Bank First Corporation operates as a bank holding company for Bank First, N.A. (the bank) that provides financial services, including retail and commercial banking. Some of the products that the company offers include checking accounts, savings accounts, money market accounts, cash management accounts, certificates of deposit, commercial and industrial loans, commercial real estate loans, construction and development loans, residential mortgages, consumer loans, credit cards, online banking, tel...
Bank First Corporation operates as a bank holding company for Bank First, N.A. (the bank) that provides financial services, including retail and commercial banking. Some of the products that the company offers include checking accounts, savings accounts, money market accounts, cash management accounts, certificates of deposit, commercial and industrial loans, commercial real estate loans, construction and development loans, residential mortgages, consumer loans, credit cards, online banking, telephone banking and mobile banking. Bank First is a full-service community bank, offering business and retail products and services in communities throughout Wisconsin. The company’s branches are located in Brown, Jefferson, Manitowoc, Monroe, Outagamie, Ozaukee, Shawano, Sheboygan, Waupaca, and Winnebago counties.
The company has three subsidiaries: Bank First Investments, Inc., TVG Holdings, Inc. (TVG) and BFC Title, LLC. Bank First Investments, Inc. is a Wisconsin corporation and is wholly-owned by the bank. Bank First Investments, Inc.’s purpose is to provide investment and safekeeping services to the bank. TVG is a Wisconsin corporation. It is a wholly-owned subsidiary of the bank, and its purpose is to hold the bank’s 40% ownership interest in Ansay & Associates, LLC (Ansay). Ansay is one of the nation’s largest independent insurance providers, and the bank’s minority ownership of Ansay allows the bank to provide diversified services to the company’s customers. BFC Title, LLC is a Wisconsin limited liability company. It is a wholly-owned subsidiary of the bank, and its purpose is to hold the bank’s 5.88% ownership interest in Generations Title, LLC, a Wisconsin title company.
Strategic Plan
The bank is a relationship-based community bank focused on providing innovative solutions that are value driven to the communities the company serves. The bank’s culture celebrates diversity, creativity, and responsiveness, with the highest ethical standards. The bank focuses on creating value for its customers and shareholders by forging strong relationships and offering personalized and innovative solutions. The company’s strategic priorities are organized around the CAMELS ratings, including Capital, Asset Quality, Management, Earnings, Liquidity, and Sensitivity to Market Risk.
Business
The company emphasizes a range of lending services, including commercial and residential real estate loans, construction and development loans, commercial and industrial loans, and consumer loans. The company’s customers are generally individuals, small to medium-sized businesses and professional firms that are located in or conduct a substantial portion of their business in its market areas.
Real Estate Loans
The principal component of the company’s loan portfolio is loans secured by real estate. Real estate loans are subject to the same general risks as other loans and are particularly sensitive to fluctuations in the value of real estate. Fluctuations in the value of real estate and rising interest rates, as well as other factors arising after a loan has been made, could negatively affect a borrower’s cash flow, creditworthiness, and ability to repay the loan.
Commercial Real Estate: Commercial real estate loans generally have terms of 10 years or less, although payments may be structured on a longer amortization basis. The company evaluates each borrower on an individual basis and attempt to determine their business risks and credit profile.
Residential Mortgage Loans and Home Equity Loans: The company originates and holds short-term and long-term first mortgages and traditional second mortgage residential real estate loans. Generally, the company limits the loan-to-value ratio on its residential real estate loans to 90%. The company offers fixed and adjustable rate residential real estate loans with terms of up to 30 years. The company also offers a variety of lot loan options to consumers to purchase the lot on which they intend build their home. The company also offers traditional home equity loans and lines of credit. The company’s underwriting criteria for, and the risks associated with, home equity loans and lines of credit are generally the same as those for first mortgage loans. Home equity loans typically have terms of 20 years or less. The company generally limits the extension of credit to 90% of the available equity of each property. As of December 31, 2023, residential mortgage loans and home equity loans made up approximately $888.6 million or 26.6% of its loan portfolio.
