Horicon Bank
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Banking, Financial services |
| Founded | 1896 |
| Founder | Daniel C. Van Brunt |
| Headquarters | Horicon, Wisconsin , United States |
Area served | Wisconsin |
Key people | Fred F. Schwertfeger, Fred C. Schwertfeger (Board of Directors) |
| Products | Checking and savings accounts, mortgage loans, personal and commercial lending, certificates of deposit, credit and debit card services, trust account management |
| Owner | Sword Financial |
Number of employees | 210 (2021) |
Horicon Bank is a Wisconsin-based commercial joint-stock bank, established in 1896 by Daniel C. Van Brunt, the inventor behind the grain drill. Van Brunt's manufacturing enterprise was acquired in 1911 by Deere & Company, which still operates the John Deere Horicon Works facility producing consumer goods such as lawn tractors. Horicon Bank maintains 18 branches throughout the state and reported managing $1.2 billion in assets as of 2021. The institution employs approximately 210 staff members and is under the ownership of Sword Financial. Its main office is situated near the Horicon Marsh, recognized as the largest freshwater cattail marsh in the United States, which inspired the bank’s slogan, "The Natural Choice."
Founding and Development (1896-1978)
Originally chartered as Horicon State Bank in 1896, the bank erected its primary building in 1915 and subsequently expanded its presence with multiple branches across Wisconsin. It was one of the earliest banks to resume operations following the 1929 Great Depression and absorbed The First National Bank of Horicon during the 1930s. Leadership shifted in 1960 when Robert Barney assumed the presidency, and five years later, he along with local industrial leaders acquired ownership from the Wilcox family, initiating a succession of presidents drawn from regional industrialists.
Establishment of Sword Financial and Ownership Consolidation (1978-2004)
Sword Financial Corporation was created in 1978 to serve as the holding company for Horicon Bank, designed to centralize ownership while preserving the bank’s identity as a community-focused institution.
Rebranding and Recent Growth (2004-Present)
In 2004, the institution adopted the name Horicon Bank. The bank expanded its asset base by acquiring Markesan State Bank in 2019, adding $130 million in assets. The following year marked a strategic enhancement of its digital services through the purchase of Monotto, a fintech firm based in Atlanta. In 2021, Horicon Bank announced plans to enter the Milwaukee market by opening two new branches. Sword Corporation along with the Schwertfeger family continue to be principal shareholders, with Fred F. Schwertfeger and Fred C. Schwertfeger serving on the Board of Directors.
Products and services
Horicon Bank offers an extensive portfolio of financial products and services tailored to both individual consumers and business clients. These include checking and savings accounts, mortgage loans, personal and commercial lending options, certificates of deposit, credit and debit card services, as well as trust account management.