Bremer Bank

St. Paul, Minn. – December 19, 2011 - In 2011, Bremer employees continued to act on the company’s vision of building healthy communities through partnerships, by donating thousands of volunteer hours. According to the company’s seventh annual internal employee survey, employees donated more than 150,000 volunteer hours in 2011, up 11 percent year-over-year. In total, the company’s approximately 1,800 employees logged volunteer hours that were the equivalent of $3.2 million dollars, based on a formula from the Independent Sector, which values an hour of volunteer time at $21.36.

The volunteer contributions to Bremer communities in Minnesota, North Dakota and Wisconsin are in addition to nearly $30 million in direct financial donations that the bank and the Otto Bremer Foundation will make in 2011.

“Volunteerism is one of Bremer’s greatest contributions to its bank communities, donated by its number one asset – our employees,” said Pat Donovan, president and chief executive officer for Bremer Financial Corporation. “Some employees donate in excess of 500 volunteer hours each year! It’s simply phenomenal and makes such a great impact in the communities where our employees live and work. I’m so proud of our employees, who don’t volunteer because they are required to, but rather because they have a desire to contribute to the overall health of their communities.”

Bremer Financial Corporation
Bremer Financial Corporation is a privately-held, $8 billion regional financial services company owned by its employees and the Otto Bremer Foundation (OBF). 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 its nearly 100 locations in Minnesota, North Dakota and Wisconsin. OBF uses its share of dividends to distribute charitable grants to Bremer Bank communities. For more information, go to bremer.com.