Walk into Gateway Bank, and you’ll immediately notice the welcoming atmosphere and the familiar faces. It is the sense that this place operates with a purpose that reaches well beyond transactions.
But here’s the thing. That concept of community? It’s not just a talking point. It’s how the bank operates every day. “It’s just in our nature,” says President Bruce Downey. “We’re a community bank, and we need to give back. If the community is successful, we’re successful.”
That philosophy shows up in how Gateway Bank approaches lending. Deposits made by local clients are reinvested right back into the same neighborhoods. Home projects, small business growth, and local development all trace back to relationships built across the desk.
CEO John Schreier explains that it’s a shared cycle. Clients trust the bank with their finances, and in turn, the bank supports the very places those clients live and work. And while that structure matters, it is what happens outside the bank walls that tells the fuller story.
Gateway Gives in Action
If there is one program that captures this spirit, it is Gateway Gives. More than a formal initiative, it’s all about how associates show up for their communities.
Each year, team members select four charitable organizations to support. From there, employees roll up their sleeves, volunteering their time while the bank contributes financially. In recent years, that has included organizations such as Ronald McDonald House Charities, the American Cancer Society Hope Lodge, the Minneapolis Crisis Nursery, and Neighbors Inc.
But the effort does not stop with planned events. Highway cleanups along Highway 13 in Mendota Heights. Back-to-school drives that help local students start the year with what they need.
Employees are also given a paid day each year to volunteer, along with a holiday tradition that stands out. Through a pay-it-forward program, associates receive funds and are encouraged to give back in whatever way feels meaningful to them.
Some donate to families in need. Others support local nonprofits or lend a hand in their own neighborhoods. “It’s something people look forward to,” Downey says. “We trust them to do something good with it.”
Traditions That Bring People Together
While much of Gateway Bank’s impact happens behind the scenes, several events have become annual traditions. The Fall Festival in Mendota Heights is one of them. What started in 2005 as a simple idea has grown into a highly anticipated gathering. Each year, more than 800 pumpkins are given away alongside coffee, donuts, and family activities.
“It’s become a tradition,” Schreier says. “People plan around it.”
Even unpredictable weather has not slowed it down. Last year’s festival took place entirely in the rain, yet attendance matched previous years.
Downey remembers when it was just an experiment. “We didn’t know how it would turn out,” he says. “But it became something people really connected with.”
In Edina, a different tradition took shape. After opening the branch in 2017, the team looked for a way to engage the local community. That search led to involvement in the annual tree lighting at 50th and France.
Market President Brian Maxwell says the event has taken on a life of its own. “It’s always cold. Sometimes it’s snowing. But people come out every year. It’s festive and fun.”
Then there is the Mendota Heights 5K, scheduled for June 6, 2026. The event brings together runners, walkers, and families while raising funds for causes like Special Olympics and Beyond the Yellow Ribbon.
Marketing Director Gabrielle Peterson points out that the 5K has become a meaningful way for people to connect. “So many people come out,” she says. “It’s something the community really looks forward to.”
A Different Kind of Banking Experience
For many employees, the sense of connection is what makes Gateway Bank feel different as a workplace. “If we all sat in our offices all day, it wouldn’t be a fun place to work,” Maxwell says. “Getting out into the community changes that.”
It also shapes how the bank approaches client relationships. Conversations are personal. Decisions are local. And there is an emphasis on understanding individual needs rather than fitting people into a system.
Downey sums it up simply. “We have everything the big banks have, but with a personal touch.”
That idea extends to what the team jokingly calls their version of AI. At Gateway Bank, AI stands for “actual individuals.” It is a reminder that behind every loan, account, or interaction, there is a person involved. Someone who knows the area, understands the challenges, and takes pride in helping others move forward.
Consider this glowing feedback from Dr. Keith R Erickson, the owner of Erickson/Aamodt Orthodontics. "We have been loyal customers at Gateway Bank since its formation, and with the President, Bruce Downey, for many years prior to that. Their friendly service, professionalism, and attention to our banking needs have been exemplary, and we cannot recommend them more highly."
That perspective resonates with clients who have come from larger institutions. “People will come to bank with us from bigger banks,” Downey says, “and they’ll tell us they had no idea banking could be this way.”
A Community Business Built on What Matters
Gateway Bank believes that the community is not separate from the business. Every deposit, every loan, and every interaction feeds into a larger system of local support. And every volunteer hour, event, or act of giving strengthens the connections that make that system work.
From highway cleanups to holiday traditions, from school partnerships to spontaneous acts of generosity, the work continues year after year. And it’s not an initiative. It is a commitment that shows up in ways both big and small, shaping not just how they operate, but how they are experienced by the people around them.