Since acquiring Bremer Bank in 2025, Old National Bank has become the third-largest bank in the Twin Cities. But, with size comes responsibility, something the folks at Old National Bank don’t take lightly.
“It’s such a blessing to work for an organization that allocates time, energy, people, and resources to making our community stronger,” said Stephanie Roland, SVP, community development director, Old National Bank.
Roland has worked in finance for 23 years and in community development and reinvestment for 19 years. She learned right away during her first job at a banking center in a low-income, underserved neighborhood in West Louisville, Ky., how the bank can play a role in serving the needs of a community. Today, she leads a multitude of efforts at Old National Bank to do just that.
But you don’t have to take Roland’s word for it. Old National Bank just put out a 2025 Community Action Report highlighting numbers and examples of how the bank and its foundation are putting money and resources in the hands of people who need it most.
That includes $721 million in Community Reinvestment Act (CRA) eligible loans to support affordable housing, economic development, and community services for low to moderate-income people within Old National Bank’s Midwest footprint. Another $13.6 million in grants and sponsorships benefitted 2,100 organizations. “Our goal is that at least 85% of our grants serve the needs of underserved communities,” Roland added.
According to its 2025 report, Old National Bank also reached 34,000 individuals through its financial education programs, including its branded curriculum, Real-Life Finance. More than 250 instructors can offer the curriculum in-person to everyone from kids to adults in classrooms, colleges, non-profits, or wherever financial literacy is needed. “It can be as basic as learning about a checking account to more complicated matters like financial psychology, retirement planning, budgeting, or how to build your credit,” Roland explained.
Whether it’s funding or education, Roland said the expectation to give back goes beyond the organization, all the way to its employees.
“We offer our team members 24 hours of paid time to go out into the community and volunteer at the organizations of their choice every year,” Roland explained.
A great example is Old National Bank’s participation last fall in United Way’s campaign called Home for Good. About 30 volunteers from the bank gathered in St. Louis Park to assemble 100 Home for Good Welcome Home kits and complete tie blankets. In 2025, employees clocked in more than 67,000 volunteer hours in the community.
“We know that if our communities are stronger and thriving, Old National Bank will be thriving too,” Roland added.
To see the 2025 Old National Bank Community Action Report, go here.
