Much of the Company’s performance Much of the Company’s performance over the years is attributable to its location in Lake County, Illinois. Lake County is known for its highly developed urban centers, wealthy suburbs, charming rural communities and tourist amenities, all of which contribute to the growing population, construction activities and retail sales. Branch expansion and new product introductions also have enriched the professional services that are a hallmark of the Bank.

On November 10, 2005 Northern States Financial Corporation completed the merger of its subsidiaries, Bank of Waukegan and First State Bank of Round Lake. The resulting subsidiary was named NorStates Bank. The new name reflects the Company’s commitment to its customers, the communities it serves, the employees and its stockholders. NorStates Bank remains a community bank that will continue to provide the highest quality financial and investment services to the market it serves. That is why our motto hasn’t changed: “Our Most Important Customer is You.”