Where Values and Money Meet
WRITTEN BY ALANA SNYDER AND PHOTOS BY KAYLA JOHNSON
SUNRISE BANKS
“ Sunrise Banks is a family-owned community financial institution, but we’re not a typical one,” said South Dakota market president Damon Sehr . “Our president and CEO David Reiling had a vision early on to prove that a bank could succeed by doing good in the communities it serves, while also doing well financially. That mindset has shaped everything we do.” While the bank’s retail and commercial banking presence is newer to the Sioux Falls area at 5105 S. Crossing Place, the company’s roots go back to 1985 when David and his father, Bill , began acquiring and building a group of community banks in the Twin Cities. It wasn’t until 2013 that those banks were brought together under one brand as Sunrise Banks—also sharing the mission “to be a force for good and a place where money and values meet.” “At our core, we’re still a community bank: relationship-driven, locally focused, and deeply connected to the communities we serve,” said Sehr. “But we’ve built something broader around that foundation. We combine those relationships and accountability with the reach and innovation of a national platform, allowing us to bring more resources and flexibility to the areas we support.” From the beginning, the certified B corporation, Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI) , and member of the Global Alliance for Banking on Values has focused on their triple bottom line— people, planet, and profit—by prioritizing social responsibility, community impact, and regenerative economies alongside traditional banking. Sunrise Banks exemplifies social responsibility by building it directly into how the bank operates across all parts of the business; whether it’s fintech partnerships, their branch network, or the work they do in commercial and impact banking. “At a high level, we operate as a social enterprise, which means we’re intentionally using our business model to amplify impact, not just generate returns,” said Sehr. “Our success is tied to the success of the people and places we serve, and that shapes how we make decisions every day.” Jessica Meyers , who is the CEO of PorchLight , reached out to Sehr to see how Sunrise Banks could potentially support rural communities with the vision of improving housing opportunities. “Housing studies are—for many places—the first step to revitalization, and are critical tools economic developers, engineering firms, and banks use to make the case for large financial investments,” said Meyers. Since the initial proposal, Sehr and his team have evolved into key strategic partners to PorchLight and other collaborators, playing a critical role in advancing rural housing initiatives by supporting feasibility studies across South Dakota through a grant to GROW South Dakota awarded via the FHLB Des Moines Member Impact Fund .
“The relationships we’ve built with fellow CDFIs have been really significant,” said Sehr. “Having the opportunity to partner with and learn from organizations like Dakota Resources , GROW South Dakota, Lakota Funds , and Four Bands Community Fund (to name a few) has been incredibly impactful.” Sunrise Banks looks at the potential in what they can accomplish as a community bank in this market. Sehr says that includes strengthening partnerships across the state, continuing to work alongside fellow CDFIs and mission-aligned organizations, and expanding access to capital in rural and Native communities. “Ultimately, it is about building something that is sustainable and impactful over the long term, where we are not just participating transactionally in the market, but contributing to meaningful relationships in a way that moves things forward,” said Sehr. They have also aligned their commercial and business banking around local impact and outcomes. On the lending side, they have leaned into impact-oriented financing by supporting projects tied to broader community development. A large part of that is working through New Markets Tax Credits . “Since 2009, we’ve deployed over $400 million through our New Markets Community Development Entity (CDE) , helping fund small businesses, real estate developments, and nonprofits that create jobs and provide critical goods and services in areas with limited access to capital and opportunity,” said Sehr. Sunrise Banks also leveraged the CDFI Fund to stand up lending programs that expand access to capital, including initiatives that support homeownership and financial stability in areas that have historically been underserved. On the deposits side, Sehr says they give customers the ability to align their dollars with that same impact. “Through programs like Community Impact Deposits and Net Zero Banking , customers can be confident the funds they hold with us are being directed toward projects that support community development, sustainability, and long-term economic growth,” said Sehr. He continued, “When you put those together, it creates a full picture, where both lending and everyday banking activity are working toward the same outcome: strengthening communities and creating opportunities for businesses and individuals to grow.” FOR MORE INFORMATION, VISIT SUNRISEBANKS.COM. MEMBER FDIC. EQUAL HOUSING LENDER +
OUTDOOR ISSUE july 2026
Made with FlippingBook - Share PDF online