Four-Generation Banking Family Purchases West Metro Banks

Wilcox Bancshares, Inc., today announced it acquired two Crow River Bank locations and a mortgage division in the west Metro communities of Buffalo, Delano and Mound, Minn., on Fri., Sept. 12. Parent company of Grand Rapids State Bank, Wilcox Bancshares will rename and rebrand the banks as Minnesota Lakes Bank.

Noah Wilcox, Wilcox Bancshares (Photo: Business Wire)

These first locations represent a return to a familiar place for president/CEO, Noah Wilcox. “I grew up in the Mound area and I’m looking forward to bringing my family’s many years of experience serving the banking industry back to the area,” he said.

“We’re very happy to be joining forces with the customers, employees and communities of the Crow River Bank locations,” said Wilcox. “In just a short time, I think customers – and community members – will recognize our experience in providing unparalleled service, industry-leading innovation, genuine personal relationships and ethical leadership.”

As it has done for more than 100 years in Grand Rapids, Minn., Wilcox Bancshares will root itself in the communities it serves. A generous supporter of high school athletics, significant community events and other sponsorship opportunities, Wilcox expects that same type of service and commitment to community to extend to the Delano, Buffalo and Mound locations and surrounding areas.

Specific to the new entity of Minnesota Lakes Bank, Wilcox explains the Crow River Bank locations and any future locations will be renamed Minnesota Lakes Bank – a name the company feels captures the iconic nature of the state of Minnesota, the land of 10,000 lakes.

Wilcox also announced, after meeting with each Crow River employee, the majority will continue to serve their communities as members of Minnesota Lakes Bank. (Editor’s Note: Bios for bank leadership and Board members follow.)

About Wilcox Bancshares, Inc. & Grand Rapids State Bank
Dated June 12, 1914, the original charter for Warba State Bank established the beginning of a four-generation, 100-year banking legacy in Grand Rapids, Minn. Since 1918 when Claude C. Wilcox joined Warba State Bank (and soon after purchased the bank), Grand Rapids State Bank and its now parent company Wilcox Bancshares, Inc., have provided unparalleled service to the banking industry and the communities it serves. In 2014, 100 years after it was established, three generations of the Wilcox family are still actively involved in the business.

Minnesota Lakes Bank Leadership Bios

Noah Winter Wilcox, Chairman of the Board, Wilcox Bancshares, Inc.
Noah is chairman of the board of Wilcox Bancshares, the holding company that owns Grand Rapids State Bank and Minnesota Lakes Bank. Noah joined Grand Rapids State Bank in 1999 and the board of directors in 2005. He is the fourth generation of the Wilcox family to lead the bank. Noah has served both the local community and the banking industry in numerous volunteer leadership positions.

In 2010, Noah was appointed a state director for the Independent Community Bankers of America, a national association of community banks, and today serves as an at-large director on the board. He has also been involved in the Independent Community Bankers of Minnesota since 2007 and became chairman in August 2012. He continues to serve on its board.

Noah currently serves as chairman of the board of directors of ICBA Bancard, a for-profit subsidiary of the Independent Community Bankers of America that provides marketing, reporting, and consultative support for community banks that offer their own branded credit and debit cards to consumers and small businesses. He was elected to the board of directors in 2010.

Noah has served as board chair and director of the Grand Rapids Area Community Foundation, the Itasca County Family YMCA, as a an advisor to the Itasca Economic Development Authority and as a director and past president of the Grand Rapids Chapter of the Ruffed Grouse Society. He is a graduate of the Univ. of St. Thomas and the Univ. of Wisconsin – Madison’s Graduate School of Banking.

Angela (Angie) Heying, Senior Vice President/Chief Operating Officer
Angela Heying began her banking career in 1990 at Highland Bank. For the past 24 years, she has held a variety of positions including compliance officer, internal auditor, cashier, operations officer, information security officer, loan administration, BSA officer, CRA officer and business continuity officer. She joined Crow River State Bank in 2013 and is currently chief operations officer. Angie lives in Maple Grove, Minn., with her family. She enjoys playing volleyball, cheering on the Minnesota Wild and spending time at the cabin boating and snowmobiling with family and friends.

