Buena Vista Bancorp

What Buena Vista Bancorp does

Buena Vista Bancorp operates Buena Vista National Bank (BVNB), a privately held, FDIC-insured national community bank headquartered at 1309 Swanwick Street in Chester, Illinois. The bank serves retail consumers, small-to-medium businesses, and agricultural customers across rural southern Illinois through branch and lending-team locations in Chester, Red Bud, Decatur, Prairie du Rocher, and Mount Vernon. It markets itself on more than a century of community presence and local decision-making authority, offering a full personal-banking suite (multiple checking tiers, savings, CDs, IRAs, mortgages, auto loans, personal loans, and HSA accounts), a business-banking stack (checking, savings, commercial money market, ACH origination, Merchant Deposit Capture, equipment leasing, AG and commercial loans), and an investment-services line delivered through a partnership with LPL Financial.

The technology layer is a hybrid of in-house digital channels and vendor-supplied platforms: a proprietary online banking portal, iOS/Android mobile banking app with remote deposit, Notifi real-time push/text/email alerts, Positive Pay check-fraud controls, Mastercard-branded debit cards with digital-wallet support (Apple Pay, Google Pay, Samsung Pay), Shazam's R.A.D.A.R. neural-network fraud scoring, Wolters Kluwer's online mortgage application, and QuickBooks/Quicken Web Connect for SMB accounting. Underlying core processing and digital infrastructure are not disclosed.

The revenue model is that of a traditional spread-and-fee community bank: primary income is net interest income from consumer, mortgage, commercial, and agricultural lending, supplemented by transaction and account fees (checking maintenance, ATM/debit card, wire transfer, safe deposit boxes), merchant-services referral revenue (via The POS Consultants), and commissions from the LPL Financial investment-services referral. Distribution is community-led and relationship-driven, supported by a marketing mix of local branches, lending officers, BV Bankwise financial-education content, a monthly BVNB Fraud Watch series, and an active Facebook/Instagram/YouTube presence.

Name

Buena Vista Bancorp

Legal name

Buena Vista National Bank

Website

https://bvnb.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1999

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Buena Vista Bancorp operates Buena Vista National Bank, a privately held community bank headquartered in Chester, Illinois, offering consumer, business, agricultural, and investment banking services across multiple rural Illinois communities through branch locations and digital channels.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Community Banking

NAICS

Commercial Banking (52211), Depository Credit Intermediation (5221)

SIC

National Commercial Banks (6021)

akta.pro primary industry

SME Deposits & Business Accounts (Operating, Savings, CDs) (FSABABAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Account & Balance Services (Operating accounts, statements, eBAM) (FSABAIAD), A2A Checkout & Merchant Acceptance Solutions (FSAMAFAF)

Keywords

• Community banking services
• Consumer deposit accounts
• Commercial lending products
• Agricultural loan financing
• Residential mortgage lending

Headquarters

HQ city

Chester

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices6 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Interest Income: Traditional bank revenue from interest earned on loans including mortgages, auto loans, personal loans, and commercial/agricultural loans
2. Deposit Account Fees: Monthly maintenance fees, minimum balance fees, and transaction fees on checking and savings accounts
3. ATM and Card Fees: Fees from ATM withdrawals, debit card transactions, and card replacement services
4. Investment Services Commission: Securities and advisory services offered through LPL Financial - bank earns referral/commission revenue
5. Wire Transfer and Service Fees: Fees for wire transfers, money orders, fax services, photocopies, and other convenience services
6. Merchant Services: Credit/debit card processing fees and POS system services through third-party partner ThePOSConsultants

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Buena Vista National Bank is a community bank providing personal and business deposit accounts (checking, savings, money market, CDs, IRAs), consumer and commercial lending (personal, auto, mortgage, agricultural, equipment leasing, business), merchant card processing, and investment/insurance referral services through LPL Financial. Service is delivered via Illinois branch locations supported by mobile and online banking channels, with a focus on local decision-making for retail and small/mid-sized business customers.

Product overview

Buena Vista National Bank operates as a community bank offering a unified banking platform with personal, business, and investment services. The core banking products include multiple checking and savings account types (BV Rewards, Vista Gold Rewards, Zen Card, Senior Checking, Regular Savings, Christmas Club, Money Market, BV Kids Club, and Health Savings Accounts). Lending products span consumer loans (personal loans, auto loans including the Hero Auto Loans sub-brand), and mortgage products (HELOC, Fixed Rate Mortgages, First Time Home Buyer, In-house, Commercial, and Construction Loans). Investment services are provided through a partnership with LPL Financial. Business banking includes specialized checking, savings, debit cards, AG/Commercial loans, and equipment leasing. Digital banking features include mobile and online banking, digital wallets (Apple Pay, Google Pay, Samsung Pay), Notifi Alerts, Positive Pay fraud protection, ACH Origination, eStatements, ePay, TransferNOW, and Merchant Deposit Capture. The bank also offers convenience services including Safe Deposit Boxes, Wire Transfers, Travel Club, BVNB Fraud Watch educational content, and ID Theft Protection. All products are supported by FDIC insurance and the bank leverages third-party integrations including QuickBooks/Quicken, digital payment wallets, and mortgage application platforms.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Buena Vista Investment Services: Investment services offered through LPL Financial, providing investment consulting, financial planning, and insurance products with Financial Advisor Crystal Lance.
• BVNB
• BV Kids Club
• BV Travel Club
• Hero Auto Loans
• BV Bankwise
• Notifi

