Bremer Financial Corporation, parent company of Bremer Bank, reports results for 2018, including return on average equity of 13.11 percent and return on average assets of 1.21 percent. The company earned net income of $145.9 million for 2018, compared to $124 million for 2017. The company’s net income growth reflects increases in net interest income, favorable credit performance, and improvement in the provision for income taxes.
“Our overall 2018 results demonstrate a continued solid performance across our business,” said President and CEO Jeanne Crain. “2018 was a critical year for Bremer Financial Corporation, as we engaged in new partnerships and made strategic investments to enhance our solutions to better serve our customers.”
The company distributed $76.4 million in dividends to shareholders during 2018. This includes $70.3 million to the Otto Bremer Trust, which is a charitable trust and the company’s majority owner, and $6.1 million to Bremer employees.
Each year, 92 percent of Bremer’s dividends are provided to the Otto Bremer Trust, while 8 percent are provided to Bremer employees. Over the past 30 years, Bremer has distributed over $750 million in dividends to all shareholders, including over $700 million paid to the Otto Bremer Trust.