With all of the changes occurring in the financial services industry today, it can be reassuring to see that some things have not changed. As a full service community bank, with the motto “Our Most Important Customer is You”, the Bank of Waukegan continues to emphasize a professional, yet personalized brand of service to our customers. This philosophy is one great reason for the Bank’s continued success. While we continue to subscribe to this philosophy, some change is inevitable. During 1999, there were several positive changes for our customers and stockholders.

During April of 1998, First Federal Bank, fsb, our sister bank within the Northern States Financial Corporation, was merged with the Bank of Waukegan, creating one bank with six locations. This merger created a number of benefits. For the Bank, the merger allowed us to consolidate the Lewis Avenue offices, providing financial opportunity through greater economies of scale and a more efficient use of Company resources. Customers benefited through expanded hours at several locations and by receiving uniform products and services at each banking location.

In midyear 1998, an opportunity arose to expand the Bank into Winthrop Harbor, where no other banking facilities existed. On November 30, 1998 the Winthrop Harbor office opened offering consumer and commercial services to the businesses and consumers of Winthrop Harbor, Zion, Pleasant Prairie and surrounding communities. Our reception by the people of these communities has exceeded our initial expectations.

As a full service community oriented commercial bank, we continue to provide our customers with a complete line of loan, deposit and cash management services. We also seek to understand the special requirements associated with each business, thereby anticipating their unique business needs.

Our senior officers all have more than 20 years of community banking experience in our marketplace. This stability allows them to assist our customers with business loans, home mortgages, home equity credit lines and loans for any worthwhile purpose.

Each of our facilities is staffed with dedicated customer service representatives trained to listen to customers and recommend the appropriate consumer and commercial products.

Our 24-hour automated telephone banking center allows customers to access their accounts anytime, from anywhere.

Trust services require highly skilled personnel. Our dedicated staff is available to provide a variety of specialized services. These services include land trusts, custodial accounts, personal trusts, agency accounts, corporate trust services, investment management and employee benefit plans.

The Bank of Waukegan is a community bank, managed and operated by your neighbors in the areas where our facilities are located. Many of our officers and employees are actively involved in numerous civic, government and chari-table organizations, helping our commu-nities grow and prosper.

In our 37th year, the attitude and enthu-siasm of our staff is still reflected in…

Our Most Important Customer is You!