Work With Us

We want to be an accessible, responsive and innovative bank for our customers. That means we strive to work with the greatest people, create the greatest culture, and aspire to be the bank of choice.

Our mission

Our mission is to empower fellow visionaries and change the world. We value our relationships first, with integrity, fairness, accountability and responsiveness. 

Fortress Bank customers experience three unique advantages:

1. Accessibility to banking experts 
2. Quick lending decisions and on-time closings
3. Innovative products and financial solutions 

Our culture

What’s it like to work at Fortress Bank? You’re surrounded by people who are innovative, creative and empowered to do what’s right for our customers – and they have fun doing it. 

Employee perks

As a Fortress Bank employee, you’ll receive benefits that reflect our unique culture and commitment to a topnotch work environment.

Current openings

You have a passion for customers and a community mindset. You embrace the unexpected and are always ready to take a step beyond. Sound like you? Please consider applying for one of these positions:

Loan Administration Specialist- Peoria, IL or Davenport, IA

The Loan Administration Specialist position will focus on supporting the Bank’s lending team in completion of post-loan approval due diligence, loan documentation, boarding, monitoring, and servicing of loans.  This position will primarily work with the commercial, agricultural, and consumer (non-mortgage) lending areas of Fortress Bank.

As a Loan Administration Specialist at Fortress Bank, you will be responsible for:

• Provide administrative and operational support for commercial, Ag and consumer loans on an ongoing, day-to-day basis, including servicing, file maintenance, tickler tracking, draw support, payment of invoices, inquiries, and research.
• Order and review appraisals, title commitments/real property searches, flood determinations, UCC searches, insurance policies and other post-approval documentation as required by Bank and Regulators.
• Review entity documents including Bylaws, Operating Agreements, Partnership Agreements, etc. to confirm appropriate signers of loan documentation.
• Prepare Commercial and Ag loan documentation including but not limited to real estate secured, construction loans, lines of credit, equipment term loans, SBA loans, participations, letters of credit.
• Prepare Consumer loan documents including but not limited to construction loans, unsecured loans, vehicle loans, HELOCs, cash/marketable securities/investment account secured loans.
• Coordinate closings with title companies and attorney when required.
• Effectively communicate with Relationship Managers and other members of the Loan Administration team on information requests and status of pending closings.
• Ensure loans are documented in accordance with loan approval, loan policy, Federal and State rules and regulations.
• Cross-train on boarding and booking of loans to the Bank’s systems and prepare the necessary wires for loan closings.

Requirements:

• High school diploma or equivalent
• Prior experience in loan servicing or loan documentation with a bank or financial services organization, including experience with LaserPro. 

• Ability to manage multiple responsibilities under challenging time frames.
• Self-motivated, proactive, detail-oriented and highly-organized with exceptional time management skills; must be able to prioritize workload and perform accurately and by deadlines.
• Flexible to change; learning and growth mindset.

This position will work in our Peoria, Illinois or Davenport, Iowa location.

About Fortress:

What’s it like to work at Fortress Bank?  You’re surrounded by people who are innovative, creative, and empowered to do what’s right for our clients – and we have fun doing it. Our employees are eligible for benefits that reflect our unique culture and commitment to a topnotch work environment.

Our mission is to retain the trust of our clients by consistently providing professional, straightforward, and sound financial solutions. We value our relationships first, with integrity, fairness, accountability, and responsiveness.

Fortress Bank customers experience three unique advantages:

• Accessibility to banking experts
• Quick lending decisions and on-time closings
• Innovative products and financial solutions

Qualified individuals may apply at any of our branch locations or submit a resume here. Be sure to include a cover letter highlighting your related skills and experience and your salary expectations.

Fortress Bank conducts pre-employment testing for use of illegal drugs, including use of marijuana, cannabis, or any derivation of the drug, which is designated as illegal by the U.S. Government.

Equal Employment Opportunity Employer M/F/D/V

Mortgage Loan Originator – Peoria, IL

As a Mortgage Loan Originator at Fortress Bank you will have responsibility for:

•  Expanding your referral networks through marketing and prospecting activities.
•  Maintaining your professional presence with centers of influence and members of referral communities: realtors, attorneys, appraisers, Bank colleagues.
•  Actively promoting borrower education throughout our communities.
• Listening and responding to current and potential customers through all portals:
  •  in-person
  • telephone
  • internet
  •  email
•  Collaborating with colleagues to assure excellence in products and service.
•  Applying professional diligence and presence to solicit, timely obtain and record necessary data; organizing those details into standard professional formats.

