Commercial State Bank

What Commercial State Bank does

Commercial State Bank is an independent, FDIC-insured community bank chartered in Nebraska in 1925 and headquartered in Wausa, operating three branches across the state in Wausa, Nebraska City, and Elkhorn. The bank serves individual consumers, small and medium-sized businesses, and agricultural producers with a full suite of deposit products (Regular Checking, EZ Checking, NOW, Money Market, Passbook Savings, Arch Club, CDs, IRAs) and lending categories covering consumer, commercial, agricultural, and real estate loans, with a stated average loan maturity of five years or less reflecting its short-term lending orientation.

Underlying technology is largely assembled through third-party partnerships rather than proprietary development. Customer-facing digital channels include the CSB Mobile app (mobile deposit, alerts, bill pay, funds transfer) and web-based Online Banking. Credit card issuance is handled through Elan Financial Services under Visa and Mastercard licenses; point-of-sale payment processing is powered by Elavon (VirtualMerchant terminals and mobile app, MerchantConnect reporting); electronic signatures via DocuSign; card security controls via SecureLock; after-hours card services via Transfund; and self-help calculators via CalcXML. Remote Capture Deposit allows commercial customers to deposit on-site.

The revenue model is a traditional community bank mix: net interest income from lending (consumer, commercial operating lines, commercial real estate up to 80% LTV, agricultural operating and real estate loans up to 65% LTV, residential including FHA up to 96.5%) supplemented by deposit account fees (monthly maintenance, per-check, overdraft, returned-check charges), interchange and credit card revenue via Elan, and business services fees (POS processing, payroll, cashier's checks, wire transfers, safe deposit boxes). Deposit APYs range from 1.25% to 4.05% across products. The bank is privately held, has no parent company, and has not raised institutional capital; it has recently transitioned leadership from President Doug Johnson (retired June 2025 after four decades) to Joe Bender.

Name

Commercial State Bank

Legal name

Commercial State Bank

Website

https://www.wausabank.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1925

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Commercial State Bank is an independent Nebraska community bank, founded in 1925, operating three branches in Wausa, Nebraska City, and Elkhorn, and serving consumers, small businesses, and agricultural borrowers with deposits, consumer/commercial/ag/real estate lending, and digital banking.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Community Banking

NAICS

Commercial Banking (522110), Depository Credit Intermediation (5221)

SIC

State Commercial Banks (6022)

akta.pro primary industry

General SME & Middle-Market Commercial Banking (FSABABAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Mass-Market Consumer Deposit Banking (Checking/Savings) (FSABAAAA), SME Business Lending (Term Loans, Lines of Credit, Overdrafts) (FSABABAB), Retail Lending (Personal Loans, Auto, Credit Lines) (FSABAAAB)

Keywords

• Community banking
• Agricultural lending
• Consumer loans
• Commercial banking
• Deposit accounts

Headquarters

HQ city

Wausa

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Interest Income from Lending: Primary revenue stream from lending activities. Commercial State Bank is primarily a short-term lending institution with average loan maturity of five years or less. Offers consumer loans (personal, auto, pleasure craft, energy loans), commercial loans (operating lines of credit, equipment, trucking, real estate), agricultural loans (livestock, equipment, real estate), and residential real estate loans.
2. Deposit Account Fees and Services: Monthly maintenance charges, per-check charges, overdraft fees, returned check charges, minimum balance fees, and annual maintenance charges on various deposit accounts including Regular Checking, EZ Checking, NOW Accounts, Money Market, Passbook Savings, and Certificates of Deposit.
3. Credit Card Revenue: Revenue from credit card products including Visa and Mastercard options. Cards are issued through Elan Financial Services pursuant to licensing agreements.
4. Business Solutions Services: Point-of-sale payment processing services powered by Elavon, payroll direct deposit services, and business credit cards generating transaction fees and interchange revenue.
5. Banking Service Fees: Fees from services including cashier's checks, personal money orders, wire transfers, safe deposit box rentals, and night deposit services.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

Commercial State Bank is an independent, locally owned and managed community bank operating three branches across Nebraska (Wausa, Nebraska City, and Elkhorn). It offers a full range of consumer and business banking services including deposit accounts (checking, savings, money market, certificates of deposit, IRAs), consumer loans, real estate mortgages, commercial loans, agricultural loans, credit cards, and merchant business solutions such as POS, remote deposit capture, and payroll. Customers access accounts through online and mobile (CSB Mobile) banking platforms alongside traditional branch service.

