What Pine Country Bank does

Pine Country Bank is a privately held community bank headquartered in Little Falls, Minnesota, founded in 1927 as Royalton State Bank and operating under the Pine Country Bank brand since expanding across Central Minnesota. The bank serves agricultural producers, small businesses, individual consumers, and homebuyers through a full-service platform spanning personal and business checking and savings accounts (Basic, Evergreen, Now, Money Market), certificates of deposit, IRAs, HSAs, personal and business debit and credit cards, home mortgages (conventional, FHA, VA, Rural Development, construction), SBA loans, and a deeply specialized agricultural lending suite that includes USDA Farm Service Agency guaranteed and direct loans, Minnesota Department of Agriculture Rural Finance Authority participation loans, and Farmer Mac secondary market programs. Distribution is anchored by four physical branches in Little Falls, Rice, Royalton, and Sauk Centre, expanding to five with the January 2025 merger of First State Bank of Sauk Centre, which added a Minneapolis location and brought combined total assets to approximately $401M.

The bank's technology infrastructure consists of the Secure Internet Bank web platform and dedicated iOS and Android mobile applications for consumer and business banking, supporting mobile check deposit, online bill pay, e-statements, text banking, Zelle and TransferNow person-to-person payments, QuickBooks Desktop integration, and Positive Pay check fraud detection for businesses. Card processing is delivered through partnerships with Fiserv (debit and fraud services) and Elan Financial Services (Visa credit cards), and customers access surcharge-free cash through the MoneyPass ATM network and a 24-hour Telebanc telephone banking channel. There is no public-facing API or developer SDK; the digital platform is consumer-only.

The business model is a traditional community bank net interest income model supplemented by transaction and service fees. Primary revenue derives from interest on agricultural, commercial, commercial real estate, mortgage, and consumer loans; secondary revenue includes deposit account maintenance and excess transaction fees, debit and credit card interchange, mortgage origination and servicing fees, and digital banking usage fees. Pricing follows a tiered subscription model for deposit accounts (Basic Checking $0/month, Evergreen Checking $6/month, Business Checking $5/month, Business Now with interest-earning tiers) with fee waivers tied to minimum balance requirements. Customer acquisition is sales-led and relationship-based, driven by local lender relationships, community event sponsorship, branch traffic, and digital content marketing — there is no venture funding, no institutional capital, and no public ticker.

Name

Pine Country Bank

Legal name

Pine Country Bank

Website

https://pinecountrybank.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1927

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Pine Country Bank is a privately held community bank headquartered in Little Falls, Minnesota, serving agricultural producers, small businesses, consumers, and homebuyers across Central Minnesota through four branches (expanding to five) and a digital banking platform, with specialized government-backed farm lending programs.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Community Banking

NAICS

Depository Credit Intermediation (5221)

SIC

State Commercial Banks (6022)

akta.pro primary industry

Agricultural & Rural Cooperatives (Farm Credit/Co-op Banks) (FSABAEAG)

akta.pro secondary industries

Government-Backed CRE Lending (FHA/HUD/USDA) (FSALADAE), SBA/Government-Backed & Development Finance Loans (FSAKAGAI)

Keywords

• Community banking
• Agricultural lending
• Retail banking services
• Small business lending
• Residential mortgages

