Still Local, Still Solid, Still Finding the Bright Moments in Life: Our 2025 in Review
As 2025 comes to a close, it is easy to look back and focus on the challenges the year may have brought. But at Stillman Bank, we have found that the brightest moments always come from giving back. Serving our local communities is at the heart of what we do, and this year we were proud to support so many meaningful community initiatives. As we welcome a new year, we would love to share a few of our favorite moments from 2025. We hope these are small reminders of the good that can happen when we come together and a little inspiration to reflect on the positives the past year gave us.
Community Events (Galas, Fundraisers, & Professional Development)
As our local bank, we love being part of the heartbeat of our community! Throughout the year, our employees could be seen out and about, attending everything from galas and fundraisers to chamber dinners, ribbon cuttings, and professional development events. We are proud to celebrate the people and moments that make our community thrive.
Employee Casual Days
Throughout 2025, we hosted 13 casual days where employees were invited to dress casually in exchange for a monetary donation to a local non-profit. This initiative was created to share the wealth, intentionally distributing our donations across organizations addressing a wide range of critical community needs. Thanks to the collective generosity of our employees as well as some customers, we raised $6,428, directly supporting the following organizations: Rock River Valley Blood Center, Greg Lindmark Foundation, Cardinal Hope, Carrie Lynn Children’s Center, Jean Hausvick Memorial Scholarship, Tommy Corral Memorial Foundation, People Helping People, Lifeline Food & Self-Help Project, Rochelle Christian Food Pantry, Rock River Valley Pantry, Old Stone Church Food Pantry, Bread of Life, A Little R&R Animal Sanctuary, Remedies Renewing Lives, United Way of Ogle County, United Way Rock River Valley, The Haven Network, Rockton Lions Club Wimpy’s Fund
Build-a-Bike Belvidere
We were excited to sponsor and participate in this year’s Build-a-Bike Belvidere event in May! Stillman Bank employees were on-site and assisted in the building of two bikes for youth in the community.
School Presentations & Career Fairs
At our community bank, we understand that financial literacy is more than just numbers; it is a foundation for a brighter future. That is why we were proud to support financial education across our local school districts. This year, we had the pleasure of participating in career fairs and school presentations, connecting with students and sharing practical, real-world financial skills.
Thank you to Rochelle Township High School, South Beloit Senior High School, Harlem District #122, and Rockford Public Schools for giving us the opportunity to engage with students this year. We loved the chance to inspire the next generation, not just with money skills, but also by highlighting the exciting career opportunities the financial industry has to offer!
Rock River Valley Blood Center Mobile Blood Drive
We partnered with the Rock River Valley Blood Center and hosted a successful mobile blood drive at our Roscoe office. We are excited to share that 14 people, including 4 first-time donors, stopped by the bus to donate blood! From this blood drive, the blood center was able to collect 13 units of blood. RVBC is the sole supplier of blood products and services to 14 hospitals in the Northern Illinois and Southern Wisconsin regions, so every donation matters. As up to 3 lives can be saved by one pint of blood, almost 40 local lives were saved from this drive!
Community Shred Day
In June, we hosted a free Community Shred Day at our Stillman Valley and Byron offices! The shred truck was onsite to allow the community to safely dispose of personal documents & information to avoid becoming a victim of identity theft. This year, we had 255 people participate and we shredded roughly 8,000 lbs. of paper!
Local High School Scholarships
Our Stillman Trust & Wealth Management department was honored to present scholarships to five local high school students.
Four area high school seniors who are interested in pursuing a career in medicine were presented with $2,200 scholarships on behalf of the William E. Eickman Scholarship Trust. In its 30th year, the scholarship fund was established by former Stillman Bank President, William E. Eickman as a way to give back to the Ogle County community. Eickman was always grateful to the people of Ogle County for their support, recognizing that they were the reason for the bank’s success since 1882.
