Fortifi Bank

What Fortifi Bank does

Fortifi Bank is a Wisconsin-chartered community bank operating through nine branch locations across Berlin, Green Bay, Green Lake, Montello, Omro, Oshkosh, Ripon, Waunakee, and Winneconne. Founded in 1876 as First National Bank of Berlin, the bank rebranded to Fortifi Bank in the 2010s and is the operating subsidiary of publicly traded First Berlin Bancorp, Inc. (OTCQX: FTFI), incorporated in 1991. Its product set spans personal banking (Simple Checking, Checking+, Loyalty+, savings, CDs, IRAs, HSAs, mortgages, home equity, construction, personal and auto loans) and business banking (Leadership, Enterprise, Treasury, and NOW Checking accounts, business savings and CDs, SBA Preferred Lending, term loans, lines of credit, agricultural loans, and merchant card services through Wind River). Wealth management and investment services are delivered via partnerships with Nest Egg and Sugar Maple Asset Management.

The bank runs a traditional community-banking technology stack consisting of online banking, iOS/Android mobile apps, telephone banking (TeleLine), an ATM network, and a treasury management platform with EZdeposit remote capture, Positive Pay, ACH Block/Filter, and Sweep Accounts. Digital features include mobile check deposit, Spin P2P instant payments, instant-issue debit cards with tokenized Apple/Google/Samsung Pay support, and card on/off controls. AI/ML deployment is limited to standard transaction-monitoring fraud alerts; no proprietary models or AI-driven underwriting are disclosed.

Fortifi Bank earns revenue primarily through net interest income on its ~$578M loan portfolio (CRE, residential mortgages, commercial, consumer, agricultural) funded by ~$584M in deposits, supplemented by mortgage-banking gain-on-sale, interchange on Mastercard debit, treasury management fees, wealth management advisory fees, and account service charges. Its Q1 2026 net interest income was $7.4M and quarterly net income was $2.8M ($1.08/share). Customer segments are horizontally diversified across individuals, SMBs, agricultural operations, municipal entities, and nonprofits, with local decision-making, dedicated business bankers, and SBA Preferred Lender status positioned as primary differentiators against larger regional and national competitors.

Name

Fortifi Bank

Legal name

First Berlin Bancorp, Inc.

Website

https://fortifibank.com

Company type

Public

Founded year

1876

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Fortifi Bank is a 150-year-old Wisconsin community bank operating nine branches across the state, offering personal and business banking, mortgages, SBA loans, treasury management, and wealth management to consumers, small businesses, agricultural operations, and municipal entities.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Community Banking

NAICS

Commercial Banking (522110), Savings Institutions and Other Depository Credit Intermediation (522180)

SIC

State Commercial Banks (6022)

akta.pro primary industry

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

akta.pro secondary industry

SBA/Government-Backed & Development Finance Loans (FSAKAGAI)

Keywords

• Community banking services
• Personal banking products
• Business lending services
• Treasury management solutions
• Mortgage loan origination

Headquarters

HQ city

Berlín

HQ country

El Salvador

HQ region

Latin America

Offices10 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Net Interest Income: Interest income earned on loan portfolio (commercial real estate, residential mortgages, commercial loans, consumer loans) minus interest paid on deposits. Primary revenue driver representing approximately $7.4-7.5 million per quarter.
2. Mortgage Banking Income: Revenue from originating and selling mortgage loans, including gain on sale of mortgages and loan servicing fees.
3. Interchange Revenue: Fees earned from debit and credit card transactions processed through MasterCard network.
4. Wealth Management Fees: Advisory fees from investment management and financial planning services through partnerships with Nest Egg and Sugar Maple Asset Management.
5. Treasury Management Fees: Fees for cash management, ACH/wire services, account reconciliation, Positive Pay, and other business banking services.
6. Service Charges and Fees: Monthly maintenance fees, ATM fees, overdraft fees, and other account service charges.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels7 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Fortifi Bank is a Wisconsin-based community bank operating 9 branches across the state, delivering personal and business banking services including checking and savings accounts, CDs, IRAs, HSAs, mortgage and consumer loans, business lending (including SBA Preferred Lending), treasury management, and wealth management. Services are delivered through in-branch relationship banking, online and mobile platforms, telephone banking, and ATM access. Revenue is generated primarily through net interest income on the loan portfolio (commercial real estate, residential mortgages, commercial, consumer), supplemented by mortgage banking income, interchange, wealth management fees, treasury management fees, and account service charges.

