BROOKFIELD, Wis. (Oct. 30, 2015) – Ridgestone Bank reached the number one SBA lender spot in the State of Wisconsin for loan volume in 2015.  According to the Wisconsin District Office of the SBA, Ridgestone approved $95.9 million in SBA loans to businesses in Wisconsin during the 2015 fiscal year. Ridgestone Bank ranked 7^th nationally, having approved $474.3 million in SBA loans during the 2015 fiscal year.

 Designated by the SBA as a Preferred Lender, Ridgestone Bank is also #1 in Illinois and #2 in Indiana for loan volume.   Ridgestone Bank’s home office is in Brookfield, Wis., with a second full-service branch location in Schaumburg, Ill.  In addition to several loan production offices throughout the Midwest, the bank has loan production offices in Kaukauna, Wausau and Madison, Wis.

 “Ridgestone Bank takes great pride in helping business owners throughout Wisconsin 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. We are proud to be number one in our home state of Wisconsin.”

 “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 Wisconsin,” said Eric Manke, 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 Wisconsin 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 exchangeunder 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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