Northwest Federal Savings Bank in Humboldt employs the following people, starting with the front row (l to r): Pat Becker and Doug Berte. Second row: Wendy Froh, Barb Adams, Brenda Campbell, Cindy Angstrom, Donnelle Skow, Brenda Dornath and Jan Grabbe. Judy Myer is also employed at the bank.

Northwest Federal Savings Bank
Editor's Note: This is the fourth in a series of stories on Humboldt's banks.

Northwest Federal was incorporated and received its charter on November 9, 1935, in Spencer.

In June of 1960, Northwest Federal's assets were $11,662,000. By June of 1970, the association had grown to $27,348,000 and by June of 1980 to $92,705,000.

Northwest Federal was one of the first savings and loans in Iowa to open a branch office with the opening of the Humboldt branch in 1968. Further branches were added in Estherville in May of 1977, and in Algona in December of 1977.

On March 31, 1983, Northwest Federal merged with First Federal Savings and Loan Association of Spirit Lake, adding three more offices located in Spirit Lake, Milford and Lake Park. The combined assets at this point were $135 million.

A new building was built in Humboldt in 1970. The Humboldt Republican reported on groundbreaking ceremonies for a new $85,000 office to be built at 611 First Avenue North. Northwest Federal had been operating out of temporary quarters. Harold Howe, President of Northwest Federal, turned the first spade of dirt.

Those in the photo included: Robert Thomas of Thomas Jewelers, Chase McLaughlin of Humboldt Newspapers, Fred Meyer, secretary of the Chamber of Commerce, Charles Anderson, vice-president of the Chamber of Commerce, Harlow Sievers, Chamber President, Merlyn Pollack, Humboldt Mayor, Ivan Stienstra, Northwest Federal vice-president, Fred Hall, former Humboldt Mayor, Tom Welch Northwest Federal Board member, Gunvalde Sande of Sande Construction (the overall contractor for the new building, Henry Christensen of Christensen Oil Company, Paul Clay, Charles Carrier, Northwest Federal Branch Manager in Humboldt, and Earl Kocher, design consultant from Spencer.

The December 5, 1970, edition of the Humboldt Independent had a photo of a ribbon cutting at the newly completed Northwest Federal headquarters in Humboldt (the building is now occupied by First Avenue Chiropractic, Dr. Mike Crowley).

The office was later run by Jerry Pedersen for many years.

Pat Becker, current Community Bank President for Northwest Federal, opened Home Federal Savings and Loan in 1976 along with Joan Donovan. They were located where EZ Trim has been located. Becker had previously worked for Home Federal in Algona and was approached by the President about opening a branch in Humboldt.

They purchased the property at the northwest corner of 8th Street North and Sumner Avenue, formerly Joe's Skelly. A new office was built in 1977.

Home Federal actually began operation in March of 1888 as Spencer Building and Loan. In October of 1929, a state charter was applied for and obtained and the name was changed to Spencer Savings and Loan. The name was changed to Home Federal Savings and Loan in May of 1969 after the company was granted a federal charter.

On December 30, 1988, Home Federal Savings and Loan and Northwest Federal Savings and Loan were purchased by Dwight and Neal Conover through the holding company, Northwest Financial Corporation. The two savings and loans were merged and opened with all branches operating under the name of Northwest Federal Savings Bank.

With the 1992 acquisition of the Humboldt branch of Home Federal Savings and Loan of Algona, the Humboldt branch became one of the largest branches in the company. Pat Becker was named Northwest Federal's Branch Manager.

Wanting the Main Street visibility and the double drive up lanes, the merged Home Federal and Northwest Federal became one at the Home Federal location at Sumner and 8th Street North. The move was completed in 1993 after an addition was built.

More recently, an 1,100 square foot addition was completed in 2004. The project involved interior remodeling. The addition created space for a conference room, additional offices, an employee lounge, mechanical room, large handicap accessible restrooms, and more.

Northwest Federal employs the following at the Humboldt branch: Pat Becker, Community Bank President; Doug Berte, Commerical/Ag Loan Officer; Donelle Skow, Consumer Loan Officer; Cindy Angstrom, Deposit Product/Teller Supervisor; and Customer Service Representatives Brenda Dornath, Wendy Froh, Janet Grabbe, Barb Adams, Judy Myer, and Brenda Campbell.

Northwest Federal has two ATM machines, one in the east entrance of the bank, and the other at Sparky's at the junction of Highways 3 and 169.

Northwest Federal Savings Bank offers mortgage, consumer, business and agricultural loans, checking accounts, CDs, IRAs, and a variety of other financial services from each of their locations.

A popular new service is on-line loans, which can be made to customers all over the country.

Northwest Federal in Humboldt has assets of $38 million.

Northwest Federal has offices in Spencer, Humboldt, Algona, Estherville, Spirit Lake, Milford, Fort Dodge, Storm Lake, Okoboji, and Belmond.

Northwest Federal Savings Bank is based in Spencer and has assets of more than $473 million. Northwest Financial Corporation as a consolidated unit has more than 330 employees, and assets in excess of $1.1 Billion.

Northwest Financial Corporation includes the Northwest Federal offices, First National Bank in Creston with three offices, Gateway Savings Bank at two locations in Ankeny, Gateway Community Bank with two locations in Omaha, Northwest Bank in West Des Moines, First National Bank with three locations at Sioux City, and First National Bank in Sioux Center.

With continued steady growth, Becker says she can see the day when Northwest Federal will need to expand the Humboldt location again.

"We're a strong community supporter. We have a great staff who work very well with customers and they like what they do. We want to continue to grow and one way to do that is to continue to provide the best service we can to our customers and to expand our customer base. Come bank with us," Becker said.