Can a Bank Really Be Flexible?

If you’ve heard our radio ads, visited our website or come into one of our bank offices, you have probably heard us talk about being flexible as a community bank. But, what does that really mean? Can a bank really be flexible? We think so.

We believe being flexible sets us apart from financial institutions who are often slow to make loan decisions or are unwilling to look at each customer uniquely. Deerwood Bank is different. Our decisions aren’t made in a box, and we don’t abide by rules and guidelines of a parent company or ‘corporate office’.

Not convinced? Still wondering how a bank can be flexible? Here are three things that make Deerwood Bank flexible:

Family-Owned Community Bank

Since we opened our first location in Deerwood, MN in 1910, we’ve been family-owned. Since then, we have expanded to 12 other locations, and our dedication to the communities we serve has remained strong.

Being family-owned not only allows us to serve our community, but also to be flexible in our decision-making. We are not bound to the rules or strict guidelines of a large, national bank.

Our team lives, works and plays in the same community as you and your family. We have a genuine interest in seeing our clients and communities succeed.

More Than the 5 Cs

At Deerwood, our loan committee meets at least once a week in the conference room of your local branch. Our leadership team, lenders and even the bank president gathers to discuss loan applications.

One by one, we go through each application, reviewing the applicant and their story. While we factor in the 5 Cs of credit, we also factor in the applicant’s history, strategy, and dreams.  It is based on these factors that we make our decisions, not just the 5 Cs.

Organizational Flexibility

Being flexible means we can respond quickly to industry trends and demands. We strive to make banking an experience that our clients love – one that is nice and simple.

The most recent example of this flexibility is the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) that was brought on by the Coronavirus pandemic. Businesses scrambled to connect with their bankers, get their applications in and receive funding that would relieve some of the financial strain of the pandemic. We have heard repeatedly of businesses who worked with the large, national banks that never received a call back or weren’t able to receive funding from the PPP because they couldn’t get ahold of their banker, or worse, the bank’s automated process failed. We were honored to partner with hundreds of businesses across Minnesota to get access to this vital funding.

Over our century of service, Deerwood has earned a reputation for our ability to serve clients better by being flexible. Our clients continually tell us that being flexible makes us different than other banks they have worked with.

Is your bank flexible? Do they know your history, plans, and goals?

We would be honored to be a partner in your story.