Headquarters

HQ city

Little Falls

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Interest Income from Loans: The primary revenue stream comes from interest earned on agricultural loans, business loans, commercial real estate loans, home mortgages, and personal loans. The bank offers term loans, operating lines of credit, SBA loans, VA loans, FHA loans, and USDA rural development loans.
2. Deposit Account Fees and Service Charges: Monthly maintenance fees on checking and savings accounts, with various fee structures for Basic Business Checking, Business Checking, Business Now Checking, Basic Checking, Evergreen Checking, and Now Checking accounts. Additional fees for excess transactions, paper statements, and other services.
3. Card Transaction Fees: Revenue from debit card and credit card transactions, including foreign ATM transaction fees ($10 per additional card) and merchant transaction processing.
4. Mortgage Origination and Servicing: Fees associated with mortgage loan origination including conventional loans, VA loans, FHA loans, rural development loans, and construction loans. Secondary market sales of mortgages through Farmer Mac and other programs.
5. Mobile and Online Banking Services: Fees for mobile deposit (if applicable per fee schedule), bill pay transactions after free allowance, and other digital banking services.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Pine Country Bank is a community bank offering personal checking and savings accounts, business checking and lending products, specialized agricultural loans (leveraging USDA FSA, Minnesota RFA, Farmer Mac, and SBA programs), and home mortgages (conventional, FHA, VA, USDA Rural Development, construction, and refinancing). It serves Central Minnesota consumers, small businesses, farmers, and homebuyers through four (expanding to five) physical branches, an online and mobile banking platform, and digital tools such as mobile check deposit, online bill pay, and Zelle/TransferNow person-to-person payments.

