The Hancock-Henderson Quill, Inc.
FORTRESS BANK - Ag Department
128 E Main St La Harpe, IL 61450
Community Bank (217) 659-7776
Meet the Ag Department of the Fortress Bank. The local La Harpe branch has been serving the financial needs of their farming customers in La Harpe, Hancock County, Illinois for over 6 years as Fortress Bank. La Harpe office is located at 128 East Main Street, La Harpe.
Agriculture and banking has gone on in La Harpe before the first bank was opened there. The history of La Harpe banking started as The State Bank of Burnside which opened January 9, 1904.
Directors felt there was a great opportunity for growth in the larger city of La Harpe so in 1941 the bank moved to the Elmer Towler room next to the Post Office in La Harpe. There were remodeling upgrades in 1954, 1973, and drive-up window facility in 1981. In 1982 the F.M. Roderick building to the immediate west of the bank was purchased, torn down and new addition built adding several offices.
The local community has remained supportive throughout the upgrades and several name changes, the latest First State Bank to First State Bank of La Harpe to First State Bank of Illinois and now Fortress Bank....and with change comes growth. The bank increased in assets and offerings but has kept its local connections in the community with its agricultural friends.
The Fortress website says it best: "You deserve a rock solid, dependable, knowledgeable Ag. Lender that understands your operation, will be there in good times and in bad, and will help your operation grow. ...We have been providing hard working farm families with the credit they deserve since 1904."
We offer "direct access to the bank's decision makers who are some of the best Ag bankers and advisers in the industry. Innovative and responsible financial solutions provide client access to the funding they need to make your farm operation or agribusiness succeed.…also experience the latest cutting edge banking technology."
If you are looking to buy a farm, pay off an existing contract, refinance a mortgage, or finance a major farm improvement, they offer competitive fixed or adjustable rates, flexible terms, and fast, local decisions on real estate loans.
Farming is a capital intensive business and no lender understands that better than Fortress Bank. Whether you want to buy or lease your next tractor or combine purchase, our financing options can make it happen by designing a term loan that meets your needs, hassle free.
We offer loans to fund:
Feeder cattle, cow/calf producers, hog, dairy or poultry production. Also, get a loan that's as flexible as your farming operation requires. From crop inputs to payroll, a Fortress Bank Operating Line of Credit is a useful cash flow tool to assist with your day-to-day operating expenses.
Fortress Ag lenders also offer a Beginning Farmer Loan Program o provide affordable financing to new, low net worth farmers for financing land and equipment purchases. "We are experienced working with FSA and IFA to provide this financing at below-market interest rates and loan terms."
And don't forget Crop Insurance. "Mother nature provides her own set of challenges every growing season. Hail, wind, drought and disease can destroy your crops and dramatically impact your crop income. At Fortress Bank, we will tailor a crop insurance program that will be the basis for a sound marketing plan, give you the protection you want and maximize your returns.
Fortress offers other farm help such as their popular free Ag Strategies banquet." Anyone in agriculture may attend. This year was its 34th year and due to Covid-19 restrictions, the meeting was held by way of a Zoom webinar.
"We normally have a dinner meeting, but current conditions prevented us from safely doing so," said Andy Bastert, Regional President for the Western Illinois Region of Fortress Bank. "Nevertheless, we were excited to host a quality lineup of Ag speakers."
Those who signed in were still able to take part safely from their home computers and were given farming and tax tips from Bob Rhea – CEO Illinois FBFM, Tax consultant and instructor plus hear from special guest speaker – Stu Ellis, well-known Illinois farm broadcaster.
Andy Bastert is Regional President for the Western Illinois Region of Fortress Bank. He has been loaning money to farmers for 38 years, starting as a loan officer at Mississippi Valley PCA in Pittsfield in 1982. Andy moved to Carthage in 1987 and joined what has become Fortress Bank, heading up the Ag Division and serving on its board of directors. He is joined by a great group of Ag-farm specialists in the Fortress Ag loan department: Mike Bavery, Jake Thomas, Kevin Deitrich, and Stephen Patrick.
Something new Fortress Ag department is doing is sending to their Ag customers' email, a helpful "CORNBELT UPDATE." The April update of their weekly farm newsletter includes:
Commodity market price drivers, Farm Business, Weather, Climate and Carbon, Agri-politics and more! The bank offers several Ag services of which you can call one of the loan officers and inquire of their services.
Fortress Bank La Harpe lobby hours, drive-up hours and online banking services at their website at www.bankfortress.com.
Fortress Bank La Harpe is open Monday to Saturday and closed on Sundays. The branch opens at 8:00am in the morning based on regular opening and closing hours of Fortress Bank and may also be subject to changes. Please call the branch at 217-659-7776 to verify hours before visiting.
Fortress is a Federal Reserve non-member bank, FDIC Insured with online banking available at bankfortress.com.
Fortress Bank branches are in two states with branches in Illinois at: La Harpe, Carthage, Hamilton, Colusa, Blandinsville, Macomb, Monmouth, Peoria and in Davenport, Iowa.
La Harpe Regular Hours (excluding holidays)