Our History
In January 1991, an investor group led by my father, Joel Salk, acquired the First National Bank of Roselle, a $28.0 million bank with $2.5 million in capital, which was originally chartered in 1985. The Bank was recapitalized, and the name changed to First Eagle Bank, to reflect our broader market profile.
In 1994, a new freestanding facility was built one-half mile west on Lake Street and the Bank relocated to Hanover Park, which is referred to as our DuPage County Office. This new facility tripled the size of our existing facility. In 2001, First Eagle built a 15,000-square-foot office in Chicago’s burgeoning West Loop, at the corner of Madison and Racine. The visibility and accessibility - off the Eisenhower Expressway at Racine, off the Kennedy at Madison, and minutes from the Loop - enables First Eagle to better serve the metro-Chicago market.
In August 2010, First Eagle Bank was certified as a Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI). Community Development Financial Institutions share a common goal of providing access to financial products and services for residents and businesses. As one of only a few CDFI's in Chicago, we take enormous pride in supporting all communities throughout the metro-Chicago market, including underserved communities.
Today, First Eagle Bank has assets of approximately $600.0 million and over $100.0 million in capital, ranking us as one of the most well-capitalized banks in Chicago. My father passed away in July 2021, after coming to the Bank every day until he was ninety years old. His legacy lives on, though, as we commit ourselves to the same values as the day he acquired the Bank — developing long-lasting relationships with our customers, staff, and community.
