Bridgewater Bank is, quite literally, in the business of talking shop. When experienced visionaries and business leaders come through the doors looking to crunch numbers or explore new markets, the team of in-house experts at the full-service Twin Cities bank has a lot to say. They draw on a background built on entrepreneurial insights—something its client base can largely identify with.

1. Built by an entrepreneur, for entrepreneurs.

Bridgewater’s origin story is a lot like other entrepreneurial companies, where a founder took some risk and converted an idea into reality, says Nick Place, chief lending officer. Against the backdrop of an economic down-turn, founder Jerry Baack teamed up with a few others to liquidate accounts and leverage assets to raise the necessary capital to get Bridgewater up and running. (Baack and team’s first rule of order for the bank-to-be? Get 125 entrepreneurs on board to invest.)

Place says it’s why the bank’s roster of employees know what it’s like to engage in a healthy amount of risk-taking for something you staunchly believe in. “As an entrepreneur and operator, we understand what our business owner clients go through and can relate with them on a level that many larger or older banks cannot,” he says.

The money they lend and accounts they offer is on pace with the big players, meaning decisions are made locally and efficiently.

Since Bridgewater was founded and grown here with all seven branches conveniently located within the metro, these quick decisions, coupled with their insights into local market conditions, can be all the difference for clients winning or losing a deal.

2. Network means net worth.

One person’s high-stakes deal could be another’s first money memory. “From the checking account for my 9-year-old daughter to the large corporate relationship with hundreds of accounts and tens of millions on deposit, we get to know our clients, their businesses, and their families to not only provide them with resources and suggestions to make their banking better, but also get to know them on a personal level,” says Place. Technology advancements in the last ten years have really leveled the playing field for banks of all sizes. “This lets our more tech-savvy clients utilize these tools to self-service their banking [needs], but we also have top-notch customer service that our clients know they can rely on if they need to talk through something.”

With roots firmly planted in the Twin Cities comes another powerful benefit, says Place. “We have a large network of top people in each industry that we plug our clients into to help them improve their own businesses. These connections have allowed clients to find a new vendor, move locations, expand, hire new personnel, merge with another business, or just make great, lifelong friendships.”

3. Money in the bank is the lifeblood of the local business scene.

It’s been said that the foundation of a healthy local economy is a strong local lender. Over eighty percent of lending activity at Bridgewater takes place in the Twin Cities. “I always say that we’re a pretty simple bank—we take in local deposits and lend them into the local market,” says Place. These loans go on to support local businesses and construction projects which, in turn, employ thousands of people across the broader community. Building on the positive impact of these loans, the bank’s commitment extends beyond financial support.

“The majority of our charitable giving goes to help support affordable housing initiatives,” he says. “We really feel having a safe, stable place to call home is foundational in solving many problems facing our community.”

Where currency flows, so does opportunity.