If you consider yourself a professional who:

•  Thrives on professional competence that leads to good work.
•  Takes pride in maintaining and developing your mortgage skills and knowledge.
•  Creates solutions by applying knowledge of mortgage programs, opportunities, restrictions, etc.
•  Works with and listens well to customers to identify mortgage goals and tailor programs to address individual objectives.
•  Learns independently and in cooperation with others to apply knowledge to standard processes.
•  Collaborates to timely meet objectives.
•  Organizes work to accomplish results.

You could become a Mortgage Loan Originator who would succeed with the Fortress Bank team. This full-time role will reward you with Base pay; Commissions; Bonuses; a comprehensive Benefits program including a 401(k) Plan with a match; Technology, Processes and Support to do your job well.

We have open positions in our Davenport, Iowa and Peoria, Illinois locations.

Qualified individuals may apply at any of our branch locations or submit a resume to  moc.ssertrofknab@nospmohtd. Please include a cover letter highlighting your related skills and experience.

Equal Employment Opportunity Employer M/F/D/V

Equal Opportunity Employer M/F/D/V

Customer Service Representative – Davenport, IA and Hamilton, IL

Fortress Bank is seeking a full time CSR for its Davenport, IA and Hamilton, IL location.  This position’s duties are directly related to financial transactions and retail services.  Candidate must be friendly, reliable, self motivated, and willing to work as scheduled including Saturdays.  Excellent customer service and math skills are required.  Candidate must be able to perform in a highly interruptive environment.  Fortress Bank offers a competitive salary based on previous experience and benefits with this position. Candidates may apply at any of our branch locations or submit resumes to Human Resources, PO Box 507, LaHarpe, IL  61450 or email:  moc.ssertrofknab@nospmohtd.

Equal Opportunity Employer M/F/D/V

Assistant Banking Center Manager – Hamilton, IL

This position focuses on building and maintaining excellent customer relationships and educating our customers on our products, services, and opportunities. This will require proactively contacting customers and prioritizing such interactions. This role is a backup for Tellers and Customer Service Specialists, requiring familiarity in both transactional and operational activity. The Assistant Banking Center Manager (ABCM) is responsible for assisting the Banking Center Manager (BCM) by maintaining customer satisfaction in the opening and processing of new accounts, redeem Savings Bonds; and handle advanced or complex customer requests such as internet banking/mobile app expertise, debit card limit raises (with approval), and account specials. This role will also have expectations regarding business development and positive collaboration with other departments and team members.

Duties/Responsibilities:

• Opening qualifying new consumer accounts within Fortress Bank policy.
• Recognize and execute cross-selling opportunities and training other team members to that effect. Additionally, recognizing BSA risks and team education of such risks.
• Management of maturing CD lists, expiring debit card lists, inactive bill pay lists, and proactive calls for Retail account specials.
• Expertise in internet banking and mobile app set up and troubleshooting.
• Collaborate with other departments when appropriate to meet & exceed customers’ needs.
• Saturday coverage rotation and new customer onboarding, specializing in thoughtful and strategic outbound sales.
• Understand and abide by policies, procedures, and regulations to minimize risk.
• Marketing material management of deposit specials (posting/distributing flyers, marquee management based on location).
• Business development activity, to be monitored and tracked on a quarterly basis.
• All other duties as assigned, including back up to Tellers and Customer Service Specialists.

Required Skills/Abilities:

Excellent verbal and written communication skills

Zest for positive interpersonal interactions and comfortability in ethical cross-selling.

Strong interpersonal, analytical, and problem-solving skills.

Ability to confidently exercise sound judgment and continue to learn new skills.programs.

Ability to function well in a fast-paced environment and manager time efficiently.

Proficient with Microsoft Office Suite or related software.

Education and Experience:

High school diploma or equivalent.

At least two years of banking experience or five years of customer service/leadership experience preferred.

Physical Requirements:

Prolonged periods of sitting or standing and working on a computer.

Required travel for trainings and business development events. Mileage reimbursement available. Willingness to travel to other Banking Centers for coverage strongly preferred. Mileage reimbursement available.

Ability to occasionally life up to 50 pounds (coin bags).

If you don’t find a current opening that meets your interests and experience, send us a resume anyway. We’re a dynamic and rapidly growing bank always looking for good people.