State Sen. Travis Holdman, R-Markle, has been named 2025 Legislator of the Year by the Indiana Bankers Association. The award was presented Sunday, Sept. 7, at the IBA Annual Convention in French Lick. It was the second time Holdman received the award, making him the only lawmaker to be honored with the recognition more than once.
The Legislator of the Year award recognizes Sen. Holdman for his stewardship of a strong banking environment in the Hoosier State. He currently serves as Senate Majority Caucus Chair for Indiana Senate Republicans and chairs the Senate Committee on Tax and Fiscal Policy.
Through his committee leadership this past year, he amended language into HEA 1001 that created new board oversight for TrustINdiana and its foreign investments. This new oversight creates greater transparency over how the fund operates, providing significant benefit to communities across Indiana.
"Indiana banks are key to supporting small businesses, strengthening communities and helping Hoosier families achieve their financial goals," Holdman said. "I value the partnership built between IBA, local institutions and others as we work together to encourage continued growth and success among communities across the state, and I am grateful to the IBA for this recognition."
Sen. Holdman is well acquainted with the banking industry. He worked as a community banker, even chairing the Community Bankers Association of Indiana in 2004. (CBAI went on to merge with the IBA on Jan. 1, 2007.) He also has experience on the regulatory side of the industry, having chaired the Indiana Department of Financial Institutions Board of Directors, and now works as a senior vice president for KeyState, an IBA Preferred Service Provider offering investment subsidiary services and entity management services to community banks.
At the Statehouse, Holdman represents Senate District 19, which includes Adams, Blackford, Jay and Wells counties and a portion of Allen County. In addition to his leadership positions, he is a member of the Senate Committee on Appropriations and Senate Committee on Rules and Legislative Procedure.
Holdman is a member of the National Conference of Insurance Legislators, Indiana State Bar Association, Wells County Bar Association and the national board of directors for Youth for Christ USA.
“This is a special year for the Association as we get to honor not just an ally but a true friend in Sen. Holdman,” said Dax Denton, chief policy officer for the IBA. “A former chair of one of our predecessor organizations, Sen. Holdman understands the role community banks serve for their neighbors and how best to equip them to be local economic drivers. The Indiana Bankers Association is pleased to name Sen. Holdman as the 2025 IBA Legislator of the Year.”
Holdman earned a bachelor’s degree from Southeast Missouri State University, a master’s degree from the University of St. Francis, and a juris doctorate from Indiana University.