Endorsed Provider signage at a BankIn Minnesota event

Endorsed Providers

Community banks have plenty of options when it comes to products and service providers. Knowing which solutions understand your business – and are worth a closer look – can be harder.

BankIn Minnesota Endorsed Providers offer specific products and services that have gone through an additional review and approval process. These vetted solutions address member needs and are backed by companies with a demonstrated commitment to community banking.


What Does BankIn Endorsed Mean?

Endorsed ProviderBefore a product or service receives the BankIn Minnesota Endorsed Provider designation, BankIn evaluates the member need it addresses, its fit for community banks, the company behind it, and the value it can offer members.

The review may consider:

  • The need for the product or service among community banks
  • The company's experience and commitment to the community banking industry
  • Financial and operational stability
  • Management strength
  • Customer service, training, and support
  • Technology and capabilities
  • References from community bank customers
  • Competitive differentiation
  • Benefits available to BankIn members

Final endorsement decisions are made by the BankIn Minnesota Innovations & Solutions Committee, made up of community bankers.

The relationship doesn't end when a product or service earns the BankIn Minnesota Endorsed Provider designation. BankIn maintains ongoing relationships with Endorsed Providers and periodically reviews these partnerships to make sure they continue to deliver value and remain aligned with the needs of community banks.

It's one more way BankIn Minnesota can help you narrow the field when you're looking for expertise, services, or solutions for your bank.


Find an Endorsed Solution

Armbruster Executive & Employee Benefits

Endorsed Product: Health Insurance Plans

Armbruster Executive & Employee Benefits helps community banks design and manage employee benefit programs with an emphasis on controlling costs, supporting employees, and strengthening recruitment and retention. Services include health plan analysis and renewal support, benefits strategy, enrollment and administration, employee communications, compliance resources, and HR support.

Armbruster works across insurance providers and uses benchmarking, claims analysis, and plan comparisons to help banks evaluate their options and build benefits strategies around the needs of their organizations and employees.

Visit the Armbruster Website

Bankers Equipment Service, Inc.

Endorsed Products: Lobby Coin Counter Machine; Teller Cash Recycler

Bankers Equipment Service provides cash-handling solutions designed to make routine transactions more efficient while giving bank employees more opportunity to focus on customers.

Its endorsed solutions include teller cash recyclers that automate cash handling at the teller line and self-service coin equipment that gives customers a convenient way to deposit coin. Bankers Equipment Service also helps banks select, implement, maintain, and get the most from their equipment.

Visit the Bankers Equipment Service Website

BHG Financial

Endorsed Products: BHG Loan Hub; High-Yielding Commercial & Consumer Loans

BHG Financial gives community banks another way to add loans to their portfolios without originating those loans themselves. Through the BHG Loan Hub, banks can review and purchase fully amortizing, fixed-rate commercial and consumer loans online.

Banks can review purchase opportunities and complete credit files with no cost or commitment to participate, providing another option for deploying liquidity, diversifying the loan portfolio, and generating interest income.

Visit the BHG Financial Website

Community Bankers Financial Services (CBFS)

Endorsed Products: Cyber Insurance; Directors & Officers Liability Insurance; Financial Institution Bond; Mortgage Insurance Products; Property & Casualty Insurance

Community Bankers Financial Services (CBFS) is an insurance agency specializing in the needs of community banks. Rather than representing a single insurance carrier, CBFS works with multiple insurance companies to help bankers evaluate their risks, compare coverage options, and build an insurance program around their needs.

With expertise in community banking, CBFS offers banks a single relationship for a range of insurance needs and ongoing guidance as risks and coverage needs change.

Learn More About CBFS

Edge One

Endorsed Product: ATM Manager Solution

Edge One provides technology and service solutions for financial institutions, with decades of experience supporting community banks in Minnesota and throughout the Upper Midwest.

Its endorsed ATM Manager Solution helps banks manage their ATM environments with technology and support from a company specializing in financial equipment and services.

Visit the Edge One Website

ICBA Payments

Endorsed Products: Credit Card Services; Electronic Payment Services

ICBA Payments provides payment solutions built specifically for community banks. Its programs support both banks that directly issue their own cards and banks that prefer an agent model, with access to payment processing partners, card solutions, fraud protection, and other payment resources.

Community banks can also benefit from preferential pricing negotiated at scale, dedicated payments expertise and support, education and marketing resources, and advocacy focused on the payments issues affecting community banks.

Visit the ICBA Payments Website

ICBA Securities, powered by The Baker Group

Endorsed Products: Community Bank Education; Investment Products & Services

ICBA Securities provides community banks with investment portfolio and balance sheet management tools, powered by their exclusive broker/dealer The Baker Group.

Solutions include traditional debt securities, interest rate products, whole loans, asset/liability management, bond accounting, bank valuation, and investment banking services. A wholly owned subsidiary of ICBA, ICBA Securities is the only broker/dealer owned by the community banking industry.

Visit the ICBA Securities Website

Impact Retirement Advisors

Endorsed Product: Retirement Plans

Impact Retirement Advisors helps community banks design, implement, and manage retirement plans with an emphasis on making plan administration easier for employers and building stronger retirement outcomes for employees.

Through its partnership with BPAS, Impact offers retirement plan administration and recordkeeping, investment selection, plan governance and reporting, participant education, and ongoing support. The BankIn program has served member banks since 2011 and is designed to help reduce administrative demands while providing access to retirement plan expertise and technology.

Visit the Impact Website

SHAZAM

Endorsed Product: Electronic Funds Transfer Products & Services

SHAZAM is a nationwide independent, member-owned debit network, processor, and core provider serving community financial institutions. Its payments technology and services are designed around the needs of community banks rather than outside shareholders.

SHAZAM provides debit and electronic funds transfer solutions, along with payments expertise, technology, and industry advocacy. Its structure allows the company to reinvest in the products and services its community bank clients need.

Visit the SHAZAM Website

Travelers Insurance

Endorsed Product: Community Bank Insurance

Travelers is an insurance carrier offering coverage and risk-management resources specifically designed for financial institutions. Its portfolio includes cyber risk, directors and officers liability, financial institution bonds, professional liability, employment practices liability, and property and casualty coverage.

BankIn member banks with eligible policies may also participate in the ICBA/Travelers annual dividend program.

Visit the Travelers Website