350
40,146
293,342
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Paul J. Witte,
President and
Chief Operating Officer
of First Bank Richmond
2023
223,000
35,350
25,504(4)
283,854
(1)
Amounts in this column represent a discretionary bonus.
(2)
Includes $38,500 paid to Mr. Kleer for his service as a director on the boards of directors of First Bank Richmond and Richmond Mutual Bancorporation; $5,000 paid to Mr. Kleer for his service as an advisory director on the Mutual Federal advisory board; $24,240 in dividends paid on restricted shares of Company common stock; $9,104 in 401(k) plan matching contributions; and $11,914 in common stock allocations to Mr. Kleer under the ESOP.
(3)
Includes $5,000 for Mr. Weinert’s service as an advisory director on the Mutual Federal advisory board; $7,574 in dividends paid on restricted shares of Company common stock; $7,862 in 401(k) plan matching contributions; and $10,735 in common stock allocations to Mr. Weinert under the ESOP.
(4)
Includes $7,574 in dividends paid on restricted shares of Company common stock; $7,221 in 401(k) plan matching contributions; and $10,709 in common stock allocations to Mr. Witte under the ESOP. Mr. Witte first became a named executive officer during 2023.
Outstanding Equity Awards at December 31, 2023. The following table sets forth information concerning stock options and restricted stock held at December 31, 2023 for each named executive officer.
 
Options Awards
Stock Awards
Name
Number of
Securities Underlying
Unexercised Options
Option
Exercise
Price
Option
Expiration
Date
Number
of Shares
or Units of
Stock That
Have Not
Vested(1)
Market Value
of Shares or
Units of
Stock That
Have Not
Vested(2)
 
Exercisable
Unexercisable(1)
 
 
 
 
Garry D. Kleer
129,855
86,571
$10.53
10/1/2030
34,628
$398,568
Dean W. Weinert
40,580
27,053
10.53
10/1/2030
10,820
124,538
Paul J. Witte
40,580
27,053
10.53
10/1/2030
10,820
124,538
(1)
Awards vest in two equal annual installments on June 30, 2024 and June 30, 2025.
(2)
Value is based on the $11.51 closing price of a share of Richmond Mutual Bancorporation common stock on December 29, 2023, the last trading day of the fiscal year.
Nonqualified Deferred Compensation Plan. In April 2019, Richmond Mutual Bancorporation and First Bank Richmond (the “Employers”) entered into a Nonqualified Deferred Compensation Plan (the “SERP”) with Garry Kleer, their Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer, in order to provide Mr. Kleer with
16

supplemental retirement benefits. The SERP provides for the following: (i) a normal retirement benefit of $200,000 per year for a period of 15 years, payable in annual installments, if Mr. Kleer has a separation from service on or after age 68 other than for cause or death, (ii) an early termination benefit equal to the normal retirement benefit if he has a separation from service prior to age 68 other than for cause or death, with such benefit to commence after he reaches age 68, (iii) a lump sum death benefit equal to the amount of the SERP benefit accrued at the time of death under generally accepted accounting principles if Mr. Kleer dies while still employed and prior to a change in control or disability, (iv) a lump sum death benefit equal to the present value of any remaining installments if Mr. Kleer dies after an event triggering installment payments but prior to receiving all installment payments owed, (v) a lump sum disability benefit equal to the amount of the SERP benefit accrued at the time of disability under generally accepted accounting principles if Mr. Kleer becomes disabled while still employed, and (vi) a lump sum change in control benefit equal to the present value of his normal retirement benefit if a change in control (as defined in the SERP) occurs while Mr. Kleer is still employed and prior to any disability. In the event Mr. Kleer’s employment is terminated for cause (as defined in the SERP), he will forfeit any and all benefits to which he would otherwise be entitled to receive under the SERP. The SERP constitutes an unfunded, unsecured promise by the Employers to make payments to Mr. Kleer or his beneficiary in the future.
17

