FRENCH LICK – State Rep. Jake Teshka, R-North Liberty, has been named 2026 Legislator of the Year by the Indiana Bankers Association. The award was presented Sunday, Sept. 13, at the IBA Annual Convention in French Lick.
The Legislator of the Year award recognizes Rep. Teshka for his stewardship of a strong banking environment in the Hoosier State. He currently serves as chairman of the House Financial Institutions Committee.
Rep. Teshka played a key role in the General Assembly’s work to address fraud involving virtual currency kiosks. Under his leadership, Indiana became the first state in the nation to prohibit the kiosks that, according to the FBI, were used to steal $333 million from scam victims last year.
“I’m honored to be recognized as Legislator of the Year by the Indiana Bankers Association,” Teshka said. “We made tremendous progress in this year’s legislative session to protect Hoosiers from proliferating scams involving cryptocurrency kiosks while also establishing forward-looking guardrails and protections around digital currency. I will continue working with the IBA and other partners to ensure our financial institutions remain strong and Hoosiers can be confident their money is secure.”
Teshka represents House District 7, which includes portions of LaPorte, Marshall and St. Joseph counties. In addition to his chairmanship, he serves on the House Committee on Education and the House Committee on Employment, Labor and Pensions.
“From interchange fees and payments policy to cryptocurrency, stablecoins and virtual currency kiosks, Chairman Teshka consistently took the time to understand both the policy objectives behind legislation and the practical consequences for financial institutions and their customers,” said Dax Denton, chief policy officer for the IBA. “The Indiana Bankers Association is pleased to name Rep. Teshka as the 2026 IBA Legislator of the Year.”
Teshka lives in North Liberty with his wife and two children. He and his family attend The Vineyard Church in Mishawaka, and Teshka supports his community as a Boys & Girls Club volunteer and member of the boards of directors for both the South Bend History Museum and the Boy Scouts of America, LaSalle Council.
He earned a bachelor’s degree from Saint Joseph’s College and a master’s degree from Indiana University-South Bend.
