A s a complement to the bank’s kids’ clubs, various celebrations were created to recognize the academic, athletic, and artistic achievements of area youth. In 1995, sponsorship of the Youth Salute program began, which applauds the positive accomplishments and leadership of high school seniors. In the same year, the bank highlighted contributions of the ag community with a special Ag Week. Enthusiasm for the event hatched, literally, in 1996 when the first baby chicks peeped in the Hills office lobby. Children and adults alike celebrated the anticipation of spring and the joy of new life. The event sparked an annual month-long tradition, complete with baby chicks at each office. Through the years, these efforts have achieved one of the bank’s central objectives of building important relationships by touching the lives of its customers.
Newly hatched chicks have delighted young and old during the annual Ag Month celebration.
Then, in 1999, the third Iowa City office opened on the eastside, later moving to its present location in 2001. The bank had the opportunity to open a branch in downtown Cedar Rapids in 2000. To accommodate the growth of the bank, property was purchased in 2001 on the west side of the main bank in Hills. A 45,000 square foot operations center was built to house the many employees who process customer loans and deposits. This allows all processing to be centralized, resulting in a much more efficient work environment in the town where Hills Bank began.
The bank continued to grow, expanding its markets into Linn and Washington counties in 1996 by acquiring Lisbon Bank and Trust in Lisbon and establishing a bank location in Kalona. In 1998 a branch in Mount Vernon was built to
provide convenience to the growing number of customers in this area.
Mount Vernon
Iowa City Eastside
Cedar Rapids Downtown
1999 Trust and Wealth
1998 Mount Vernon branch opens. The GO! Account is added as a special feature for youth ages 12 to 18.
2000 Cedar Rapids Downtown branch opens. The bank offers check imaging to customers.
Management surpasses $500 million in assets. There are 15 employees.
1999 Iowa City Eastside branch opens. Customers can now do their banking online with Hills Bank Online TM .
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