Ames National Corporation operates as a multi-bank holding company that provides banking products and services primarily in Adams, Boone, Clarke, Hancock, Polk, Marshall, Ringgold, Story, Taylor, and Union counties in the central, north-central, and south-central Iowa. The company accepts a range of deposits, including checking and savings accounts; and time deposits, such as money market accounts and certificates of deposit. It also provides loans, such as short-term and medium-term commercial and agricultural real estate, residential real estate loans, equipment, vehicle, and home improvement loans; personal loans and lines of credit; agricultural and business operating loans and lines of credit; and originates mortgage loans for sale into the secondary market. In addition, the company offers cash management, merchant credit card processing, safe deposit box, wire transfer, direct deposit of payroll and social security check, and automated/video teller machine access services; and automatic drafts for various accounts, as well as wealth management services. Further, it provides farm management, investment, and custodial services for individuals, businesses, and non-profit organizations; and online management, mobile and and private banking services. Ames National Corporation was founded in 1903 and is based in Ames, Iowa.
AI Generated Analysis | Feedback
Ames National is a local community bank for central Iowa, much like a hyper-focused, smaller version of a major regional bank such as PNC.
Think of it as the hometown bank for communities in central and north central Iowa, similar to a very localized and traditional version of U.S. Bancorp.
AI Generated Analysis | Feedback
- Deposit Services: Offering a range of checking, savings, money market, and certificate of deposit accounts for individuals and businesses.
- Lending Services: Providing commercial, agricultural, real estate (residential and commercial), and consumer loans.
- Wealth Management & Trust Services: Delivering financial planning, investment management, and trust administration services.
- Digital Banking: Offering convenient online and mobile banking platforms for account management and transactions.
AI Generated Analysis | Feedback
Ames National (ATLO) Major Customers
Ames National Corporation (ATLO) is a bank holding company. Its primary subsidiary, First National Bank, operates in central Iowa, providing a range of financial services.
As a regional bank, Ames National does not have a few "major customers" in the traditional sense that would be publicly disclosed. Instead, it serves a broad and diversified base of individuals and businesses within its operating market. Given the nature of its business, it primarily sells financial products and services directly to end-users (individuals and businesses), rather than to other companies for resale.
Therefore, its customer base can be categorized as follows:
- Individual Consumers: Residents of the communities it serves who utilize personal banking services such as checking accounts, savings accounts, certificates of deposit, mortgages, auto loans, and other consumer loans.
- Small to Medium-sized Businesses: Local and regional enterprises that rely on the bank for business checking and savings accounts, commercial loans, lines of credit, commercial real estate financing, and treasury management services.
- Agricultural Clients: Farmers and agribusinesses within its Iowa market, seeking specialized agricultural loans for land, equipment, operating expenses, and other financial services tailored to the agricultural sector.
AI Generated Analysis | Feedback
John P. Nelson, Chief Executive Officer, President and Director
Mr. Nelson was appointed President and Chief Executive Officer of Ames National Corporation in 2018, having previously served as the Chief Financial Officer and Secretary of the Company since 1999. He has served as a Director of the Company since 2013 and possesses 26 years of banking experience, including prior employment as a commissioned bank examiner for the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation. He currently chairs the Board of Boone Bank & Trust Co., First National Bank, and United Bank & Trust Co., and is a board member of Iowa State Savings Bank.
Justin C. Clausen, Chief Financial Officer and Secretary
Mr. Clausen was appointed Chief Financial Officer in 2024. He joined the Company in March 2020, serving as Chief Accounting Officer since May 2023 and previously as Controller. In October 2024, he acquired 210 shares of the company's common stock.
Michael A. Wilson, Executive Vice President and Chief Lending Officer
Mr. Wilson joined Ames National Corporation in 2022 and was appointed Executive Vice President and Chief Lending Officer in 2023, after having served as Executive Vice President of Innovation & Corporate Services. He has extensive financial institution experience, including serving as chief lending officer of a central Iowa bank, managing a commercial agribusiness team for a national insurer, and beginning his banking career as a commercial lender. Mr. Wilson is a United States Army veteran and holds a Bachelor of Business Administration in Finance from Iowa State University. He currently serves as Chairman of the Board of State Bank & Trust Co.
Scott T. Bauer, President and Director, First National Bank
Mr. Bauer serves as Chief Executive Officer and President, and is a member of the Board of Directors of First National Bank. A financial services veteran, he joined First National Bank in 1986 and has extensive experience in leadership roles across various aspects of banking. He is a graduate of Iowa State University and the Graduate School of Banking at the University of Colorado, and is active in community service.
Jeffrey K. Putzier, President and Director, Boone Bank & Trust Co.
Mr. Putzier has served as the President and a Board member of Boone Bank & Trust Co. since 1999. Prior to this role, he was the Vice President and a Board member of State Bank & Trust Co. in Nevada, Iowa, from 1991 to 1999.
