Bell State Bank and Trust finalizes new brand

State Bank and Trust has added the name Bell to its familiar name and trees logo, rebranding the Fargo-based, independently owned bank as Bell State Bank and Trust. The name change became effective on Sunday, September 23, with Monday, September 24 as the first day of business as Bell State Bank and Trust.

“With more than 200 banks in our region that have the words ‘state bank’ in their name, there is confusion about which state bank we are,” said Bell State Bank and Trust president Michael Solberg.

Even in Hawley, where Bell State Bank and Trust will open its newest location, there is already a State Bank of Hawley.

Solberg said the “Bell” name was borrowed from the bank’s Bell Mortgage division, which State Bank and Trust purchased in early 2011. Solberg said Bell State Bank and Trust has been through several name changes and logo variations during its 44-year history. Yet, the bank’s values have never changed.

The bank’s headquarters remain in Fargo, and its majority stockholders, the Snortland and Solberg families, remain the owners and were key decision-makers for the name change. Bell State Bank and Trust’s Alexandria location is downtown at 1001 Broadway and Jeff Rostad is president.

Bell State Bank and Trust will soon open two new locations (both formerly First National Bank) in Hawley and Dilworth. Its first Twin Cities bank, located west of downtown Minneapolis in Golden Valley, opened in April.

Tags: new name, business, banks