Alerus Financial's history dates back to August 29, 1879, with the formation of the Bank of Grand Forks by Mr. S. S. Titus. The bank was the second bank chartered in Dakota Territory. At the time, the bank was located in the back of a smokehouse on South Third Street in downtown Grand Forks. The bank quickly outgrew its building and moved into a new brick structure at the corner of South Third Street and Kittson Avenue. In 1881, the bank took out a federal charter and became known as Citizens National Bank. On July 1, 1890, the bank purchased another Grand Forks bank and took on the name of the other bank: First National Bank. In 1896, the newly merged First National Bank moved into the St. John's Block building at the corner of DeMers Avenue and Third Street. This corner was viewed by most as the commercial center of Grand Forks and the bank's five-story building dominated the intersection. The bank later relocated to another five-story building which was located at 322 DeMers Avenue, one block west of the St. John's Block. The bank's headquarters would remain in this building until the devastating Red River Flood of 1997. During the disaster, the bank's downtown building was both flooded and almost destroyed in a fire which burned out of control. After the flood, the bank moved their corporate headquarters to a location in south Grand Forks and moved their downtown location into a new city-owned office complex known as the Corporate Center. The vacated 322 DeMers Avenue building was totally remodeled by another party and is now an office building. In 2000, First National Bank changed its name to Alerus Financial. The new name comes from the Latin word alera which means "to take flight". In 2001, the city of Grand Forks opened a huge indoor stadium and convention center known as the Alerus Center. Alerus purchased the naming rights for this facility. In 2003, Alerus expanded into Minneapolis when it acquired Pension Solutions Inc., which was renamed Alerus Retirement Solutions. In 2014, Alerus Financial bought Private Bank Minnesota in downtown Minneapolis, the ninth such acquisition since 2003. In 2015, Alerus Financial rebranded itself as simply Alerus, though its legal name did not change. In 2016, Alerus purchased Beacon Bank in the Twin Cities and Duluth, Minnesota, adding 5 bank branches to its network. It also purchased Alliance Benefit Group North Central States, Inc., in Albert Lea, Minnesota. Through the ABG acquisition, Alerus expanded its offerings to include HSA/FSA/HRA, payroll administration, and COBRA services.
Today
Alerus operates 5 full-service banks and wealth management offices in Greater Grand Forks and 3 full-service banks and wealth management offices in Fargo-Moorhead in North Dakota. Alerus expanded into Minneapolis-St. Paul in 2003 and now operates 6 banks, 3 residential mortgage offices, and 1 wealth management office in the Twin Cities. Alerus entered the Phoenix, Arizona, market in 2009, where it operates 1 full-service banking and wealth management office. It also operates 2 banks in Duluth, Minnesota, as a result of the Beacon Bank acquisition. Alerus operates Alerus Retirement and Benefits, a national retirement services and health benefits provider based in Arden Hills, Minnesota. Alerus Retirement and Benefits has 2 offices in Minnesota, 2 offices in Michigan and 1 office in New Hampshire. It serves customers in 50 states.
