When State Bank of Fargo’s founders opened their first small location in 1966, they couldn’t have dreamed of the tremendous growth and success this company would have. With more than $14 billion in assets, $30 million in Pay It Forward giving since 2008, and a modern new headquarters gracing the downtown Fargo skyline, what is now Bell Bank is one of the nation’s largest family- and employee-owned banks.

What does that mean, to be a family- and employee-owned company? October is Employee Ownership Month – an opportunity to recognize our more than 2,000 service-minded Bell Bank team members, who become employee-owners and stewards of the company through our employee stock ownership plan (ESOP). We go the extra mile in caring for our customers, earning their trust, and seeking opportunities to make our communities even better places to live and work.

As employee-owners, Bell’s team members are living out Bell’s core values of family atmosphere, unequaled service and giving back to the community. Importantly, those values have remained unchanged throughout a history spanning nearly 60 years. Their foundation was laid by our founders, including North Dakota farmer and entrepreneur Buck Snortland and his son Mickey, a longtime majority shareholder and bank director who passed away in 2013.

Today, the Snortland, Fairfield and Solberg families continue as majority shareholders of Bell Bank. And with our 2,000 employee-owners, they carry on a legacy of service established decades ago. Our roots as a family- and employee-owned company make a difference for our customers and in the community.

We are proud of our employees and their stewardship of Bell Bank. Happy Employee Ownership Month!