Product overview

Commercial State Bank is an independent, locally owned community bank offering a comprehensive suite of banking products and services across three Nebraska locations (Wausa, Nebraska City, and Elkhorn). The bank's product portfolio centers on traditional deposit accounts (checking, savings, money market, CDs, IRAs) and lending services (consumer, commercial, agricultural, and real estate loans) enhanced by digital banking capabilities including Online Banking and CSB Mobile app with Mobile Deposit. Business customers benefit from Point-of-Sale Solutions powered by Elavon, Remote Capture Deposit, and Payroll Services. The bank also issues Visa and Mastercard credit cards through Elan Financial Services. All products are delivered with personalized customer service backed by small-town values, with local decision-making and quick turnaround times.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Deposit Accounts (Checking, Savings, Money Market, Certificates of Deposit) FDIC-insured retail and business deposit products including checking accounts (Basic, NOW, Super, Senior), savings and money market accounts, and certificates of deposit with term-based rate tiers. Aimed at individuals, households, and businesses seeking local banking and competitive interest options.
• Individual Retirement Accounts (Traditional, Roth, SEP IRAs) Tax-advantaged retirement savings accounts offered in Traditional, Roth, and SEP varieties for individuals and small-business retirement planning. Targeted at individuals and small-business owners building retirement savings.
• Personal Credit Cards (CSB Visa and Mastercard) Personal credit cards issued through Elan Financial Services under Visa and Mastercard networks, available to bank customers with disclosed APRs and cardholder management features. Targeted at individual consumers seeking credit card financing from their existing bank.
• Business Credit Cards Business-purpose credit cards offered by the bank through its card platform, enabling business owners to manage working expenses and revolving credit. Targeted at small and mid-sized local business customers.
• Consumer Loans Personal installment loans for individuals' borrowing needs, originated locally by Commercial State Bank. Targeted at personal/family consumers seeking installment credit.
• Real Estate Loans / Residential Mortgages Mortgage and home-equity lending for purchasing or refinancing residential property. Targeted at homebuyers, homeowners, and real estate investors in the bank's Nebraska service area.
• Commercial Loans Working capital, equipment, and term loans for commercial enterprises, originated by Commercial State Bank with local underwriting. Targeted at small and mid-sized businesses in Nebraska.
• Agricultural Loans Crop, livestock, equipment, and operating loans tailored to the cycles of agricultural producers. Targeted at farmers, ranchers, and agribusinesses in the bank's rural Nebraska service area.
• Online Banking Web-based banking platform providing account viewing, bill pay, e-statements, transfers, and account management. Targeted at consumers and businesses preferring self-service digital banking.
• CSB Mobile (Mobile Banking App) Native mobile banking application for iOS and Android offering mobile deposit, balance inquiries, transfers, SecureLock debit card controls, and account management. Targeted at retail and business customers on smartphones and tablets.
• Point-of-Sale (POS) Merchant Solutions Card-acceptance merchant processing and POS equipment provided through the bank's relationship with Elavon. Targeted at small and medium-sized business merchants seeking integrated payment acceptance.
• Remote Deposit Capture Service enabling business clients to deposit checks electronically from their place of business via a scanner or device. Targeted at business customers seeking to streamline receivables and deposits.
• Payroll Services Payroll processing service for business clients, integrated with their bank accounts. Targeted at small and mid-sized businesses looking to simplify payroll through their bank.
• Banking Services (Cashier's Checks, Money Orders, Wire Transfers, Night Deposit, Safe Deposit Boxes, Bond Checks, Stop Payments) Ancillary personal and business banking services including cashier's checks, money orders, outgoing wires, night deposit drops, safe deposit box rentals, bond redemption checks, and stop-payment requests. Targeted at consumer and business customers needing transactional banking services.

