Blackhawk Bank awards surprise bonus to employees

Blackhawk Bank has joined scores of companies granting special, one-time bonuses to their employees. Each of Blackhawk's 175 employees that contributed to the Bank's 2017 earnings success were thanked and then received a 3 percent bonus up to a maximum of $1,500.

Explaining the move, Blackhawk Bank Chairman and CEO Rick Bastian said, "We had a great year in 2017 and we are very optimistic about our prospects for 2018. It only makes sense to share our success with the dedicated and hardworking employees who helped make it happen."

The announcement was made at the bank's recent annual strategy day event. For a number of years, Blackhawk Bank hosts an off-site, full-day of strategic planning for the upcoming year. All employees attend classes, learn of the bank's goals for the upcoming year, and begin developing a blueprint for their personal contribution toward maximizing the Bank's ability to meet client needs.

Blackhawk Bank is a $700 million community bank. The bank reported a record increase for the first half of 2017 and plans to continue growing at all current and future locations, which will include Elgin.

Blackhawk Bank started in 1881. The Bank operates eight full service banking centers in Rockford, Belvidere, Machesney Park and Roscoe, Illinois, and in Beloit and Janesville Wisconsin. The Bank also operates a Mortgage Processing Center in Roscoe.