REPORT OF THE AUDIT COMMITTEE
The information contained in this report shall not be deemed to be “soliciting materials” or to be filed with the SEC, nor shall said information be incorporated by reference into any filing under the Securities Act of 1933 or the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, notwithstanding the incorporation by reference of this proxy statement into any such filing.
The Audit Committee has reviewed and discussed with management the audited financial statements of Richmond Mutual Bancorporation for the year ended December 31, 2023. The Audit Committee has discussed with FORVIS, LLP, our independent registered public accounting firm, the matters required to be discussed by the applicable requirements of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (“PCAOB”) and the SEC with Audit Committees.
The Audit Committee has also received the written disclosures and the letter from FORVIS, LLP required by applicable requirements of the PCAOB regarding the independent accountant’s communications with the Audit Committee concerning independence and has discussed with FORVIS, LLP its independence.
Based on the Audit Committee's review and discussions noted above, it recommended to the Board of Directors that Richmond Mutual Bancorporation’s audited financial statements be included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2023, for filing with the SEC.
The foregoing report is furnished by the Audit Committee of the Board of Directors:
Jeffrey A. Jackson (Chair)   Harold T. Hanley, III   Kathryn Girten
18

PROPOSAL 2 - RATIFICATION OF APPOINTMENT OF INDEPENDENT
REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
The Audit Committee of the Board of Directors appointed FORVIS, LLP to serve as our independent registered public accounting firm for the year ending December 31, 2024 and is soliciting your ratification of that selection.
Your ratification of the Audit Committee’s selection of FORVIS, LLP is not necessary because the Audit Committee has responsibility for selection of our independent registered public accounting firm, and such ratification is not required by the Company’s bylaws or otherwise. The Company believes, however, that requesting that stockholders ratify the selection of FORVIS, LLP is appropriate as a matter of good corporate governance, and the Audit Committee may take the results of the vote on this proposal into consideration when selecting our independent registered public accounting firm in the future. If the stockholders do not ratify the appointment, the Audit Committee will reconsider the appointment and may retain FORVIS, LLP or another independent registered public accounting firm without re-submitting the matter to the stockholders. Even if the stockholders ratify the appointment, the Audit Committee may, in its discretion, direct the appointment of a different firm as the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm at any time during the year.
A representative of FORVIS, LLP is expected to be present at the annual meeting of stockholders and will have the opportunity to make a statement or respond to any appropriate questions that stockholders may have.
The Board of Directors recommends that stockholders vote “FOR” the ratification of the appointment of FORVIS, LLP as Richmond Mutual Bancorporation’s independent registered public accounting firm for the year ending December 31, 2024.
Principal Accountant Fees and Services
Set forth below is certain information concerning aggregate fees billed for professional services rendered by FORVIS, LLP during the years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022.
 
Year Ended December 31,
 
2023
2022
Audit Fees
$294,631
$221,155
Audit-related Fees
60,765
14,195
Tax fees
46,834
38,100
All Other Fees
Audit Fees. Audit Fees include aggregate fees billed for professional services for the audits of Richmond Mutual Bancorporation’s annual financial statements for the years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022 and for review of quarterly condensed consolidated financial statements included in periodic reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission during 2023 and 2022.
Audit-Related Fees. Audit-Related Fees for 2023 and 2022 include fees billed for the audit of Richmond Mutual Bancorporation’s Employee Stock Ownership Plan.
Tax Fees. Tax Fees for 2023 and 2022 include fees for the preparation and review of the consolidated and unconsolidated federal and state tax returns for Richmond Mutual Bancorporation and First Bank Richmond.
All Other Fees. There were no other fees charged in 2023 and 2022.
Our Audit Committee has determined that the services provided by FORVIS, LLP as set forth herein are compatible with maintaining FORVIS, LLP’s independence.
Pursuant to the terms of its charter, the Audit Committee is responsible for the appointment, compensation, retention and oversight of the work of the independent auditors. The Audit Committee must pre-approve the engagement letters and the fees to be paid to the independent auditors for all audit and permissible non-audit services to be provided by the independent auditors and consider the possible effect that any non-audit services could have on the independence of the auditors. The Audit Committee may establish pre-approval policies and procedures, as permitted by applicable law and SEC regulations and consistent with its charter for the engagement of the independent auditors to render permissible non-audit services to the Corporation, provided that any pre-approvals delegated to one or more members of the committee are reported to the committee at its next scheduled meeting. At this time, the Audit Committee has not adopted any pre-approval policies.
19

