GREEN BAY, Wis.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Heartland Business Bank, a subsidiary of Heartland Financial USA, Inc., (NASDAQ:HTLF) announced that the company has been named the Coleman USDA Business and Industry (B&I) Lender of the Year for 2006. The award was announced by Robert Coleman, publisher of The Coleman Report and Coleman’s Rural Development Lender Weekly, newsletters that monitor USDA guaranteed lending programs.
USDA B&I loans are a specialized federal program designed to promote access to capital for borrowers in rural areas. In 2006, Heartland subsidiaries, including Heartland Business Bank, closed loans totaling over $25 million–ranking the company second in the nation in volume. The award specifically recognized Heartland Business Bank for its involvement in the program, as well as its advocacy for rural lending issues of importance to lenders and borrowers
Nationally, the USDA B&I program originated 350 loans totaling $766 million in 2006.
Kevin S. Tenpas, President and CEO of Heartland Business Bank stated, “We are extremely pleased to have been selected for this honor. The ranking recognizes our exceptional dedication to providing access to capital for rural businesses. Our partnership with USDA gives us the ability to develop and implement long term creative financial solutions for our clients.”
Loans available through the USDA B&I program are structured as long term funding with rates and payments that can be fixed for 15 to 20 years. The fixed rate feature is attractive to borrowers who wish to avoid the uncertainties of interest rate swings.
To qualify for the USDA guarantee, participating Banks must develop an understanding of specialized regulations, underwriting, processing and servicing of loans in this niche. Additionally, Heartland Business Bank has been awarded “Certified Lender” status by the USDA, a certification that expedites processing and loan approval.
About Heartland Business Bank and Heartland Financial USA:
Heartland Business Bank is a full service bank with locations in Sheboygan and Green Bay, WI that serves the borrowing needs of small to mid-size companies in the upper Midwest. The company was founded in 1999 as a branch of Wisconsin Community Bank and employs 15 professionals between its two locations.
Heartland Financial USA, Inc. is a $3.1 billion diversified financial services company providing banking, mortgage, wealth management, insurance and consumer finance services to individuals and businesses. The Company currently has 55 banking locations in 37 communities in Iowa, Illinois, Wisconsin, New Mexico, Arizona, Montana and Colorado.
Additional information about Heartland Financial USA, Inc. is available at www.htlf.com.