Rebecca Horgan, Board Member
Rebecca Horgan has worked in the financial and banking industry since 1998. For the past 16 years, she has performed a wide variety of duties related to banking/financial matters, HR, tax accounting and preparation and IT needs. Since 2009, Rebecca has been employed by and is currently the operations manager for MMB & Associates, a branch office of LPL Financial, where she oversees the accounting, IT, HR and client services. Prior to MMB & Associates, Rebecca served as a financial analyst for American Investors Bank and Mortgage and as operations manager at Abens Financial Services., Inc. Rebecca is a graduate of Mound Westonka High School and currently resides in Mound, Minn., with her husband and two active daughters. She enjoys boating and spending time at their cabin.

Steven Burggraf, Board Member
Steven Burggraf joined the Grand Rapids State Bank board of directors in April 2012. A graduate of the Univ. of Minnesota, he earned a degree in Small Business Management and Sales and Marketing. Steve brings experience in business management in northern Minnesota. He has been a co-owner of four Ace Hardware stores, including Burggraf's Ace Hardware and Paint Company in Grand Rapids, since 1989. Steve has been a Grand Rapids resident since 1989 and is active in several business and community organizations. He is the current Ace Hardware Dealer Group Leader for the Northern Minnesota Group; a member of the BAD (Big Ace Dealers); and a director of the Grand Rapids Area Community Foundation. Steve also owns the Grand Rapids Ground Round and eight Verizon Wireless stores in northern Minn.

Thomas J. Screeden, Chief Credit Officer
Since June 2010, Thomas Screeden has been the senior vice president of commercial lending at Crow River State Bank in Delano. Previously, he served as vice president of commercial lending, a member of the management team and as marketing director at Bankwest in Rockford, Minn. Thomas has a long history with Crow River Bank, having previously served as vice president of real estate, commercial and consumer lending at Crow River Bank in Delano from 1993 to 2002. He is a graduate of the Univ. of Wisconsin – Madison’s Graduate School of Banking and received an undergraduate degree from St. Cloud State University in marketing. Thomas is an active member of the Wright County Economic Development Partnership (since 2009), the Rotary Club of Buffalo and the Delano Lions Club.

Greg Thoen, Board Member
Greg Thoen is the owner of Thoen & Associates Advertising Photography, Inc., a business headquartered in Long Lake, Minn. The company prides itself in helping its customers grow their businesses through the successful use of advertising photography. Its clients range from small business owners to Fortune 500 companies throughout the world. Greg began his career working with his father in the photography business as an apprentice photographer. After his father’s death in 1981, Greg grew the business to its current profile. Greg graduated from high school in Minnetonka, Minn., in 1972. He lived in the Mound - Westonka area and raised three children. He and his wife have resided in Watertown, Minn., the past 12 years. Greg and his family have 35+ years of involvement in the Mound - Westonka area. He enjoys hobbies of classic cars and motorcycles.

Matthew Wing Wilcox, Board Member
Matthew Wing Wilcox is the regional director for Pentegra Retirement Services, specializing in bank owned life insurance (BOLI) and non-qualified benefit plans. He is responsible for sales, marketing, and service in seven Midwestern and Southern states including the Dakotas, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Iowa, Missouri and Arkansas. Matt was born in Madison, Wis., and after studying at the Univ. of Minnesota and abroad, he decided to stay in the Midwest and made Minnetonka, Minn., his home. After college and a five-year career in the wholesale wine business, calling on mostly family-owned retail and restaurant accounts and developing relationships with customers, Matt joined the insurance business. Matt joined Northwestern Mutual in 2005 and by 2008 had migrated into the community banking and BOLI arena. In January 2013, an opportunity to open a regional office for Pentegra Retirement Services presented itself, and Matt jumped at the challenge. Since then, that office has grown and continues to experience growth in 2014. He was able to win the ICBM endorsement for his previous company and is currently being considered by several associations for endorsement with Pentegra Retirement Services. When not traveling within his territory, Matt is an active member of the Wayzata Community Church and enjoys spending time outdoors and on the lake with his fiancée and one-year-old son.

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