SCHAUMBURG, Ill. (Nov. 3, 2015) – Ridgestone Bank reached the number one SBA lender spot in the State of Illinois for loan volume in 2015 for the seventh consecutive year. According to the Illinois District Office of the SBA, Ridgestone approved $181.3 million in SBA loans to businesses in Illinois during the 2015 fiscal year.

Designated by the SBA as a Preferred Lender, Ridgestone Bank ranks seventh nationally for SBA loan volume and is also #1 in Wisconsin and #2 in Indiana. For fiscal year 2015, Ridgestone Bank’s loan volume totaled $474.3 million nationally.

“Ridgestone Bank takes great pride in helping business owners throughout Illinois obtain access to the capital needed to open, grow or expand their businesses,” said Bruce Lammers, president and CEO of Ridgestone Bank. “We have been a top 10 SBA lender nationally for many years, and are happy to be named number one in Illinois again this year.” 

“The fact that we are local, and SBA lending is our niche and focus, contributes to the success we´ve had closing loans for businesses throughout Illinois,” said Tom Abraham, senior vice-president of commercial lending for Ridgestone Bank.  “Everyone on our team has expertise in SBA lending - not just our lenders, but the entire loan production staff.  That is what I think sets us apart and contributed to the loan volume we were able to achieve this year.  We plan to continue providing creative financial solutions to businesses throughout Illinois for years to come.”

Ridgestone Bank is a privately-held bank with full-service branch locations in Brookfield, Wis. and Schaumburg, Ill., as well as lenders in Indianapolis, Northeast Wisconsin, Northcentral Wisconsin, Tennessee, Southern California, Ohio and Madison, Wis.  Founded in 1995, the bank is a leader in small business and government guaranteed lending nationwide.  Distinguished by the SBA as an “SBA Preferred Lender,” Ridgestone Bank is a top 10 SBA lender in the nation is the number one SBA lender in Wisconsin and Illinois.  Ridgestone Bank is a leader in USDA lending in the United States and has been recognized as a valued partner by the USDA for its commitment to small businesses.  Ridgestone Financial Services trades its common stock on the OTC Market exchange under the ticker symbol “RGST.” Ridgestone Bank is an Equal Housing Lender and Member FDIC.  For more information on Ridgestone Bank, visit www.ridgestone.com.

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