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Proxy Solicitation Costs
The Company will pay the costs of soliciting proxies. The Company will reimburse brokerage firms and other custodians, nominees and fiduciaries for reasonable expenses incurred by them in sending proxy materials to the beneficial owners of the Company’s common stock. In addition to solicitation by mail, directors, officers and employees of the Company may solicit proxies personally or by facsimile, telephone or other means without additional compensation.
Stockholder Proposals and Other Information Regarding the 2025 Annual Meeting
To be eligible for inclusion in Richmond Mutual Bancorporation’s proxy materials for next year’s annual meeting of stockholders, any stockholder proposal to take action at such meeting must be received in writing at Richmond Mutual Bancorporation’s executive office at 31 North 9th Street, Richmond, Indiana 47374, no later than December 14, 2024. If, however, the date of next year’s annual meeting of stockholders is before April 15, 2025 or after June 14, 2025, any such proposal must be received at the Company’s executive office a reasonable time before the Company begins to print and send its proxy materials for that meeting to be eligible for inclusion in those proxy materials. Any such proposals shall be subject to the requirements of the proxy rules adopted under the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934, as amended and to the Company’s Charter and Bylaws.
In addition to the deadline and other requirements referred to above for submitting a stockholder proposal to be included in the Company’s proxy materials for its next annual meeting of stockholders, the Company’s bylaws require a separate notification to be made in order for a stockholder proposal to be eligible for presentation at the meeting, regardless of whether the proposal is included in the Company’s proxy materials for the meeting. To be eligible for presentation at the Company’s next annual meeting of stockholders, written notice of a stockholder proposal containing the information specified in Article I, Section 6(a) of the Company’s bylaws must be received by the Secretary of the Company not earlier than the close of business on January 16, 2025 and not later than the close of business on February 15, 2025. If, however, the date of the next annual meeting is before April 25, 2025 or after July 14, 2025, the notice of the stockholder proposal must instead be received by the Company’s Secretary not earlier than the close of business on the 120th calendar day prior to the date of the next annual meeting and not later than the close of business on the later of the 90th calendar day before the date of the next annual meeting or the tenth calendar day following the first to occur of the day on which notice of the date of the next annual meeting is mailed or otherwise transmitted or the day on which public announcement of the date of the next annual meeting is first made by the Company.
Nominations of persons for election to the Company’s Board of Directors may be made only by or at the direction of the Board of Directors or by any stockholder entitled to vote for the election of directors who complies with the notice and information procedures set forth in the Company’s bylaws. Pursuant to Article I, Section 6(b) of the Company’s bylaws, nominations for directors by stockholders in connection with the Company’s next annual meeting must be made in writing and received by the Secretary of the Company at the Company’s executive office not less than 90 calendar days or more than 120 calendar days prior to the date of the Company’s next annual meeting. If, however, less than 100 calendar days’ notice or public announcement of the date of the meeting is given or made to stockholders, nominations must be received by the Company not later than the close of business on the tenth calendar day following the earlier of the day on which notice of the date of the meeting was mailed or otherwise transmitted or the day on which public announcement of the date of the meeting was first made. Nominations must be accompanied by certain information specified in Article I, Section 6(b) of the Company’s bylaws.
Stockholders who intend to solicit proxies in support of director nominees other than the Company’s nominees in connection with the Company’s next annual meeting of stockholders must also provide notice to the Company that contains the information required by Rule 14a-19(b) under the Exchange Act, no later than March 17, 2025. If, however, the date of the Company’s next annual meeting of stockholders is before April 15, 2025 or after June 14, 2025, this notice must be provided by the later of 60 calendar days prior to the date of the annual meeting or the tenth calendar day following the day on which public announcement of the date of the annual meeting is first made by the Company. The notice required by Rule 14a-19(b) is in addition to the advance notice required under Article I, Section 6(b) of the Company’s bylaws for stockholders desiring to submit director nominations.
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Form 10-K
This proxy statement is accompanied by a copy of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2023 filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (excluding exhibits). We encourage you to read the Form 10-K. It includes information on our operations, products and services, as well as our audited financial statements. Although the Annual Report is being provided to stockholders with this proxy statement, it does not constitute a part of the proxy solicitation materials and is not incorporated into this proxy statement by reference. To request a copy of the 10-K, including the financial statements and schedules, as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, call or write to: Bradley M. Glover, Acting Chief Financial Officer, Richmond Mutual Bancorporation, Inc., 31 North 9th Street, Richmond, Indiana 47374; Telephone No. (765) 962-2581. Alternatively, copies of these documents may be obtained from our website, www.firstbankrichmond.com, by clicking on the “Investor Relations” link located at the bottom of our home page.
Other Matters
We are not aware of any business to come before the annual meeting other than those matters described in this proxy statement. However, if any other matter should properly come before the meeting, it is intended that holders of the proxies will act in accordance with their best judgment.
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