By Hillary Gavan
For StatelineBusiness

ROSCOE - As Alpine Bank celebrates its 100 year anniversary this year, it's also opening its ninth branch in Roscoe at 5023 Rockrose Court.

The new bank branch was completed in December and on Tuesday the bank was celebrating the new Roscoe branch with a ribbon cutting ceremony.

"Alpine Bank serves primarily Winnebago County. Roscoe is an important market for us. We have $40 million worth of deposits from this Rockton-Roscoe area. We service more than 1,000 residents with home mortgage loans," said Alpine Bank Chairman of the Board Rob Funderburg.

There are 12 workers at the new branch. Roscoe branch manager Drew Brauer worked at Alpine Bank 25 years ago and just returned this summer.

"The bank has gotten bigger but its emphasis on customer service has stayed the same," Brauer said.

Alpine Bank President William Roop agreed. Because of the bank's focus on customer service, Roop said many Rockton and Roscoe customers were driving to Machesney Park just to go to the bank.

"Our employees live here and work here. We desire to just help people," Roop said. "We continue to grow in market share."

To celebrate the new branch, Alpine Bank will be hosted an array of giveaways.

The Roscoe branch is the ninth branch opened by Alpine Bank. The next branch is planned to be located at Bell School Road and Riverside Boulevard.

Alpine Bank was founded in 1962, but the original company, Farmers State Bank, began in downtown Belvidere and has grown to become the largest locally owned financial institution in northern Illinois. Now known as Alpine Bancorporation, Inc., this holding company operates 14 locations serving more than 60,000 families and businesses.

Alpine Bancorporation consists of sister banks Alpine Bank and Belvidere Bank and has more than $850 million in assets and services 6,900 first mortgages with a dollar value of $620 million.

For more information visit www.bankalpine.com or www.belviderebank.com.