Commercial and Industrial Loans
The company has significant expertise in small to middle market commercial and industrial lending. The company provides a mix of variable and fixed rate commercial and industrial loans. The loans are typically made to small- and medium-sized businesses involved in professional services, accommodation and food services, health care, wholesale trade, financial institutions, manufacturing, distribution, retailing and non-profits. The company extends commercial business loans for working capital, accounts receivable and inventory financing and other business purposes. Generally, short-term loans have maturities ranging from 3 months to 1 year, and term loans have maturities ranging from 3 to 20 years. Lines of credit are generally intended to finance current transactions and typically provide for periodic principal payments, with interest payable monthly. Term loans generally provide for floating and fixed interest rates, with monthly payments of both principal and interest.
Construction and Development Loans
The company offers fixed and adjustable rate residential and commercial construction loan financing to builders and developers and to consumers who wish to build their own home. The term of construction and development loans generally is limited to 9 to 24 months, although payments may be structured on a longer amortization basis. Most loans will mature and require payment in full upon completion and either the sale of the property or refinance into a permanent loan.
Consumer Loans
The company makes a variety of loans to individuals for personal and household purposes, including secured and unsecured installment loans and revolving lines of credit. Consumer loans are underwritten based on the borrower’s income, current debt level, past credit history, and the availability and value of collateral. Consumer rates are both fixed and variable, with negotiable terms. The company’s installment loans typically amortize over periods up to seven years.
Mortgage Banking Activities
The company’s mortgage banking operations include correspondent or secondary market lending, and in-house mortgage lending (included in residential mortgage and home equity loan). The company conducts secondary market lending through Fannie Mae, Federal Home Loan Bank of Chicago, U.S. Dept. of Agriculture, the Federal Housing Administration, and the Wisconsin Housing and Economic Development Authority. The company also offers a number of in-house mortgage products, including adjustable rate mortgages at one, three, five, seven, ten, and fifteen years, and fixed rate mortgages at up to thirty years. The company also offers an eleven-month construction loan, a construction to permanent loan, and a twelve-month bridge loan.
Deposit Products
The company offers a full range of traditional deposit services through its branch network in its market areas that are typically available in most banks and savings institutions, including checking accounts, commercial accounts, savings accounts and other time deposits of various types, ranging from money market accounts to long-term certificates of deposit. The company also offers retirement accounts and health savings accounts. The company’s customers include individuals, businesses, associations, organizations and governmental authorities. The company’s branch infrastructure will assist it in obtaining deposits from local customers in the future. The company’s deposits are insured by the FDIC up to statutory limits.
Securities
The company manages its securities portfolio and cash to maintain adequate liquidity and to ensure the safety and preservation of invested principal, with a secondary focus on yield and returns. The company’s investment portfolio consists primarily of the U.S. government securities, mortgage-backed securities backed by government-sponsored entities, and taxable and tax-exempt municipal securities.
The company actively monitors its investments on an ongoing basis to identify any material changes in the securities. The company also reviews its securities for potential credit deterioration at least quarterly.
Supervision and Regulation
The company is registered as a bank holding company with the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System (Federal Reserve) under the Bank Holding Company Act of 1956, as amended (BHC Act). As such, the company is subject to supervision and regulation by the Federal Reserve and are subject to its regulatory reporting requirements.
The company is required to comply with various corporate governance and financial reporting requirements under the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, as well as rules and regulations adopted by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (PCAOB), and Nasdaq.
The bank is a member of the Federal Reserve and regulated by the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC). The bank’s deposits are insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC). The bank is also subject to certain Federal Reserve regulations. In addition, the bank and any other of its subsidiaries that offer consumer financial products and services are subject to regulation and supervision by the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB).
The bank’s deposits are insured by the FDIC’s Deposit Insurance Fund (DIF) approximately the limits under applicable law. The bank is subject to FDIC assessments for its deposit insurance.
The bank is subject to the provisions of the Community Reinvestment Act (CRA). The bank is also subject to, among other things, the provisions of the Equal Credit Opportunity Act (ECOA) and the Fair Housing Act (FHA).
History
The company, a Wisconsin corporation, was founded in 1894. The company was formerly known as First Manitowoc Bancorp, Inc. and changed its name to Bank First National Corporation in 2014. Further, it changed its name to Bank First Corporation in 2019.