Product overview

Fortifi Bank is a community banking organization offering a comprehensive suite of personal and business banking products. The personal banking lineup includes three checking account tiers (Simple Checking, Checking+, and Loyalty+), savings accounts (Simple Savings and Loyalty Reserve), CDs, IRAs, and HSAs. Loan products span mortgages, home equity, construction, lot/land, personal loans, and auto financing. For business customers, the bank provides four checking account types (Leadership, Enterprise, Treasury, and NOW Checking), business savings and money market accounts, term loans, SBA loans, lines of credit, and agricultural loans. The Treasury Management platform offers cash management, ACH/wire services, remote deposit (EZdeposit), sweep accounts, fraud prevention (Positive Pay, ACH Block/Filter), and merchant card services. Digital banking is delivered through online and mobile platforms with features including mobile check deposit, bill pay, P2P payments (Spin), and mobile wallet support. Investment and wealth management services are provided through partnerships with Nest Egg and Sugar Maple Asset Management. The bank operates nine Wisconsin branches and is celebrating its 150th anniversary in 2026.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Nest Egg: Investment services partner providing customized investment plans, portfolio management, and financial advisory through Nest Investments LLC, a Registered Investment Advisor.
• Sugar Maple Asset Management

Products and services

• Simple Checking A hassle-free personal checking account with $50 minimum opening deposit, no minimum balance, and no monthly maintenance fees, targeted at everyday consumer banking customers.
• Checking+ A modern everyday consumer checking account offering choice of 5% cash back on up to $200 in debit card purchases OR 4.07% APY on balances up to $15,000, with no minimum balance, no monthly fees, optional round-up savings, and ATM refunds up to $10 per month, with qualifications of 18 debit purchases, direct deposit/ACH, and eStatement enrollment.
• Loyalty+ An exclusive premium personal checking account for clients maintaining $50,000 in combined loans/deposits, offering uncapped interest (0.20%-1.01% APY), a free financial plan, free cashiers checks, $250 off first mortgage closing costs, 0.25% off non-real estate consumer loans, with $25 monthly fee if qualifications not met.
• Simple Savings A personal savings account earning competitive interest on the entire balance, requiring a $100 minimum opening deposit with $5 monthly fee waived when average balance is at least $100.
• Loyalty Reserve A premium personal savings account earning 4x higher rate than average savings with uncapped interest, no minimum monthly balance, and 5 free debit transactions per month.
• Certificates of Deposit (CDs) Fixed-rate personal CD accounts with guaranteed rates for terms ranging from 30 days to 5 years, automatically renewable with competitive interest rates.
• 150th Anniversary CD A special 23-month personal CD offering 4.15% APY with 150 days of penalty-free withdrawal flexibility, available during the bank's 150th anniversary year (effective 4/15/26), $10,000 minimum opening deposit.
• Individual Retirement Accounts (IRAs) Tax-advantaged retirement savings accounts available as Traditional or Roth IRAs with $10 minimum deposit and no setup or maintenance fees, for individuals saving for retirement.
• Health Savings Accounts (HSAs) Tax-advantaged personal accounts for individuals with high-deductible health plans to pay for qualified medical expenses with pre-income-tax dollars.
• Mortgage Loans Local residential mortgage financing with competitive rates and flexible terms including 30-year (6.500% rate / 6.534% APR), 20-year (6.545%), and 15-year (6.375% rate / 6.431% APR) fixed-rate options, with local Wisconsin decision-making and processing.
• Home Equity Loans Competitive consumer financing based on home equity, available as lump-sum loans or HELOC lines of credit for major purchases, debt consolidation, or home remodeling.
• Lot & Land Loans Personal financing for residential lots or undeveloped land with flexible repayment schedules, for primary residences, vacation homes, or investment property.
• Construction Loans Personal construction financing that converts to a permanent mortgage upon completion, with fast local draw process and expert guidance throughout the building phase.
• Personal Loans Flexible personal consumer financing for various needs including family vacations or other expenses, with competitive rates and local streamlined processing.
• Auto Loans Personal vehicle financing with fast turnaround and pre-qualification options for negotiating at dealerships, processed locally in Wisconsin.
• Mastercard Debit Card Free personal Mastercard debit card with 24/7 account access, global purchasing capability, ATM withdrawals, mobile wallet support (Apple Pay, Google Pay, Samsung Pay), EMV chip technology, Mastercard Zero Liability Protection, Mastercard ID Theft Protection, fraud monitoring, and instant-issuance option at branch (printed in 15 minutes or less).
• Online & Mobile Banking Digital banking platform providing 24/7 access to account balances, fund transfers, bill pay, mobile check deposit, Spin P2P payments, card on/off control, and personal finance management tools via web and native iOS/Android mobile apps.
• Wealth Management Comprehensive financial planning, private banking, and investment management services for individuals, partnered with Sugar Maple Asset Management, including insurance and risk management.
• Leadership Checking Business checking for community groups, churches, clubs, and non-profits with $100 minimum opening deposit, unlimited free transactions, and no monthly service fee.
• Enterprise Checking Business checking for small Wisconsin businesses with 300 free transactions per month, $10 monthly fee if balance requirements ($500 daily or $2,500 average) are not met.
• Treasury Checking Interest-bearing business checking for mid-to-large-size businesses with high transaction volume, with usage-based fees offset by earnings credit.
• NOW Checking Interest-bearing business checking for sole proprietors, municipalities, and non-profits with 50 free transactions and $750 minimum average balance requirement ($10 monthly fee if below).
• Business Savings & CDs Business savings accounts including Business CDs, Business Savings, and Business Money Market with FDIC insurance and tiered interest rates.
• Business Term Loans Customized commercial financing for commercial real estate, construction, equipment, letters of credit, and SBA-backed loans with local Wisconsin decision-making.
• Small Business Administration (SBA) Loans SBA-backed financing for Wisconsin small businesses with government guarantee, extended terms, and lower down payments; Fortifi Bank is an SBA Preferred Lending Partner for faster local processing.
• Business Lines of Credit Flexible revolving credit for Wisconsin businesses providing working capital support with interest charged only on the portion used.
• Agricultural Loans Specialized financing for Wisconsin agricultural operations including operating lines of credit, term loans, real estate mortgages, and FSA/WHEDA guaranteed loans for farmers.
• Treasury Management A suite of business cash management solutions for Wisconsin businesses including Cash Manager, ACH & Wire Services, Account Reconciliation, EZdeposit remote deposit, Sweep Accounts, Positive Pay fraud prevention, and ACH Block/Filter controls.
• Cash Manager Online cash management platform providing Wisconsin businesses with 24/7 finance control, direct deposit payroll, wire transfers, ACH transactions, and loan payments.
• EZdeposit Remote check deposit service allowing Wisconsin businesses to deposit checks from their office using a scanner, converting paper checks to digital images.
• Positive Pay Fraud prevention service for Wisconsin businesses comparing issued checks against authorized list, notifying of discrepancies and holding payment pending review.
• ACH Block & Filter ACH debit control service allowing Wisconsin businesses to block all ACH debits or filter to allow only authorized company debits.
• Sweep Account Automatic fund transfer service sweeping excess business funds into FDIC-insured interest-bearing accounts or back to checking to maintain a target balance, for Wisconsin business cash management.
• Merchant Card Services Credit card and electronic payment acceptance services for Wisconsin businesses, provided through partnership with Wind River (Wisconsin-based, family-owned merchant card services provider).

