50 Years of History

Bell Bank’s growth as a locally owned, independent bank is the result of our commitment to service. We’ve added convenient neighborhood banks and trust services, and we continually invest in the growth of the communities we serve.

  • 2017  Bell opens loan/deposit production offices in Maple Grove and White Bear Lake, Minn. A decade of Pay It Forward surpasses $11 million in giving.
  • 2016  Brand simplified to Bell Bank; Bell Plaza location in Bloomington opens as loan production/deposit production office; majority shareholders announce employee stock ownership plan (ESOP) to give employees part ownership in company; assets reach more than $4 billion, with trust assets under management of more than $5 billion.
  • 2015  Bell State Bank & Trust acquires Northland Plaza building in Bloomington, Minn., with plans to expand mortgage and banking services to serve the south Twin Cities metro.
  • 2014  Bell State Bank & Trust moves downtown Fargo location to remodeled historic building at 15 Broadway; wealth management division also relocates to this downtown location. Bank opens a location in Woodbury, Minn., our second bank serving the Twin Cities, and launches new Bell Capital Finance division to offer structured senior cash flow loans.
  • 2013  Bell State Bank &Trust opens full-service bank in Breckenridge, Minn. and new bank building in Wahpeton, N.D. Veterans Boulevard location opens at 5680 23rd Avenue South in Fargo, N.D. Bell acquires The Business Bank in Minneapolis and its Prime Mortgage division.
  • 2012  State Bank & Trust is renamed Bell State Bank & Trust. Bank purchases First National Bank, with locations in Hawley and Dilworth, Minn. New location opens at 5500 Wayzata Blvd. in Minneapolis, Minn.
  • 2011  Minneapolis-based Bell Mortgage (founded in 1880) becomes a division of State Bank & Trust.
  • 2010  State Bank & Trust’s Fergus Falls location moves into a newly built bank. By year’s end, State Bank & Trust grows to $2 billion in assets, with trust assets under management of $2.3 billion.
  • 2009  State Bank & Trust grows to $1.9 billion in assets, with trust assets under management of $2.1 billion.
  • 2008  State Bank & Trust opens full-service bank in Wahpeton, N.D.
  • 2007  State Bank & Trust opens full-service bank in Fergus Falls, Minn. Michael Solberg announces unique Pay It Forward program to empower charitable giving.
  • 2006  State Bank & Trust opens full-service bank in Alexandria, Minn., and HealthcareBank becomes a division of State Bank & Trust.
  • 2005  State Bank & Trust opens full-service banks in Audubon and Detroit Lakes, Minn.
  • 2004  State Bank & Trust opens full-service bank in Pelican Rapids, Minn.
  • 2003  State Bank of Fargo, State Bank of West Fargo and State Bank of Moorhead merge into one corporation; State Bankshares acquires Northern Capital Trust, and our name changes to State Bank & Trust.
  • 2002  State Bank Mortgage & Loan offices open in Alexandria and Pelican Rapids, Minn.
  • 2001  State Bank Mortgage & Loan opens in Detroit Lakes, Minn. Time Square location opens at 5050 13th Avenue Southwest in West Fargo, N.D.
  • 2000  Southpointe location opens at 3545 25th Street South in Fargo, N.D.
  • 1996  State Bank of Moorhead, Minn., begins operations, relocating in 2000 to 1333 South 8th Street.
  • 1994  New location opens at 51 Broadway in downtown Fargo, N.D.
  • 1992  Main office moves to 3100 13th Avenue Southwest in Fargo, N.D. making Northport location a bank branch.
  • 1989  First State Bank of West Fargo, with assets of $17 million, is purchased and renamed State Bank of West Fargo.
  • 1987  Second location opens at 2501 South University Drive in Fargo, N.D.
  • 1968  Bank facility is built adjacent to Northport Shopping Center, with additions in 1973 and 1983.
  • 1966  State Bank of Fargo is chartered in Fargo, N.D.