INB, formerly Illinois National Bank, has helped hundreds of people buy homes in the Bloomington area since the bank opened a loan office there in December 2012.
This tremendous mortgage growth, combined with a strong base of local business customers, helped INB reach its goal of opening a full service bank in 2017, two years earlier than originally planned.
INB chose to build its Bloomington branch at the corner of East Washington and Prospect roads because of the location’s visibility. Also, the building had been a bank, so drive-up lanes were already in place. The space was really worn down, so we ripped the space inside to the bricks on the exterior walls. We redid the parking lot; replaced the fascia. Basically, we resurrected an old space.
Read more about INB's history in Bloomington.
Mortgage Lender Grace Nichols Connects Through Community Groups
Our Bloomington team is made up of employees who are entrenched in the Bloomington-Normal community. For example, Grace Nichols. Grace chose to immerse herself in local business organizations to develop a network of people she could count on for career help. But as with anything, she proves you get what you give. And even though she has a long “to do” list, she recently took on the roles of chamber ambassador for the McLean County Chamber of Commerce and membership chair to the Bloomington Normal Young Professionals (BNYP) group.
Grace, an INB mortgage lender, has been involved with the McLean Chamber since 2014. She joined specifically to connect with people who would help her get the opportunity to make financial presentations. This was before she had children, so putting in a 12-hour day was typical, she says. She’d work, then run out for a Chamber meeting or event.
In addition to her work with the Chamber, Grace is a trustee with the McLean County Park Board. As a mother of three young children, she says this is a way she can help assure her kids have safe, good recreational facilities.
Read the rest of Grace's story and about her work with the Chamber.