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Consider your favorite local establishments.

What’s your favorite area restaurant? How about your go-to local recreation center or golf course? Is there a nonprofit organization in the community you support?

There’s a good chance, in one form or another, an area community bank played a role in establishing, enhancing, or supporting many of your local favorites.

Don’t just take our word for it.

According to the Independent Community Bankers of America (ICBA), community banks (often referred to as “America’s Favorite Lenders”):

• Provide roughly 60% of all small business loans
• Make more than 80% of agricultural loans
• Have nearly 50,000 locations nationwide
• Employ nearly 700,000 people

WHAT’S SPECIAL ABOUT COMMUNITY BANKS?

Community banks play a crucial role in the U.S. financial system by providing access to credit and other financial services to individuals and small businesses in local communities. They tend to have a better understanding of the needs of their clients and are more responsive to those needs compared to larger banks.

In addition to providing financial services, community banks are key to community development. They are often involved in community initiatives, such as supporting local businesses, funding community projects, and providing financial education to residents. These initiatives contribute to the overall economic growth of the communities they serve, creating jobs and improving the quality of life for residents.

Most important, community banks are relationship-based financial institutions, unlike larger banks that tend to be more transaction-oriented.

With community banks, when you save and spend, your money gets invested into local and small businesses which support your local community. As a result, your neighborhoods blossom and you thrive.

The ICBA also reports that:

• Over 75% of U.S. adults agree that locally based lending decisions are important when determining where to bank.
• 69% of U.S. adults recognize the importance of banking with a locally based financial institution.
• 70% of U.S. adults cite the importance of personal banking relationships in choosing where to bank.

As you can see, community banks are kind of a big deal.

ARE ALL COMMUNITY BANKS THE SAME?

No.

By definition, community banking organizations are those with less than $10 billion in assets, according to the Federal Reserve. And fundamentally, community banks are considered to be well-established financial institutions that work to support the communities they serve. And, community banks, like other banking entities, must follow all applicable regulations.

Beyond that, however, how an individual community bank operates and chooses to advocate for and support their communities is up to them.

HOW DOES PARK BANK SUPPORT ITS COMMUNITY?

Sure, we love banking, but we didn’t get into this business simply for that reason. We do it for the love of helping the people and businesses in our community thrive.

At Park Bank, our vision is a stronger community that embraces diversity, leads the conversation around equity and inclusion, and stands at the forefront of positive change. That’s why we donate time, resources, and money toward local causes to make a difference in the lives of people who make our home a place unlike anywhere else.

We have the statistics to prove it!

Here are some highlights:

• As a local business ourselves, we employ more than 170 associates that work in the Dane County area.
• In 2022, we committed more than $300 million in loans to support several local projects, such as:
  • New business development
  • Existing business growth
  • New housing development
  • Local retail business expansion
  • Local housing opportunities

Nonprofit organizations are a significant area of importance, and we believe in mission-driven nonprofit banking.

• In 2022, we:
  • Supported 430 nonprofit clients
  • Financed more the $28,000,000 for nonprofit clients
  • Volunteered 3,927 hours
  • Donated $540,509 to local organizations

Every year, we offer all our associates 16 hours of paid time off to volunteer (and many of our employees choose to volunteer in the community on their own time)!

WE LOVE CHAMPIONING FOR OUR BUSINESS CLIENTS!

We enjoy supporting the businesses that bank with us and helping them flourish.

Chances are, if you’re a client, you will see Park Bank associates stopping in occasionally to experience your establishment – or just to say “hello” and ask how you’re doing. And when we visit, we like to promote your business. After all, we’re in this together – when you succeed, we succeed!

We encourage you to check out some of the wonderful things Park Bank businesses and partners are doing in the community on our social channels (Facebook, LinkedIn, or Instagram).

PARK BANK’S DEDICATION

We will forever be committed to Dane County.

We opened our doors on Park Street in 1966, and our growth in the more than 50 years since is a result of the community sharing and respecting our values.

Our ability and desire to support this great community continues to grow, and we have learned over the years that when we give back, we all move forward.

WHAT CAN PARK BANK DO FOR YOU?

We find purpose in making each unique vision a reality. Whether you’re seeking a savings account or mortgage, striving for financial independence or prosperity, opening a new business or expanding in the heart of our ever-growing community, we’re committed to getting you to your next, and whatever comes after it, too.

Whatever your financial goals, we are here to help you reach them.

Join others in your community and begin your journey with us by contacting one of our local, dedicated community bankers today!

Let’s get you, your business, and our community to next!