Bremer Bank White Bear Lake Receives Company of Excellence Award
White Bear Lake, Minn. - April 29, 2008 - Bremer Bank’s White Bear Lake branch recently received the Company of Excellence Award from the White Bear Lake Chamber of Commerce. The award is given to a company that is recognized as a great corporate citizen, which includes volunteering commitments and community involvement.
“This is a tremendous honor for our White Bear Lake branch and for the entire Bremer organization,” said Jay Geisbauer, market manager for Bremer Bank in White Bear Lake. “Our bank prides itself on not only providing outstanding client service, but also contributing to our community through partnerships and volunteerism. Our vision is to build healthy communities and we strive to do that each and every day for our clients, employees and community.”
Bremer is jointly-owned by its employees and the Otto Bremer Foundation. In 2007, the Otto Bremer Foundation and Bremer Banks gave more than $32 million in charitable grants, donations and sponsorships to Bremer Bank communities in Minnesota, North Dakota and Wisconsin. Employees also donated more than 90,000 volunteer hours to their communities.
“Bremer Bank and its employees are prime examples of how businesses can connect with the communities they serve,” said Billy Dinkel, president of the White Bear Lake Chamber of Commerce. “We are proud to have them as active members of the chamber and to honor them with this award.”
Bremer Financial Corporation
Bremer Financial Corporation is a privately-held, $7.5 billion regional financial services company jointly owned by its employees and the Otto Bremer Foundation. This unique ownership structure is the only one of its kind in the nation. Founded in 1943 by Otto Bremer, the company is headquartered in St. Paul, Minnesota and provides a comprehensive range of banking, investment, trust and insurance services to more than 100 locations in Minnesota, North Dakota and Wisconsin. Company profits are distributed in the form of charitable grants by the Otto Bremer Foundation to communities served by Bremer. In 2007, more than $30 million in charitable donations were given across the Bremer footprint and employees donated more than 92,900 volunteer hours to their communities.