Additionally, a local Hononegah High School senior was awarded the Jean Hausvick Memorial Scholarship. In its second year, the Jean Hausvick Memorial Scholarship was established to honor the life of Jean Hausvick, a 1967 graduate of Hononegah High School. She held the position of Retail Office Manager at Stillman Bank in Roscoe and had celebrated 50 years in banking before passing away unexpectedly on May 6, 2023. The scholarship, funded by Jean’s husband Ken and the employees of Stillman Bank, ensures Jean’s generous spirit will live on in the Roscoe/Rockton community for years to come.
Community Food Drive
This June, we were proud to celebrate our 143rd anniversary and to celebrate, we hosted a Community Food Drive! Together, we donated nearly 1,000 non-perishable food items to these amazing local food pantries: People Helping People, Lifeline Food & Self-Help Project, Rochelle Christian Food Pantry, Rock River Valley Pantry, Old Stone Church Food Pantry, Bread of Life
For more information about our food drive and the local pantries that benefited from our communities’ generosity, click the link to our blog post below: 2025 Community Food Drive | Stillman 2 Cents
Festivals & Parades
We were excited to sponsor four local festivals this summer/fall and participate in three parades!
Back-to-School Supply Drive
With the help and generosity of our customers, employees, and community members we were able to donate 12 large totes and 3 bags FULL of various school supplies to Remedies Renewing Lives! These totes consisted of numerous school items including 68 backpacks & drawstring bags, 186 folders, 167 notebooks, 1,493 pencils, 113 boxes of crayons, 150 glue sticks, and much more! Remedies, the only domestic violence shelter in Winnebago and Boone counties, provides a variety of domestic violence program services to around 2,000 adult and child survivors of domestic violence, approximately 25% of whom are children. With these donations, children who utilize Remedies will have access to the supplies they need to have a successful school year!
United Way Ignite Award & Day of Caring
We were honored to receive the United Way of Ogle County Ignite Award for the 2024 Campaign season. This award recognizes a business that “ignites” employee engagement and community support and we couldn’t be prouder to receive this recognition! From launching a successful giving campaign to volunteering on Day of Caring and attending community events like the Adult Prom, our team is committed to making a difference year-round.
Additionally, this fall, our employees participated in the Day of Caring events hosted by both United Way of Ogle County and United Way Rock River Valley. Through United Way of Ogle County’s Day of Caring, our team supported HOPE of Ogle County by cleaning and organizing a transitional home, helping create a welcoming and supportive space for those in need. We also partnered with Keep Northern Illinois Beautiful during United Way Rock River Valley’s Day of Caring, where employees sorted and organized crayons for distribution as part of United Way’s literacy initiative, supporting creativity and learning across our community.
Chamber Leadership Program Graduates
In 2025, three of our bank employees completed their respective Chamber Leadership programs.
Jen Sisson, Vice President and Commercial Loan Officer | Leadership Rockford
Leadership Rockford, powered by the Greater Rockford Chamber of Commerce, is an 8-month program for emerging leaders, leaders new to the community, or leaders eager to become more involved in the Rockford region. The program provides each participant with an in-depth understanding of the local community, including its history, opportunities, and successes.
Sara Mitchell, Human Resources Coordinator | Leadership Academy
The Rochelle Chamber of Commerce Leadership Academy is an immersive 8-month program designed to empower the next generation of local leaders. Participants gain valuable insights into Rochelle’s history, economy, and community initiatives while developing essential leadership skills. Through hands-on experiences, engaging workshops, and collaboration with a diverse cohort of peers, attendees build meaningful connections and fresh perspectives that prepare them to make a lasting impact in their organizations and the community.
Kelly Carlos, Retail Office Manager | Leadership Academy
Leadership Academy, presented by the Belvidere Area Chamber of Commerce, is an 8-month program that empowers emerging leaders to connect, grow, and dive deep into Boone County’s rich history and future opportunities. With a class full of diverse voices and fresh perspectives, it is truly a one-of-a-kind experience.
