Ridgestone made $44 million in USDA loans in 2009

Brookfield-based Ridgestone Bank has been named the leading volume lender in Wisconsin by for USDA Business and Industry Guaranteed Loans for 2009. The bank made 10 loans under the USDA program in fiscal 2009, which totaled $44.2 million.
The bank was one of the first in the country to access funds made available through the USDA as part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.
"Our ability to access USDA funding helped Ridgestone provide loans which created or preserved 1,200 jobs," said Eric Manke, senior vice president and commercial team manager in the bank’s Brookfield branch. "We are proud to be able to support so many businesses and help keep so many people employed."
Ridgestone Bank has branches in Brookfield and Schaumburg, Ill., and was the 44th largest SBA 7(a) lender in the U.S. for 2008.