AI Generated Analysis | Feedback
The increasing competition from digital-only banks and fintech companies poses a clear emerging threat. These digital-first entities leverage technology to offer convenient, often lower-cost banking services with competitive interest rates, directly challenging the traditional branch-based community banking model. This trend has the potential to erode Ames National's customer base, particularly among younger demographics, and pressure its net interest margin and profitability.
AI Generated Analysis | Feedback
Ames National Corporation (ATLO) operates as a multi-bank holding company primarily focused on community banking services within central Iowa, specifically across Boone, Clarke, Hancock, Marshall, Polk, Story, Taylor, and Union Counties. Its main products and services include traditional banking activities such as personal, business, agricultural, and commercial lending, as well as deposit account services like checking, savings, money market accounts, and certificates of deposit. The company also offers wealth management services.
The addressable market for community banking services in the U.S. was valued at approximately $6.35 billion in 2024, with projections indicating growth to $19.39 billion in 2025 and $26.98 billion by 2029. North America held a dominant market position in the global community banking market in 2024, capturing over a 40% share.
More specifically for Ames National's operating region, the total assets for all Iowa banks exceeded $127 billion at the end of 2024 and stood at approximately $129 billion in the second quarter of 2025. Total loans provided by Iowa-domiciled banks were nearly $88 billion in 2024 and $89.4 billion in the second quarter of 2025. Total deposits in Iowa banks reached $107 billion in 2024 and $107.5 billion in the second quarter of 2025. Ames National Corporation itself managed over $2.1 billion in total assets as of December 31, 2024.
AI Generated Analysis | Feedback
Here are the expected drivers of future revenue growth for Ames National (ATLO) over the next 2-3 years:
- Net Interest Margin Expansion: Ames National has demonstrated an improvement in its net interest margin, rising to 2.83% in the third quarter of 2025 from 2.21% in the third quarter of 2024. This growth is primarily attributed to an improved yield on its loan portfolio, the reinvestment of maturing investments at higher rates, and a decrease in deposit interest expenses due to prevailing market rates. The reduction in other borrowed funds interest expense further contributes to this margin expansion.
- Loan Portfolio Growth: The company has experienced growth in its loan interest income, driven by higher average interest rates and an expansion of its loan portfolio. As of the end of 2024, the loan book had grown by 2% year-over-year, with a significant focus on commercial, residential mortgage, and agricultural loans. Continued growth in these lending areas is expected to be a revenue driver.
- Growth in Wealth Management Services: Noninterest income has seen an increase, notably from wealth management, due to the growth in assets under management and the establishment of new client relationships. This indicates an expanding presence and increased revenue generation from these fee-based services.
- Strategic Initiatives and Technology Investments: While not directly quantified as forward guidance, analysts and company overview suggest that strategic acquisitions and technology investments are vital for accelerating growth, gaining access to new markets, and enhancing customer bases. These initiatives are expected to support future revenue generation by expanding the company's operational capabilities and market reach.
AI Generated Analysis | Feedback
Share Repurchases
- Ames National Corporation authorized a new stock repurchase program on August 13, 2025, allowing for the repurchase of up to 200,000 shares, approximately 2.2% of its outstanding common stock. This program is set to expire on November 17, 2026.
- Under a previous repurchase program authorized in November 2024 for 100,000 shares, the company repurchased 6,522 shares for $122 thousand between July 1, 2025, and September 30, 2025. Additionally, 16,868 shares were repurchased for $278 thousand between April 1, 2025, and June 30, 2025, under the same program, which was completed on July 31, 2025.
- In 2024, Ames National repurchased 43,057 shares under stock repurchase plans.
Share Issuance
- The number of outstanding shares for Ames National Corporation has generally shown a slight decrease over the last few years, rather than significant issuances. Shares outstanding were approximately 8.845 million in November 2025, compared to 9.11 million in 2020.
- While there are records of individual insider purchases, these do not represent company-level share issuances for capital raising purposes.
Inbound Investments
- No information was found regarding large inbound investments made in Ames National Corporation by third-parties, such as strategic partners or private equity firms, over the last 3-5 years.
Outbound Investments
- No information was found regarding instances where Ames National Corporation made strategic investments in other companies over the last 3-5 years, beyond its operations as a bank holding company with its affiliate banks. The company has historically completed bank acquisitions, with four since 2012, but no recent specific instances of outbound investments in other companies were detailed within the requested timeframe.
Capital Expenditures
- Explicit dollar values for capital expenditures were not readily available in the provided search snippets from financial reports. However, capital expenditures for a bank holding company like Ames National Corporation typically focus on investments in bank premises, equipment, and technology infrastructure to support its banking operations and services across its six affiliate banks.
- The annual depreciation and amortization for Ames National was $1.692 million in 2024, $1.752 million in 2023, and $1.99 million in 2022, reflecting the usage and aging of its capital assets.