Quantifiable outcome

• 4.15% APY on 150th Anniversary CD compared to national average of 1.46-1.67% APY for similar term CDs
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration3 records

AI capability1 record

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Nest Egg (Nest Investments LLC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNest Egg provides investment advisory services to Fortifi Bank customers through a partnership arrangement. They offer online investment platform for portfolio management, retirement planning, and financial goal setting. Services available in-branch, via video consultation, or from home.
• Sugar Maple Asset Management, LLCcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSugar Maple Asset Management provides investment management services in partnership with Fortifi Bank's wealth management team. They help clients develop portfolios suited for current and future needs across stocks, bonds, mutual funds, and ETFs.
• U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFortifi Bank is a SBA Preferred Lending Partner, enabling faster small business loan decisions with local processing. SBA loans provide government-backed financing for small businesses including debt financing, surety bonds, and equity financing.
• Wind RivercoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorWind River is a Wisconsin-based, family-owned company providing merchant card services. Fortifi Bank partners with Wind River to offer credit card and electronic payment acceptance services to business clients.
• Junior Achievement of WisconsinminorGTM or Marketing PartnerFortifi Bank partners with Junior Achievement of Wisconsin to provide financial literacy education in local schools, including teaching 8th graders about saving, budgeting, credit cards, and credit scores.
• Markesan School DistrictminorGTM or Marketing PartnerFortifi Bank team members visit Markesan School District classrooms to read financial education books and teach simple money lessons to elementary students.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Broad incumbents

• Associated Banc-Corp: Wisconsin's largest community-oriented bank, operating broadly across personal, business, and wealth banking. Overlaps with Fortifi but at much greater scale and with a more diversified product set.
• Commerce Bancshares: Midwest regional bank holding company with community banking model and commercial lending focus across multiple states. Comparable on business model though broader geographically.
• Old National Bancorp: Midwest-focused regional bank with community banking approach across multiple states. Comparable on relationship-based commercial and consumer banking, though at substantially larger scale.
• First Merchants Corporation: Midwest community-focused bank with commercial, ag, and wealth management services. Comparable on diversified community bank model though operating across a multi-state footprint.

Direct peers

• First Business Financial Services: Wisconsin-headquartered business bank focused on commercial lending, SBA loans, and treasury management—directly comparable to Fortifi's business banking segment.
• Nicolet Bankshares: Wisconsin-based community bank holding company with similar focus on SME, commercial, and ag lending across the state. Closest direct comparable by geography and product mix.
• Lakeland Financial: Indiana community bank with comparable commercial, ag, and consumer banking model. Useful peer for benchmarking community bank operating metrics and capital returns.
• Bank First Corporation: Wisconsin community bank with branch network serving consumers and small businesses across the state. Directly comparable on size, deposit base, and community banking model.
• S&T Bancorp: Pennsylvania-based community bank with similar deposit/loan profile and community banking model. Useful size and product mix comparable for small-bank analysis.

Regional players

• Independent Bank Corp: Massachusetts-based community bank with comparable commercial lending and retail banking model. Comparable on business mix, though serving a different regional geography.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/fortifibank

Compliance4 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles16 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

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 Fortifi Bank