The Hancock-Henderson Quill, Inc.
La Harpe In 2014, First State Bank of Illinois expanded the bank footprint with the opening of a loan production office in the Quad Cities. Late last year a building was purchased at East 53rd Street and Interstate 74 in Davenport, IA.
A new full service banking center will open for business in that location in January, 2018.
Now that the bank has expanded beyond Illinois, the time has come to develop a brand that is not tied to a certain geographic area.
On December 1st, First State Bank of Illinois will become Fortress Bank. A new logo will be introduced along with the new name, symbolizing the trust, innovation, and strength of a dynamic financial institution.
Our customers should rest assured that we are not changing ownership, said Andy Bastert, President - Western Illinois Region. Fortress Bank will continue to serve our communities with the same focus on agriculture, business, and mortgage banking, and our staff will not be impacted in any way.
We are also committed to our ties with the communities in which we live and work. Community support has been an integral part of our bank s history and will continue.
The foundation of Fortress Bank was built on providing best in class banking products and services to the agriculture based communities served by the bank. Over the years Fortress Bank has evolved into a full service commercial bank with expertise in business banking as well as mortgage lending.
Fortress Bank is approaching $400 million in assets, a new record for the bank. This level of assets does not include our sizable residential mortgage servicing portfolio.
Bank History
First State Bank began business in 1904 in the west-central Illinois town of Burnside. The bank is a privately held organization that serves customers in western and central Illinois, eastern Iowa, and throughout the Midwest.
The bank currently operates ten banking centers located in La Harpe, Carthage, Hamilton, Macomb, Monmouth, Peoria, Pekin, Blandinsville and Colusa, and Bettendorf, Iowa.
The bank s impressive growth is attributed to these three unique advantages: (1) Direct access to the bank s decision makers who are some of the best ag, business and mortgage bankers and advisers in the industry; (2) commitment to providing our customers with the latest technology in banking; and (3) Innovative and responsible financial solutions to enable our clients access to the funding they need to make their dreams become reality.