Stearns Bank NA is a majority women-owned, employee-owned bank headquartered in Minnesota with a national presence. The bank was founded on principles of economic empowerment and inclusive growth, serving entrepreneurs, small businesses, nonprofits, and individual consumers. 2B in loans to entrepreneurs and $19M in community investments, the bank positions itself as purpose-driven rather than purely profit-focused.
Kelly Skalicky serves as CEO with Heather Plumski as President, and the SBNA Board includes leaders from major corporations like State Street Bank, Schwan's Company, and Deloitte. Stearns Bank offers a comprehensive range of banking products including business loans (SBA loans, equipment financing, commercial real estate), personal banking (checking accounts, CDs, personal loans), and specialty lending through their Salaam Banking division. They provide online banking, fee-free ATMs, and competitive rates on deposits and loans.
The bank differentiates itself through its employee ownership structure, majority women leadership, and commitment to serving underserved communities—evidenced by their affordable housing underwriting focus and HmongTown Marketplace partnership. , delivering Sharia-compliant banking products reviewed and approved by an independent Sharia Advisory Board comprised of Islamic finance scholars including Mufti Ibrahim Essa and Shaykh Taha Abdul-Basser. The bank is FDIC-insured and extends federal deposit protection across their product offerings.
However, as a full-service bank, they are not specialized in any single consumer finance niche, and their website content does not provide specific APR ranges, loan terms, or detailed underwriting criteria that would differentiate them from larger regional or national banks. The company's emphasis on community impact and inclusive banking makes them distinctive, but prospective customers should verify current rates and terms directly as the website focuses on brand positioning rather than specific product details.