Minnesota’s largest newspaper has named Stearns Bank one of the state’s Top 150 Places to work in 2019. The annual list released by the Star Tribune is based on employee surveys.

“We are honored to be recognized as one of Star Tribune’s Top 150 Places to Work,” said Stearns Bank President and CEO Kelly Skalicky. “I want to personally thank our employee-owners for creating a culture that is truly inclusive and collaborative. Not only do we pride ourselves on working hard to exceed our customers’ expectations, we are proud of our dedication to the health and well-being of our Stearns Bank family. Year after year, we dare to do better and be better.”

“Stearns Bank champions a culture that values every employee,” said Pam Bjerke, chief human resources officer for Stearns Bank. “Our comprehensive benefits package provides employee ownership in the company, offers unique programs such as family care funding and paid parenting leave, and encourages career progression, personal growth, and volunteer opportunities. We attribute our long-track record of business success to a healthy and positive environment for our employees. When people feel valued, job performance improves and profits grow.”

For the past two years, American Banker magazine has named Stearns Bank the top performing bank in the nation among banks with $2 and $10 billion in assets. Stearns Bank ranks in the top 20 most active SBA lenders in the United States, as well as the top 50 largest equipment finance companies in the nation.

The organization also ranked at the top of Minnesota Business Magazine’s 100 Best Companies to Work For in both 2018 and 2017.

Stearns Bank recently completed an 11,000 square-foot addition to its Equipment Finance Division in Albany, MN. Over the past 12 months, the organization has hired more than 150 new employees to serve its growing customer base, and in the coming year, Stearns plans to roll out new online and mobile initiatives and deposit programs.