Products and services

• BV Rewards Checking Interest-earning personal checking account with rewards offering high yield on balances up to $15,000 when qualifications (12+ debit-card POS transactions, eStatements, direct deposit/BillPay) are met, plus nationwide ATM fee refunds and free eStatements/ePay/online banking.
• Vista Gold Rewards Checking Basic personal checking account with free monthly statement, basic style checks, and reduced service charge for accountholders utilizing multiple banking features or maintaining $500 minimum balance.
• Zen Card Youth Checking Free personal checking account designed for customers aged high school through 29 years, with a free Zen Card featuring an exclusive design, free eStatement, and no monthly service charge.
• Senior Checking Free personal checking account for customers age 55 and older with complimentary BV Check Card and no monthly service charge.
• Regular Savings Account FDIC-insured interest-bearing personal savings account with $2 monthly fee if balance falls below $100, free automatic transfers, and optional BV Check Card.
• Money Market Account Interest-earning personal money-market savings account requiring $1,000 minimum opening balance with $5 monthly fee if balance falls below $500.
• BV Kids Club Youth Savings Youth savings account for children ages 0-12 with $25 opening requirement, piggy bank gift, stickers for deposits, contests, giveaways, and quarterly Bright Star Award program.
• Health Savings Account (HSA) Tax-advantaged savings account for qualified medical expenses for individuals enrolled in a High Deductible Health Plan, with $50 opening balance, interest earning, and FDIC insurance.
• Certificates of Deposit (CDs) Guaranteed-return personal time deposits with competitive rates, terms as short as 3 months, $500 minimum opening balance, no monthly fees, and quarterly interest payout.
• Individual Retirement Accounts (IRAs) Tax-advantaged retirement savings available as Traditional or Roth accounts through CD or Savings vehicles, with potential tax deductibility and $25 minimum opening for IRA Savings.
• Coverdell Education Savings Account Tax-advantaged education savings account for a child's qualified education expenses, with IRS-set contribution limits and flexibility over time.
• Personal Loans Unsecured consumer loans for vacations and personal expenses with competitive rates, quick approval (typically under one hour), automatic payment options, and online credit/debit card payment capability.
• Auto Loans Vehicle financing for new and used automobiles with competitive rates, flexible terms, quick turnaround, automatic payment options, and 24-hour online/mobile servicing.
• Hero Auto Loans Specialized auto loan program for active/retired military, veterans, EMS personnel, teachers, nurses, doctors, firefighters, and police officers featuring 4.49% rate for up to 72 months on 2022-or-newer vehicles with 680+ credit score; BVNB donates half of documentation fees to Tunnel to Towers Foundation.
• Residential Mortgage Loans Comprehensive home-lending suite including Home Equity Line of Credit (HELOC) with 1.99% introductory fixed rate for six months, Fixed Rate Mortgages in 15/20/30-year terms, First Time Home Buyer programs with as low as 5% down, In-House and Commercial Mortgages, and Construction Loans.
• Small Business Checking Checking account for small businesses with free account maintenance when balance is above $500, 250 free monthly transactions, and free QuickBooks/Quicken Web Connect integration.
• Regular Business Checking Monthly-statement business checking account with maintenance fees based on debits and transit items deposited, with an earnings credit based on minimum collected balance.
• Business Savings Account Interest-earning business savings with $50 minimum opening balance, unlimited deposits and transfers, and no fees when a $100 monthly balance is maintained.
• Commercial Money Market Account Business money market savings with $1,000 minimum opening balance, interest accrual paid monthly, and no fees when $500 monthly balance is maintained.
• Business Debit Card Mastercard debit card program for businesses allowing employee card privileges with customizable spending limits and access to the Privileged Status surcharge-free ATM network.
• AG & Commercial Loans Agricultural and commercial lending for land purchase, equipment acquisition, and operational expenses, leveraging the bank's more than 100 years of regional lending experience and dedicated local lending teams.
• Equipment Leasing Business equipment leasing program with 100% financing, no down payment required, variable payment terms structured for seasonal businesses, and flexibility for tax-objective structuring.
• Online Banking 24/7 web-based online banking platform at bvnb.onlinebank.com for account viewing, fund transfers, loan payments, check reordering, stop-payment requests, eStatements, eNotices, ePay bill payment, and TransferNOW external transfers, free for enrolled customers.
• Mobile Banking App Smartphone banking application for iOS and Android enabling balance viewing, money transfers, bill payments, mobile check deposits, and 24/7 account access, with enrollment via the online banking portal.
• ACH Origination Service Electronic payment origination service for payroll, vendor payments, and receivables collection delivered through BVNB business online banking.
• Merchant Services Payment processing services including credit/debit card processing, POS systems, gift and loyalty cards, mobile-phone and internet processing gateways, merchant cash advances, ATM sales, and equipment repair and supplies, delivered in partnership with The POS Consultants.
• Buena Vista Investment Services Wealth-management and investment-services offering delivered through LPL Financial, providing investment consulting, financial planning, retirement products, and insurance products with Financial Advisor Crystal Lance.
• Safe Deposit Boxes Personal safe deposit box storage offered in various sizes at BVNB branches, with a $5 annual discount for Vista Gold Rewards accountholders.
• Wire Transfer Service Bank-to-bank money transfer service for secure, convenient fund transfers between financial institutions.
• BV Travel Club Group travel program for BVNB customers with $5,000 on deposit or an active checking account, offering escorted trips, travel points, member discounts, and financial-planning seminars.

