Lena State Bank

What Lena State Bank does

Lena State Bank is a privately held community bank, now operating as a division of Foresight Bank following the May 1, 2025 consolidation of six long-standing community banks (German American State Bank, State Bank of Davis, State Bank of Freeport, State Bank of Herscher, Lena State Bank, and Foresight Bank) under a single charter. The bank is headquartered in Winnebago, Illinois, serves Northwest Illinois, and is the oldest financial institution in Stephenson County with multi-generational local customer relationships. The bank delivers a full-service community banking platform organized across five product divisions: Personal Banking (checking, savings, money market, youth accounts, personal loans, credit cards, CDs/IRAs, and the Prestige Plus Club premium program for customers age 50+ with $25,000+ deposit balances), Business Banking (commercial deposit accounts, commercial lending, agribusiness, treasury management, merchant services via Evolv, and commercial credit cards), Mortgage (fixed-rate, ARM, construction, FHA, VA, lot loans), Wealth Management (trust, investment management via Atlatl Advisers, and brokerage via Cetera Investment Services), and Digital Banking (online and mobile banking via Apiture, FIS-powered identity, Apple Pay/Google Pay digital wallets, budgeting tools, and card controls).

The bank operates a hybrid distribution model combining physical branches and an ATM network across Northwest Illinois with a digital banking stack built on third-party core platforms: Apiture powers online/mobile enrollment and the Internet Banking System (IBS), FIS Global provides identity management for retail and wealth access, and ProfitStars handles online loan payments. Security relies on a defense-in-depth architecture with PKI, network segmentation (VLANs, sub-nets, NAT), SSL/VPN/IPSec, and 90-day password expiration. Mobile deposit, biometric login, smartwatch compatibility, and card controls operate inside the Foresight Mobile Banking App. Compliance is anchored by FDIC insurance, GLBA data-privacy controls, USA PATRIOT Act CIP procedures, and Illinois Community Reinvestment Act obligations.

Revenue is generated primarily through interest income on the lending portfolio (consumer auto/home-equity, mortgage, commercial term loans/lines of credit, ag term loans, ag real estate, and livestock), plus deposit-account maintenance and transaction fees, interchange on commercial Visa cards, merchant processing referral economics through Evolv, and brokerage/wealth referral economics through Cetera and Atlatl. Pricing includes tiered monthly maintenance fees tied to minimum-balance thresholds (e.g., $25,000 for Foresight Commercial Money Market), free-item thresholds with per-item charges above, and minimum-deposit gating for premium product tiers. GTM is a sales-led relationship model executed by local bankers plus self-serve product-led digital enrollment — augmented by community events, Prestige Plus Club travel and seminars, financial calculators, and digital-wallet partnerships.

Name

Lena State Bank

Legal name

Lena State Bank

Website

https://lenastatebank.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1986

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Lena State Bank is a community bank division of Foresight Bank serving consumers, businesses, farmers, and homeowners in Northwest Illinois with personal banking, commercial and ag lending, mortgages, wealth management, and digital banking services.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

NAICS

Depository Credit Intermediation (5221)

SIC

State Commercial Banks (6022)

akta.pro primary industry

Digital Banking & Neobank Platforms (BPAMAFAD)

Keywords

• Community banking services
• Commercial lending solutions
• Agricultural banking programs
• Residential mortgage lending
• Wealth management services

Headquarters

HQ city

Lena

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Interest Income from Lending: The bank originates and holds personal loans (auto, home equity), mortgage loans, commercial loans (term loans, lines of credit, equipment loans, commercial real estate), and agricultural loans. Interest earned on these loan portfolios is the primary revenue driver. Both fixed-rate and adjustable-rate mortgage products are offered, along with construction, lot, FHA, and VA loans.
2. Deposit Account Fees and Service Charges: Monthly maintenance fees apply on accounts that fall below minimum balance requirements (e.g., $1,500 for Foresight Business Savings, $25,000 for Foresight Commercial Money Market). Paper statement fees are charged when eStatements are not enrolled. Transaction fees apply above free item thresholds (e.g., $0.50 per item above 350 free debit items).
3. Wealth Management and Brokerage: Revenue is generated through partnerships with Cetera Investment Services (brokerage services including mutual funds, stocks, bonds, annuities, brokered CDs) and Atlatl Advisers (investment management and financial planning). These are fee-based services offered at the bank's locations.
4. Prestige Plus Club Membership Fees: Premium banking program for customers age 50+ with $25,000+ in deposit relationships. While club benefits include free checks and ATM refunds, the minimum balance requirement and account structure generate fee revenue and sticky deposits.
5. Commercial Credit Card: Visa commercial credit cards issued through Foresight Bank, generating interchange revenue and competitive rebates for business customers.
6. Merchant Services: Payment processing services for business customers through partnership with Evolv, generating transaction fees on point-of-sale, contactless, mobile, and online payments.
7. Ancillary Banking Services: Fees for safe deposit boxes (50% discount for Prestige Plus Club members), cashier's checks, notary services, and coin services at participating branches.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels8 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Lena State Bank is a community bank providing deposit accounts, consumer and commercial loans, mortgage financing, agricultural lending, treasury management, merchant card services, and wealth management products to individuals, businesses, and farmers in Northwest Illinois. Banking products are delivered through branch locations, relationship managers, and an online/mobile digital banking platform, supported by partners such as Apiture (digital banking), FIS Global (identity), Cetera (brokerage), Atlatl Advisers (investment management), and Evolv (merchant services).

