Wade Gort and Greg Westra were both former employees of Valley State Bank in Rock Valley, Iowa where they learned the importance of being part of a community bank. After three mergers in three years, Wade and Greg decided to resign from their respective positions and took a leap of faith to organize a de novo community bank with local investors. They wanted to better serve the community with local employees making local decisions for local people.

Premier Bank’s second office opened in Doon, Iowa only twelve days after the Rock Valley office. Not only was hometown banking brought back to Doon with the opening of Premier Bank, the bank eventually moved back into the historic bank building on the corner of Main Street. Extensive remodeling and restoration by local contractors helped bring back many of the original 1920s features making a trip to the bank a walk back in time.

In January 2004, Premier Bank opened an office in Rock Rapids, Iowa and after a start in a temporary location, a new banking facility was constructed on the intersection of Highway 9 & 75. This full-service location continues to help serve the local surrounding NW Iowa and SW Minnesota communities.

This presence in South Dakota continued to grow when Premier Bank purchased State Bank of Alcester in Alcester, South Dakota on November 18, 2017. This bank was owned and operated by three generations of the McKellips family. There was a strong historical connection with State Bank of Alcester as they provided data processing and guidance to Premier Bank when it opened for business.

As we continue to grow at Premier Bank, we appreciate the loyalty you have placed in us. We look forward to continued confidence and trust for years to come. Premier Bank is excited about the future and will continue its dedication to providing superior customer service, its involvement in the communities it serves and its deep commitment to preserving the strong and vital relationships we share within the communities we serve.