Product overview

Pine Country Bank is a community bank offering a comprehensive suite of banking products and services through a unified platform. The portfolio spans personal banking (checking, savings, loans, credit/debit cards, HSAs, IRAs, CDs), business banking (checking, savings, loans, credit/debit cards, payment processing), agricultural banking (specialized loans with USDA, SBA, and state agricultural program partnerships), and home mortgages (conventional, FHA, VA, USDA Rural Development, and construction loans). Digital banking services include online banking, mobile banking apps for iOS/Android, mobile check deposit, bill pay, e-statements, text banking, and business services like QuickBooks integration and Positive Pay fraud protection. The bank operates four branch locations in Central Minnesota (Little Falls, Rice, Royalton, Sauk Centre) and serves customers through in-person, online, and mobile channels.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Basic Checking Personal checking account with no monthly service fee and no minimum balance requirement, providing essential banking features for everyday consumer transactions. $25 minimum opening deposit.
• Evergreen Checking Personal checking account that includes all Basic Checking features plus check discounts for a $6 monthly fee, waivable with $2,500 minimum average daily balance.
• Now Checking Interest-bearing personal checking account with three available tiers of competitive interest; $5 monthly fee waived if minimum balance requirement ($700 or $2,500) is met, with $0.20 per debit transaction fee.
• Variable Rate Money Market (Personal) Personal savings account with competitive variable interest rates and FDIC insurance protection.
• Daily Interest Savings Simple personal savings account with minimal opening deposit requirements and FDIC insurance coverage.
• Health Savings Accounts (HSA) Tax-advantaged savings accounts for qualified medical expenses, allowing pre-tax contributions that grow tax-free and can be used for deductibles, copayments, and coinsurance.
• IRA Savings Traditional Individual Retirement Account with tax-deductible contributions and tax-deferred growth until age 73, with competitive CD-rate options.
• Certificates of Deposit (CDs) FDIC-insured time deposits with competitive rates and flexible terms ranging from 3 to 48 months for safe investment growth.
• Personal Loans Consumer installment loans for various purposes including boats, automobiles, motorcycles, recreational vehicles, and other personal financing needs with competitive rates and flexible terms.
• Home Loans Residential lending products including construction loans, in-house real estate loans, property acquisition loans, home improvement loans, first-time homebuyer loans, and secondary market residential real estate loans.
• Personal Lines of Credit Revolving consumer credit options including home equity line of credit (HELOC) and Ready Reserve overdraft protection for flexible access to funds.
• Personal Debit Cards (Visa) Visa debit cards accepted worldwide with secure point-of-sale transactions, ATM withdrawals, balance inquiries, and account transfers, including surcharge-free MoneyPass ATM network access.
• Personal Credit Cards (Visa via Elan) Visa credit cards offered through partnership with Elan Financial Services, providing options including cashback, reward points, and low interest rates.
• Visa Health Savings Account (HSA) Debit Card Debit card providing instant access to Health Savings Account funds for qualified medical expenses with tax advantages.
• Safe Deposit Box Rental Secure storage rental service for valuables and important documents at bank branch locations.
• Basic Business Checking Low-cost business checking account designed for non-profits, clubs, organizations, and small businesses with low transaction activity. $100 minimum opening deposit.
• Business Checking Low-cost business checking account suitable for businesses with moderate transaction activity, with QuickBooks Desktop integration. $5 maintenance fee with per-item charges offset by average balance credits.
• Business Now Checking Interest-earning business checking account with all Business Checking features plus eligibility to earn interest on balances (not available to corporations and partnerships).
• Variable Rate Money Market (Business) Business savings account with competitive interest rates structured in a four-tier plan, offering convenient online bill pay and mobile banking features.
• Term Loans Business loans providing lump-sum capital for purchasing equipment, computers, vehicles, and other business needs with fixed repayment intervals over time.
• Commercial Real Estate Loans Financing for commercial construction, property purchases, or renovations for all commercial real estate applications.
• Working Capital Lines of Credit Revolving credit lines for covering operational expenses on an as-needed basis, ideal for seasonal businesses bridging cash flow gaps during slow periods.
• SBA Loans Government-backed SBA 7(a), SBA Express, and SBA 504 loan programs for small business financing including inventory, equipment, real estate, land, and machinery.
• Real Estate Construction and Development Construction and development financing for residential or commercial property and land acquisition, including letters of credit.
• Business Debit Cards Visa business debit card providing quick access to business checking funds, ATM withdrawals, and ability to accept stress-free credit card payments from clients.
• Business Credit Cards Visa business credit cards for cash flow management, expense tracking, and optional rewards including cash back, points for merchandise, travel, and gift cards, with ability to add authorized card holders.
• Agricultural Real Estate Loans Loans for purchase or refinance of agricultural real estate, providing farmers with land acquisition and refinancing options.
• Livestock and Equipment Loans Financing for livestock purchases and agricultural equipment acquisition for farm operations.
• Farm Construction Loans Construction financing for farm buildings, facilities, and infrastructure projects.
• Farm Operating Lines of Credit Revolving credit lines designed for seasonal farm expenses, allowing farmers to borrow during growing season and repay after harvest.
• Operating Loans Short-term loans for crop inputs, livestock, feed, fuel, machinery, and other farm operational needs.
• USDA FSA Guaranteed Loans Farm Service Agency guaranteed loan programs providing government backing to reduce lender risk for agricultural borrowers.
• USDA FSA Direct Loans Farm Service Agency direct loan programs offering financing directly to farmers who cannot obtain credit elsewhere.
• Minnesota RFA Participation Program Minnesota Department of Agriculture Rural Finance Authority participation program enhancing agricultural lending capacity.
• Farmer Mac Secondary Market Program Secondary market program through Farmer Mac providing additional liquidity and lending capacity for agricultural loans.
• Agricultural SBA Loans Small Business Administration guaranteed and direct loan programs extended to agricultural businesses.
• Community Bank Loan Participation Participation program allowing sharing of agricultural loan risk and capacity with other community banks.
• United Bankers Bank Participation Participation program with United Bankers Bank for enhanced agricultural lending capacity and risk management.
• Conventional Loans Standard mortgage loans for borrowers with strong financial profiles, including fixed-rate, adjustable-rate, and jumbo loan options.
• VA Loans Government-backed mortgages guaranteed by the Department of Veterans Affairs, available to eligible active-duty military, veterans, and surviving spouses with no down payment requirement.
• Rural Development Loans USDA-backed loans for low-to-moderate income homebuyers purchasing properties in eligible rural and suburban areas, featuring no down payment requirement.
• FHA Loans Federal Housing Administration insured mortgages designed for buyers with lower credit scores, requiring as little as 3.5% down payment.
• Construction Loans Short-term financing for building new homes with flexible timelines that account for construction factors like harsh winters.
• Home Mortgage Refinancing Mortgage refinancing options allowing homeowners to potentially lower their interest rate or access home equity.
• Online Banking Web-based banking platform available 24/7 on computers, tablets, and smartphones with secure account access, bill pay, e-statements, and fund transfers.
• Mobile Banking App Native mobile application for iOS and Android devices enabling bill payment, check viewing, mobile deposits, balance monitoring, and inter-account transfers.
• Online Bill Pay Digital bill payment service allowing customers to automatically pay bills on designated dates; first 10 transactions free per monthly anniversary date, then $0.50 per transaction.
• E-Statements Electronic account statements delivered through online banking, providing free access to account history and reducing paper usage.
• Text Banking SMS-based banking service for real-time account balance inquiries, recent transaction history, and account alerts without requiring internet access.
• Mobile Check Deposit Remote deposit capture service enabling check deposits via smartphone camera; $5,000 daily limit per check and per business day.
• Business Mobile Banking App Dedicated mobile application for business clients to view checks, deposits, account balances, and transfer funds between accounts.
• Positive Pay Fraud detection service for business accounts that matches issued checks against those presented for payment to identify potentially fraudulent transactions.
• Payment Processing Services enabling businesses to accept and process customer payments including credit card processing capabilities.
• Fraud Protection Services Security services including manual and automated transaction surveillance for fraud detection and prevention, plus reporting for lost or stolen cards.
• Telebanc 24-hour telephone banking service available from any touch-tone phone at (877) 584-5858.

