On July 1, 1st Farm Credit Services, AgStar Financial Services and Badgerland Financial joined together as Compeer Financial™. The merger was voted on and approved by the membership and Board of Directors of each organization and received final regulatory approval from the Farm Credit Administration.
Compeer Financial leverages the strengths of the original organizations, while providing expanded capital to help Compeer Financial invest in technology and other resources to support its clients.
“Our clients across the entire geography of our new organization now have the opportunity to benefit from the resources and broad expertise of our teams to help them realize their dreams,” says Paul Kohls, Compeer Financial chief lending operations officer and general counsel.
“Our allegiance to our clients and communities does not change,” adds Hebrink. “They can count on the same excellent service and commitment from our dedicated team of professionals they’ve come to expect. Ultimately, the union between these three cooperatives will provide us with expanded breadth to better serve client needs—to champion their hopes and dreams.”
“That’s at the core of an organization that measures its success with client relationships not in years, but in generations,” says Matt Ginder, Compeer Financial chief core markets officer.
ONE PERCENT OF NET EARNINGS PLEDGED TO CORPORATE GIVING
Compeer Financial is pleased to announce it will build on the firm foundation of community service begun by its legacy organizations of 1st Farm Credit, AgStar Financial and Badgerland Financial.
“The Compeer Financial Board of Directors has pledged to donate 1 percent of net earnings per year as part of its commitment to corporate giving,” says John Monson, Compeer Financial chief mission and marketing officer. “This commitment helps us provide even more opportunities and additional
investments into rural communities and agriculture.”
The Compeer Financial commitment to corporate giving will continue the strong tradition of supporting agriculture and rural America, and is likely to include:
- Local and state FFA and 4-H programs
- Scholarships
- Local and regional food bank donations
- County, regional and state fairs
- Local, regional and state agricultural organizations
- Disaster relief
- Community support
In addition, Compeer Financial encourages its team members to actively support these efforts with their time.
“Each legacy organization had been generous within the communities they serve and we are extremely pleased to carry on this important work,” says Monson. “We’re in partnership with our clients, and our giving pledge is one more way to share their vision for the future and support their needs.”
“The giving commitment underscores Compeer Financial’s mission as a client-focused, community- and ag-oriented financial partner that serves to champion the hopes and dreams of rural America,” explains Hebrink.
“Our goals are to support our communities and help make them a great place to live and do business while providing personalized service tailored to the needs of individual clients,” he adds.
To learn more, visit Compeer.com.
ABOUT COMPEER FINANCIAL
Compeer Financial is a member-owned Farm Credit cooperative serving and supporting agriculture and rural communities. The $18.5 billion organization provides loans, leases, risk management and other financial services throughout 144 counties in Illinois, Minnesota and Wisconsin. Based in the Upper Midwest, Compeer Financial exists to champion the hopes and dreams of rural America, while providing personalized service and expertise to clients and the agriculture industry.
Compeer Financial is the third largest cooperative of the Farm Credit System, a nationwide network of lending institutions supporting agriculture and rural communities with reliable, consistent credit and financial services. For more information about Compeer Financial, visit Compeer.com.