Shared Commitment to Growth: Landwehr Tax & Accounting and Deerwood Bank

For nearly 20 years, Landwehr Tax & Accounting has provided tax and accounting services to Central Minnesota, with a focus on small businesses. What began as a solo practice has grown into a full-service firm with ten full-time team members. Known for their personalized service and deep financial expertise, they specialize in tax planning, accounting, and business consulting.

Founder Cherie Landwehr teamed up with CPA Kayla Backes and Business Manager Ashley Kerzman to grow the women-owned firm into a trusted resource for clients across the region.

As the firm expanded its services and client base, it began searching for a larger office to support its growth. During this process, the team met Jacki Templin, Central Market President. After finding a property they loved, they reached out to Jacki to see if they could obtain a financing proposal on the purchase of the new site.

Shared Business Values

Landwehr Tax & Accounting was looking for a banking partner that offered more than just competitive rates—they wanted personalized service and a clear understanding of their business challenges.

“It was clear from the beginning that Deerwood Bank was different. Their team came to our office to meet with us, talk about our plans and really understand our needs. We felt very confident in the team and their expertise,” says Backes.

“We believe our success is because of our consistent communication with clients, how we remove the complexity from tax and accounting, and by working hand-in-hand with our clients,” Landwehr adds. “These are exactly the characteristics we found and appreciate in working with Deerwood Bank.”

Expertise in Tailored Financing

Having a strong grasp of the financial world themselves, the Landwehr team had a clear idea of what they needed, including partial support through the SBA 504 loan program.

“There are many small intricacies to the 504 program. Jacki and her team worked directly with the SBA to make sure no detail was overlooked. They coordinated the whole thing with our representative at Minnesota Business Finance Corp (MBFC),” Cherie recalls.

Just like their own approach with clients, Landwehr appreciated Deerwood Bank’s clear, consistent communication throughout the entire process—they were never left wondering where things stood.

More Than Just a Bank

Landwehr Tax & Accounting toured their future building in mid-March and closed by April 30—thanks to the speed and expertise of the Deerwood team. With financing secured quickly, they were able to move into their newly remodeled office space ahead of schedule.

Impressed by the experience, the firm expanded on its relationship with Deerwood Bank – opening up business checking accounts, savings accounts, and a line-of-credit. Since then, they’ve benefited from online banking tools, transparent pricing, and streamlined financial management—all in one place.

“Having our accounts at Deerwood Bank makes the financial management side of the business more convenient and less confusing. We can easily transfer funds between accounts, make payments, and can easily run over to Deerwood Bank’s local branch when we need to,” says Kerzman.

What began as a financing partnership has grown into a lasting relationship—complete with mutual referrals and a shared commitment to supporting local businesses. The comprehensive banking solution Deerwood provided has not only met Landwehr’s immediate needs, but positioned them for continued growth and long-term success.