Quantifiable outcome

• Local decision-making reduces loan approval time compared to national banks with out-of-state committees
• +1 more outcomes

Segments4 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

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• First State Bank of Sauk CentrecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 23 September 2024First State Bank of Sauk Centre will merge into Pine Country Bank with expected completion in January 2025. Both banks are owned by the same Minnesota-based holding company. The merger will add Sauk Centre and Minneapolis branches, increasing Pine Country Bank to five locations with combined assets of approximately $401 million.
• USDA Farm Service AgencycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for guaranteed and direct loan programs for agricultural customers. Enables farmers to access government-backed financing options for farm purchases, operations, and expansion.
• Minnesota Department of Agriculture Rural Finance AuthoritycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerState agricultural financing partnership providing participation programs for Minnesota farmers to access capital for farm operations and purchases.
• Elan Financial ServicescoreTechnology or IntegrationCredit card program partnership providing Visa credit card products to bank customers with various reward options including cash back, travel points, and merchandise rewards.
• FiservcoreTechnology or IntegrationCard services provider for debit card processing, fraud monitoring, and lost/stolen card reporting at (800) 472-3272.
• Farm Business Management ProgramminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAgricultural business management education partnership to help farmers maximize resources and financial planning.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Compeer Financial: Farm Credit System cooperative lender serving Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Illinois with deep agricultural lending expertise; a direct competitor for the same ag borrower relationships that anchor Pine Country's loan book.
• Woodlands National Bank: Small Minnesota community bank serving rural and small-town markets with personal, business, and agricultural lending; very comparable size, footprint, and product mix.
• Bell Bank: Midwest community bank with strong ag and business banking franchises across Minnesota and North Dakota; comparable SBA, USDA, and Farmer Mac participation model.
• Frandsen Bank & Trust: Minnesota community bank holding company with multiple community bank charters offering ag, commercial, and consumer banking; similar relationship-driven rural Midwest model.
• Bremer Bank: Large Minnesota-headquartered community bank serving ag, business, and consumer customers across the Upper Midwest with comparable agricultural lending programs and SBA/government-backed loan offerings.
• Think Bank: Minnesota-based community bank offering personal, business, and mortgage products to similar customer segments in southern Minnesota communities; comparable community banking model.
• Lakewood Bank: Minnesota community bank with personal, business, and mortgage lending in suburban and exurban markets; comparable product set and customer segmentation.
• Stearns Bank N.A. Minnesota-based community bank offering personal, business, and agricultural lending across Central Minnesota with comparable small-business and ag focus; closest direct peer in scale and geography.

Broad incumbents

• Old National Bank: Large regional bank with growing Midwest footprint including Minnesota following recent acquisitions; offers a much broader portfolio of ag, commercial, and consumer products than Pine Country.
• U.S. Bancorp: Major U.S. commercial bank headquartered in Minneapolis with extensive ag, business, and consumer banking capabilities; serves many of the same Central Minnesota customers at scale.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/pinecountrybank
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/pine-country-bank

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles12 records

Subsidiaries1 record

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 Pine Country Bank