Product overview

Lena State Bank operates as a division of Foresight Bank, offering a comprehensive community banking platform organized across five core divisions: Personal Banking, Business Banking, Mortgage, Wealth Management, and Digital Banking. Personal Banking includes checking, savings, money market, and youth accounts alongside personal loans and credit cards, supported by the Prestige Plus Club premium program for customers 50+. Business Banking encompasses commercial deposit accounts, commercial lending, agribusiness services, merchant services, treasury management, and commercial credit cards. Mortgage provides home loan products including fixed-rate, ARM, FHA, and VA mortgages plus lot and construction loans. Wealth Management offers trust services, investment management through Atlatl Advisers, and brokerage services via Cetera Investment Services. Digital Banking features online and mobile banking with the Foresight Mobile Banking App, digital wallet (Apple Pay/Google Pay), debit card controls, budgeting tools (My Spending), Bill Pay, and financial calculators. The bank also provides ancillary services such as safe deposit boxes, night deposit, notary services, and a Fraud Center. The portfolio functions as a unified platform with integrated digital banking tying together all account types, complemented by partner integrations for specialized services like investment management and merchant processing.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Foresight Commercial Checking:
• Foresight Commercial Analysis Checking
• Foresight Commercial Money Market
• Foresight Business Checking
• Foresight Business Savings
• Foresight Ag Checking
• Foresight Ag Money Market
• Foresight Prestige Plus Club
• Foresight Prestige Checking
• Foresight Prestige Protect Checking

Quantifiable outcome

• Funds available within 2 business days for mobile check deposits
• +3 more outcomes

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration10 records

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• ApiturecoreTechnology or IntegrationApiture provides the digital banking platform powering Lena State Bank's online and mobile banking services. The bank's online enrollment portal and digital banking interface are hosted on Apiture's infrastructure (gateway.apiture.com/GASBGVIL).
• FIS GlobalcoreTechnology or IntegrationFIS Global provides identity management and authentication services for Lena State Bank's digital banking platform. Customers access their accounts through FIS Global's identity platform (login2.fisglobal.com/idp/0476A/).
• EvolvcoreTechnology or IntegrationEvolv provides merchant card processing services including point-of-sale transactions, contactless payments, mobile device payments, online payments, and gift card/loyalty programs. Lena State Bank refers business customers to Evolv for payment processing solutions.
• Cetera Investment Services, LLCcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCetera Investment Services provides a full array of brokerage services including mutual funds, stocks, bonds, brokered CDs, US government securities, annuities, tax-favored investments, and 529 College Savings Plans at Foresight Bank locations. Cetera is an independent registered broker/dealer, member FINRA/SIPC. Services available at the Freeport, IL Foresight Bank Office.
• Atlatl AdviserscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAtlatl Advisers is an independent Registered Investment Adviser and multi-family office providing investment management, financial planning, estate planning, tax planning, insurance planning, retirement plan services, and business consulting. Partnered with Foresight Bank to deliver personalized wealth management to customers.
• Illinois Treasurer's Office - Ag Invest ProgramcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerIllinois Ag Invest Program offers below-market fixed-rate loans through a partnership between Lena State Bank and the Illinois Treasurer's Office. Loans can be used to purchase equipment, secure a line of credit, purchase land, and cover construction costs for agricultural operations.
• County FSA (Farm Service Agency) OfficialscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLena State Bank partners with local county FSA officials to offer Beginning Farmer Loans (designed to help new farmers overcome entry barriers) and FSA Guaranteed Loans (providing favorable terms including long-term fixed rates and favorable loan structures for all producers).

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• State Bank of Freeport: Sister division under Foresight Bank, also located in Northwest Illinois. Operates as a community bank division with similar personal and commercial banking products, branch-based GTM, and local decision-making model - making it a direct internal comparable for cross-division performance benchmarking.
• Busey Bank: Illinois-headquartered community bank with personal, commercial, mortgage, and wealth management services across central Illinois. Comparable Midwest community banking positioning with full-service product suite overlapping Lena's offerings.
• Old National Bank: Midwest community bank holding company with full-service banking across personal, commercial, mortgage, and wealth. Comparable in Midwest community banking positioning with similar emphasis on relationship-based service and broad product suite.
• Heartland Financial USA: Midwest-based community bank holding company operating multiple community bank charters across the Midwest and West. Multi-charter community banking model is directly comparable to Foresight Bank's six-bank consolidated structure.
• Nicolet National Bank: Midwest community bank headquartered in Wisconsin with full-service personal, business, and ag banking. Comparable in Midwest community banking positioning with similar emphasis on local decision-making and relationship-based service.
• Midland States Bancorp: Illinois-based community bank holding company with full-service banking across personal, commercial, mortgage, and wealth management. Comparable in Midwest geography and scale to Lena's parent Foresight Bank, providing a useful external benchmark for community banking economics.
• German American State Bank: Sister division under Foresight Bank with the same community banking model, ag lending focus, and Northwest Illinois geography. Operates on the same Apiture digital platform and Foresight Bank product suite, making it the closest internal comparable to Lena State Bank.
• First Mid-Illinois Bancshares: Illinois community bank holding company offering personal banking, commercial lending, mortgage, and wealth management across rural and mid-sized Illinois markets. Comparable Midwest geography and customer segments make it a relevant external community bank peer.

Broad incumbents

• Huntington Bancshares: Larger Midwest regional bank offering personal, business, commercial, mortgage, and wealth management across the region. Represents the scale-up competitor Lena faces as customers grow into more sophisticated banking needs, and a benchmark for what scaled Midwest banking looks like.
• JPMorgan Chase: National banking incumbent with extensive Midwest presence across commercial, mortgage, wealth, and digital banking. Represents the large-bank competitive threat Lena faces for retail deposits and commercial lending, particularly as JPMorgan expands into smaller markets.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

Compliance5 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles19 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 Lena State Bank