Quantifiable outcome

• Quick local loan decisions with local decision-makers
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration6 records

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Elan Financial ServicescoreTechnology or IntegrationElan Financial Services is the creditor and issuer of Visa and Mastercard credit cards offered by Commercial State Bank, pursuant to licensing agreements with Visa U.S.A. Inc. and Mastercard International Incorporated. Elan provides zero fraud liability, 24/7 cardmember service, and mobile purchasing capabilities.
• ElavoncoreTechnology or IntegrationElavon powers Commercial State Bank's point-of-sale solutions, providing in-store payment processing terminals that securely accept all types of credit card payments, debit cards, and foreign cards. Also provides VirtualMerchant Mobile App for on-the-go payment acceptance.
• Nebraska Energy OfficeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerProvides low-interest energy loan program for home improvements including energy efficient windows, new furnaces, air conditioners, and insulation. Commercial State Bank facilitates these loans to qualified customers.
• Visa U.S.A. Inc.coreOEM/ Whitelabel/ Licensing PartnerLicenses Visa credit card products to Commercial State Bank through partnership with Elan Financial Services.
• Mastercard International IncorporatedcoreOEM/ Whitelabel/ Licensing PartnerLicenses Mastercard credit card products to Commercial State Bank through partnership with Elan Financial Services.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves12 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Broad incumbents

• Heartland Financial USA (HTLF): Multi-state community bank holding company operating independent community banks across the Midwest and Southwest; directly comparable business model of operating community banks that compete for local deposits and SME/ag loans.
• Great Western Bank: Mid-size regional commercial bank serving agricultural and small-business customers across the Midwest and West, including Nebraska; overlaps with Commercial State Bank on ag and SME banking even though it serves a broader footprint.
• First Interstate BancSystem: Community-focused regional bank holding company with concentrated Western and Midwestern presence; comparable in its deposit-driven, relationship-led commercial and consumer banking model to a multi-branch community bank.
• Wells Fargo & Company: One of the largest U.S. commercial banks with nationwide branch presence including Nebraska; competes for consumer deposits, small-business banking, mortgages, and ag-related commercial lending in the same local markets.
• First National Bank of Omaha: Large Nebraska-headquartered commercial bank offering consumer, business, and agricultural banking across multiple states; relevant as the dominant in-state incumbent competing for the same SME, consumer, and ag deposit/lending relationships.

Direct peers

• Heritage Bank (Nebraska): Long-established Nebraska community bank providing consumer, commercial, and ag lending; close geographic and product overlap with Commercial State Bank for in-state small-town lending and deposit relationships.
• Pinnacle Bancorp: Independently owned Nebraska-based community bank holding company headquartered in Omaha, providing commercial, consumer, and agricultural lending plus deposit services across multiple Nebraska branches — closely mirrors Commercial State Bank's community banking model in the same state.
• MidWestOne Financial Group: Midwest-focused community bank holding company with commercial, consumer, and ag lending across Iowa, Minnesota, and adjacent states; comparable in scale and product set, even if the geographic focus is shifted one state east.
• Platte Valley Bank: Nebraska-based community bank focused on agricultural and small-business lending; comparable in size, geography, and product specialization to Commercial State Bank's Wausa/Nebraska-area franchise.
• Cornerstone Bank: Independent Nebraska community bank focused on ag, commercial, and consumer lending; comparable in size and scope to Commercial State Bank and competing directly for the same small-town deposit and loan relationships.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/CommercialStateBank

Compliance4 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 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 Commercial State Bank