Bell Mortgage

Company History:

Bell Bank, with assets of more than $5 billion, is the largest independently owned bank in the upper Midwest and one of the largest in the nation … thanks to our many loyal customers, whose confidence in us has led to growth and opportunity. People matter at Bell, and it shows in how our team members treat each other, our customers and those around us.

Headquartered in Fargo, North Dakota, Bell was chartered in 1966 and has full-service bank locations in Fargo, West Fargo and Wahpeton, North Dakota, and Moorhead, Dilworth, Hawley, Breckenridge, Detroit Lakes, Pelican Rapids, Fergus Falls, Alexandria, Minneapolis and Woodbury, Minnesota. We are proud to be part of the growth of the communities we serve!

Bell is a Member FDIC, Equal Employment Opportunity Employer and an Equal Housing Lender. Investing and wealth management products are not FDIC insured, have no bank guarantee, may lose value, are not a deposit and are not insured by any federal government agency.

Ownership & Growth

Thomas “Buck” Snortland, one of the founders of State Bank of Fargo in 1966, was instrumental in helping set the tone for the company’s employee- and customer-friendly culture. Snortland family members have remained major shareholders since the bank’s beginning with one small north Fargo location. Buck’s son, Thomas “Mickey” Snortland, was a dedicated board member for four decades and helped create the bank’s unique “bottom line” statement: “Happy Employees! Happy Customers!” His wife, Julie, was named to the holding company board of directors following Mickey’s passing in early 2013. Mickey’s sister Laura Snortland Fairfield is also a major shareholder and serves on the holding company board.

Richard Solberg, a hometown banker from Finley, North Dakota, joined Bell Bank as its president in 1982. As a major shareholder along with his son, Michael, he has helped steer the organization by serving people from all walks of life and all income levels.

In 2009, Bell Bank’s board of directors named Michael Solberg president. In December 2014, Michael was named CEO when his father, Richard stepped down from the role. Richard continues as chairman of the board. The transition has positioned Bell Bank to continue its strong growth for our bank, divisions and affiliate companies.

The Bell Identity

On January 1, 2011, the bank purchased Bell Mortgage, a respected Twin Cities mortgage company with a 130-year history. Bell Mortgage dates back to 1880, when David C. Bell made Minneapolis home. Soon he co-founded a mortgage company under his name: David C. Bell Investment Company. The business Bell began employed numerous Minnesotans and brought a significant amount of money and development into the area. Perhaps that is why Mr. Bell is referred to not only as an entrepreneur, but also as one of the Twin Cities’ founding fathers.

The David C. Bell Company continued to flourish, weathering The Great Depression, two World Wars and embracing more than 100 years of local development before becoming Bell Bank Mortgage. We borrowed the “Bell” name for our company as a whole to provide us with a more unique identity; with its long history, it is a perfect fit for the bank’s reputation and culture.

Company Stewards

Considering themselves stewards of the bank, the owners, along with our board of directors, value our employees, who are treated like family and whose dedication and loyalty are generously rewarded. An award-winning culture has helped Bell Bank recruit, hire and retain enthusiastic employees, who provide unequaled personal service to each customer.

Bell Bank’s employees receive not only a competitive benefits package, but also enjoy employee and family events year-round, including family baseball nights, picnics, Kids’ Night Christmas parties with Santa and sleigh rides, and the highly anticipated employee Christmas party. For each of the last several years, the Christmas party has been the venue for announcing the bank’s annual Pay It Forward program, providing employees funds to give to individuals, families and organizations in need in our communities.

Pay It Forward

Starting in 2008, Bell Bank gave employees a very special Christmas gift: the opportunity to “pay it forward” to people in need. It’s become a tradition continued each year. Every full-time employee receives $1,000 and every part-time employee $500 to give to an individual, family, organization or cause – a commitment totaling more than half a million dollars annually. To date, more than $10 million has been given to others less fortunate and to organizations that help build our communities.

Paying it forward is about compassionately helping others. Our Pay It Forward stories of giving will touch your heart.

Our Values & Bottom Line

As stewards, dedicated to the growth and reputation of this independently owned organization, we are committed to:
• Promoting and sustaining our family atmosphere
• Providing unequaled personal service to each and every customer
• “Paying it forward” by giving back to the communities we serve

Bell Bank’s simple philosophy is embodied in our unique “Bottom Line” statement:

Happy Employees! Happy Customers!