John Phelan

John Phelan

Chief Credit Officer

John serves as Chief Credit Officer for AgWest Farm Credit where he oversees portfolio strategy, credit underwriting, credit approval, chattel management, appraisal, adverse asset servicing and funding bank relations.

John was raised near Clancy, Montana. He has a bachelor’s degree in business administration and management from Montana State University-Billings and graduated from the University of Montana with a master’s degree in business administration. He is also a graduate of the Pacific Coast Banking School.

John held a variety of lending and executive roles at AgWest’s predecessor, Northwest Farm Credit Services, since starting there in 1992. He most recently served on the association’s executive team as Executive Vice President – Chief Risk and Credit Officer from 2011 through 2022 and also served as their Senior Vice President – Commercial Lending from 2006 through 2010. Since 2020, he has served on the Farm Credit Foundations Trust Committee, an entity that supports the oversight of the benefit plans, including pension and retirement assets for Farm Credit organizations spanning 41 states and employing over 10,000 employees.

John resides in Cheney, Washington with his wife Michelle. They have three adult children and three grandchildren. John and Michelle spend much of their free time in Montana with friends and family.