This June, Minnwest Bank proudly celebrates 25 years of serving the Sioux Falls community. Over the past quarter-century, the bank has grown alongside the city, adapting to the evolving landscape of banking while remaining steadfast in it’s mission of building strong, vibrant communities. As the banking landscape has transformed dramatically over the past two and a half decades, Minnwest has remained a steady, trusted partner for individuals, families, and businesses alike.
To mark this occasion, we spoke with longtime Sioux Falls employees, Rebecca Dann (24 years) and Jean Brown (20 years). Their perspectives offer a glimpse into how much has changed, and how much has stayed the same.
A steadfast commitment to community, customers and colleagues
One thing that hasn’t changed over the past 25 years is Minnwest Bank’s roots in Sioux Falls run deep. Over the years, the bank has supported countless local initiatives, from sponsoring youth sports teams to partnering with nonprofits and hosting financial literacy workshops.
“In October I will be celebrating the 24th Anniversary with the bank. Growing up in a small town in Minnesota, I felt at home the first time I walked into Minnwest Bank. It was that small town bank in the big city. All these years later, it still feels that way. We care about our customers and their families. We want to see them succeed,” Rebecca Dann emphasizes. “We live here, we work here, and we care deeply about the people who call Sioux Falls home.”
“I’m so proud that Minnwest has been serving this community for 25 years. I take pride in the difference we can make in the lives of our customers and our own employees,” Jean Brown said. “Minnwest has supported me personally through some challenging times and I know I’m not the only employee. I truly feel like Minnwest Bank has my back and I have theirs,” Brown continued.
From day one, Minnwest’s culture has been rooted in small-town values: knowing your neighbors, showing up when it matters and treating people like family. That culture has only deepened over time.
Banking then and now
We asked Rebecca and Jean to share the biggest changes they’ve seen over the past 25 years, both agreed it’s been banking technology. “When I started as a teller 20 years ago, I was literally filing physical checks,” Jean Brown recalls with a smile. “Customers had to come in or wait for their monthly statement to know their balance.”
The shift to digital banking, especially the imaging of checks, was a turning point. It laid the foundation for the self-service tools our customers rely on today like digital banking and Interactive Teller Machines (ITMs). Yet, even as technology has advanced, Minnwest has never lost sight of the human connection.
“ATMs and apps are great, but they can’t replace people. We’re a very relational bank. Our team is filled with people that are passionate about what they do, each other, and the communities and customers that they serve,” Brown says.
Looking ahead with gratitude and purpose
As Minnwest Bank celebrates 25 years in Sioux Falls, we do so with pride in our past and optimism for the future.
“We’ve made a difference in the lives of our customers and our employees. That’s what this milestone means to me. We’re not just a bank, we’re part of the fabric of this community,” President and CEO Ivan Van Essen says.
Here’s to 25 years of partnership, progress and people—and to many more to come.