Quantifiable outcome

• Most consumer loans approved in less than one hour
• +2 more outcomes

Segments8 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration6 records

Feature6 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• LPL FinancialcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSecurities and advisory services are offered through LPL Financial, a registered investment advisor and broker-dealer (Member FINRA/SIPC). Crystal Lance serves as LPL Financial Advisor providing investment consulting, financial planning, and insurance products to BVNB customers. This is a core partnership for the bank's investment services offering.
• The POS ConsultantsminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorThird-party merchant services provider offering credit/debit card processing, POS systems, gift & loyalty cards, mobile phone processing, internet processing gateways, merchant cash advance, equipment repair & supplies, and ATM sales. Contact: (844) 781-4700.
• MastercardcoreTechnology or IntegrationMastercard serves as the debit card network for BVNB's business and personal debit cards, providing global acceptance and Mastercard ID Theft Protection benefits for cardholders.
• ShazamcoreTechnology or IntegrationShazam provides debit card processing, fraud detection (R.A.D.A.R. neural network technology), cardholder verification, and the Privileged Status ATM network for surcharge-free withdrawals. Also handles after-hours card issues and disputed transactions.
• DeluxeminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorTrusted check printing provider for personal and business check reorders through BVNB website
• Tunnel to Towers FoundationminorOthersBVNB donates half of every Hero Auto Loan documentation fee to the Tunnel to Towers Foundation, which honors firefighter Stephen Siller and supports military and first responders who have made sacrifices

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• First Mid Bancshares: Illinois-based community bank holding company with comparable mid-size footprint, full-service consumer and business banking, and AG lending exposure — the most direct comparable for BVNB's market and product mix.
• Midland States Bancorp: Midwest community bank with similar deposit, commercial lending, and equipment leasing products, providing a close comparable on scale, business model, and product breadth.
• Banterra Bank: Illinois- and Indiana-based community bank offering personal, business, and AG lending across similar rural and small-town markets, making it a strong comparable for BVNB's community banking franchise.
• Town & Country Bank Illinois: Illinois community bank serving central Illinois with consumer, business, and AG lending — directly comparable to BVNB in scale, geographic orientation, and full-service offerings.
• Heartland Bank and Trust Company: Illinois-based community bank with multi-county branch network and AG, commercial, and consumer banking — a close comparable on geographic strategy and product mix.
• First Bankers Trust Company: Illinois-based community bank with consumer, business, and trust services — directly comparable in scale and product breadth to BVNB.

Broad incumbents

• First Merchants Corporation: Larger Midwest bank holding company operating across Indiana, Illinois, Ohio, and Michigan with similar commercial and consumer banking products — provides an incumbent-scale benchmark.
• Old National Bank: Major Midwest regional bank with full consumer/business banking and significant AG lending franchise — relevant as a larger-scale competitor pursuing many of the same customers.
• Pinnacle Financial Partners: Larger Southeast/Mid-Atlantic community-focused bank with strong SMB and treasury services franchise — illustrates the upper-end scaling path available to community banks like BVNB.

Regional players

• Stock Yards Bank & Trust: Mid-size community bank serving Kentucky/Ohio/Indiana with personal, business, and wealth management — comparable in community-bank positioning though operating in a different region.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@BuenaVistaBank?sub_confirmation=1
• Facebookfacebook.com/BuenaVistaNationalBank
• Instagraminstagram.com/BuenaVistaNationalBank
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/buena-vista-national-bank

Compliance5 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Buena Vista Bancorp