A bank built by Chicagoland, for Chicagoland.
Neighbors First Bank has served Chicago and the collar counties since 1994. What started as a single Loop branch is now 10 full-service locations, 20 bankers, and more than $2.4 billion in deposits — all still locally owned, still making decisions locally.
Our story
Neighbors First Bank was founded in 1994 by a small group of Chicago-area business owners and community leaders who believed that Chicagoland deserved a bank that answered the phone. At the time, community banks were being bought up by regional players, and account holders were increasingly routed to out-of-state call centers for anything more complex than a balance inquiry.
The founding team opened the first Neighbors First branch at 200 W. Monroe Street in the Chicago Loop in the spring of 1994. The promise was simple: every account, every loan, every phone call handled by a Chicagoland banker who lived in the community.
Thirty years and nine branches later, that promise still holds. Every loan is underwritten in Chicagoland. Every phone call is answered by a Neighbors First employee — not a contracted call center. Every branch manager is empowered to make decisions on the spot for their customers.
What we stand for
Local decisions
Loan approvals, account decisions, and problem resolution all happen in Chicagoland. No out-of-state underwriters, no overseas call center, no ticket queue.
Community reinvestment
Every deposit dollar is put to work in Chicagoland — funding local mortgages, small business loans, and community development projects. We consistently receive the highest rating available from the FDIC on our Community Reinvestment Act examinations.
Honest banking
Transparent fees, plain-English disclosures, and no products we wouldn't sell to our own families. If a Neighbors First banker recommends something, it's because it fits your situation — not because it hits a quota.
Wealth management & trust services
Neighbors First offers full-service wealth management, including investment advisory, retirement planning, trust services, and estate planning. Our team is led by Emily Carter, Senior Wealth Management Advisor, who is available across five branches ( Naperville Mondays, Schaumburg Tuesdays, Chicago Loop Wednesdays, Lincoln Park Thursdays, and Evanston Fridays).
Neighbors First's Trust Services operate as a separately chartered trust department under the Illinois Banking Act. Trust services include revocable and irrevocable trust administration, special needs trusts, custody accounts, and estate settlement.
For high-net-worth clients, our Private Banking group offers concierge banking, lending, and investment services. Kevin Sullivan, Private Banking Officer at our Chicago Loop branch, is your first point of contact.
Corporate information
- Founded: 1994
- Headquarters: 200 W. Monroe Street, Chicago, IL 60606
- Branches: 10 across Chicago, Oak Park, Evanston, Naperville, Schaumburg, Aurora, Orland Park, Joliet, and Waukegan
- Assets under management: $2.4 billion (as of Q2 2026)
- ABA routing number: 071000039
- NMLS ID: 487213
- Regulator: Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC), Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation
- Membership: Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, Federal Home Loan Bank of Chicago
Come see the difference in person.
Walk into any of our 10 branches during lobby hours — no appointment needed — and talk to a Chicagoland banker who lives in the neighborhood they serve.
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