2024 Best of Business: Financial Services

Accounting firm

Gold | JAK+co.

JAK+co. offers its clients a winning mix of big-firm know-how and small-firm service. Celebrating its 100th anniversary in 2025, the firm that started out as John A. Knutson & Co. has maintained its reputation as a reliable accounting and CPA firm for individuals and businesses. JAK+co. specializes in several industries, including construction, manufacturing, real estate, and retail/wholesale, providing all clients with comprehensive services. The Falcon Heights-based firm has 62 employees after a recent acquisition. Its leaders encourage staff advancement, and many become certified financial planners or certified valuation analysts, allowing JAK+co. to provide clients with extensive expert advice.

Silver | KeyLin Advisors

Bronze | CLA (CliftonLarsonAllen)

Business bank

Gold | Bridgewater Bank

Bridgewater Bank continues to execute on its objective to be an entrepreneurial bank for entrepreneurial customers. Its founders laid a foundation of risk-taking when Bridgewater powered up in 2005, giving it the chops to provide capital and a full menu of banking services to like-minded customers. Today, Bridgewater has $4.7 billion in assets, seven branches in the Twin Cities, and more than 250 employees. The St. Louis Park-based bank has netted awards for its growth, services, and corporate culture. Bridgewater recently announced a leadership transition with CFO Joe Chybowski named president and founder Jerry Baack remaining chair and CEO.

Silver | Alerus

Bronze | Security Bank & Trust

Community bank

Gold | Security Bank & Trust Co.

From opening its first location in Glencoe in 1935 to 21 branches today, Security Bank & Trust has served as a community banking pillar. Its high-touch approach allows bank employees to get to know customers and personalize the bank’s services to meet their needs. Security Bank serves individuals, families, municipalities, nonprofits, and small businesses. It aims to make an impact on its communities through banking plus volunteering and sponsorship. That blueprint—plus recent mergers with Flagship Bank Minnesota and Cambridge State Bank—has helped Security grow to $1.1 billion in bank assets and $475 million in trust assets.

Silver | Alerus

Bronze | Bridgewater Bank

Consumer bank

Gold | Bridgewater Bank

Bridgewater Bank knows how to make its customers feel like a million. The bank invests in high-end customer service that eliminates 800 numbers, lines at the bank, and automated messages. Instead, it trades up to run an institution where bankers really do know customers’ names. The bank provides consumer banking to many of its commercial banking clients, including entrepreneurs, real estate investors, and business owners—serving all with a personal touch. Bridgewater’s model has led to consistent growth and profitability in its nearly two decades of operation, netting the bank rankings by S&P Global Market Intelligence as a best-performing community bank.

Gold | U.S. Bank (tie)

When consumers opt for U.S. Bank, they are choosing the homegrown bank that has stood the test of time during 160 years in operation. U.S. Bank is now the fifth-largest bank in the United States ranked by consolidated assets. Customers benefit from its one-stop structure for a range of products and options, from low-fee account choices to investing and wealth management services. It excels by staying nimble during turbulent times, continually innovating with new ways to serve customers and operating with integrity. For the 10th consecutive year, the Ethisphere Institute named U.S. Bank one of the world’s most ethical companies.

Silver | Alerus

Credit union

Gold | TopLine Financial Credit Union

TopLine Financial Credit Union has stayed true to its “people helping people” philosophy for nearly 90 years. The Maple Grove-based credit union strives to build lifelong relationships with customers to help them achieve personal financial goals. It does that with a range of options of products and services, from credit cards to car loans. TopLine continues to grow, opening a new branch in Bloomington last year and adding two locations in Maple Grove for 2025. The credit union now serves more than 51,000 member-owners. It recently announced a proposed merger with Anoka Hennepin Credit Union, with TopLine the successor institution.

Silver | Affinity Plus Federal Credit Union

Bronze | Wings Credit Union

Mortgage lender

Gold | TopLine Mortgage Services

TopLine Mortgage Services prides itself on taking a credit-union approach to helping customers achieve their dream of home ownership. It offers numerous mortgage products with competitive rates and lower closing costs that make those dreams possible. TopLine assists customers every step of the way, from offering first-time home ownership education sessions to helping navigate choices via first-time home buying programs and various mortgage options. TopLine serves customers who are purchasing a new home, buying a second home, or refinancing. It continually evolves, including adding a new adjustable-rate mortgage product. For six years, TopLine has received a StarTribune Top Workplaces Award.

Silver | Alerus

Bronze | Bell Bank

Wealth management firm

Gold | RBC Wealth Management

RBC Wealth Management, with roots in St. Paul, brings 115 years of experience serving clients and helping them reach a prosperous future. Its broad matrix of services helps individuals and families, business owners and entrepreneurs, and corporations and institutions adopt personalized wealth management plans. RBC teams develop holistic, custom wealth plans that pave the way for clients to achieve their goals, such as preparing for retirement, preventing risk, or funding education. Its focus on integrity and stewardship, with the backing of parent Royal Bank of Canada, give clients assurance. In 2023, FamilyWealthReport honored RBC Wealth Management with its best regional private bank award.

Silver | Alerus Wealth Management

Bronze | TopLine Investment Svcs.

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