Best of Ogle County 2025 & What Rocks 2025
Although the 2025 Best of Ogle County contest did not move forward to voting and no formal winners were officially declared this year, we still have something to celebrate! We were incredibly honored to have received 11 nominations across some amazing categories, including:
Best Bank
Best Mortgage Lending Services
Best Financial Planning Services
Best Customer Service
Best Place to Work
Best Ag Services/Ag Lending
Best Local Business
Best Loan Officer | Diana Davidson
Best Teller | Jeani Camplain
Best Teller | Mary Helfrich
Best Teller | Colleen Roberts
In addition, we were excited to be voted a Finalist in THREE categories in this year’s Rockford Register Star’s “What Rocks” Community’s Choice Awards contest:
Best Bank
Best Mortgage Lending Company
Top Employer (101 – 500 employees)
IBA Woman of the Year
We are absolutely thrilled that our very own Kathy Yocum, Vice President & Director of Retail Banking, was named the 2025 Woman of the Year by the Illinois Bankers Association (IBA)! This prestigious award honors a woman in banking who not only excels professionally but also uplifts others and makes a lasting impact in her community.
With over 40 years in the banking industry, Kathy has spent the majority of her career helping customers and colleagues thrive. Since joining Stillman Bank in 1987, she has been a driving force in shaping our retail banking culture with her thoughtful leadership, big-picture thinking, and unmatched heart. However, Kathy’s impact goes far beyond the bank doors. She is a passionate community leader who gives her time, energy, and talents to countless local organizations. Whether she is serving on community boards, volunteering at local events, or mentoring students, Kathy leads with purpose and compassion every step of the way.
Read more about Kathy and this well-deserved honor on our blog: IBA Woman of the Year | Stillman 2 Cents
Halloween Events
This October, we sponsored and participated in three local Halloween events. Our employees had a wonderful time on-site at these events, handing out candy to the kids or assisting them while they played games to win a prize.
Village of Roscoe’s Truck-or-Treat
Belvidere Chamber of Commerce Downtown Trick-or-Treat
102.3 The Coyote and SuperHits 93.5 Trick-or-Treat Safe House
Habitat for Humanity Build Day
We were proud to support Habitat for Humanity of Ogle County and have our employees volunteer on-site in November for a Build Day!
Purchase with a Purpose
In November, we held our sixth “Purchase with a Purpose” Debit Card Campaign in which a $1.00 donation was made to local charities with every Stillman Bank Debit Card transaction up to $6,000! We were excited to be able to present checks for $2,000 to 3 non-profit organizations throughout the Rock River Valley: A Mothers Love, Lisa’s Little Rescue, and Youth Movement.
Christmas Coloring Contest
We held our annual Christmas Coloring Contest in December for kids up to 10 years old. Congratulations to all of the winners who won their very own gingerbread house!
For ages 5 and under, the winners were Carly P. (Byron office), Mariah P. (Oregon office), McKenna K. (Rochelle office), Margaret H. (Rockford office), Lily C. (Roscoe office), and Elliot W. (Stillman Valley office)
For ages 6 through 10, the winners were Hadley P. (Byron office), Sadie P. (Oregon office), Bailey B. (Rochelle office), Nora H. (Rockford office), Olivia M. (Roscoe office), and Addilyn D. (Stillman Valley office)
Holiday Giveaway
In December, we continued our 60+ year tradition by giving away 3 pork halves and 3 beef quarters bank-wide with our annual Holiday Giveaway. Congratulations to our 2025 winners!
Beef Quarter – Joy Kohler (Davis Junction), Marcy Springborn (Rockford), Debi Bejot (Roscoe)
Pork Half – Brenda Koeller (Byron), Victoria Hinkle (Oregon), Heather West (Rochelle)
Debit & Win It Campaign
We were excited to close out the year with our 2025 Debit & Win It Weekly Giveaway, where two $500 winners were drawn weekly! Congratulations to our winners:
Week #1 | Roy S. (Rockton) & Diana W. (Stillman Valley)
Week #2 | Patricia M. (Chana) & Andrew S. (Monroe Center)
Week #3 | Hannah H. (Rochelle) & Kendell K. (Rockford)
Week #4 | Macey W. (Byron) & Morgan P. (Mt. Morris)
We thank each of our employees and you, our customers, for your continued support! In the end, at our core, we’re a hometown bank that for the past 143 years has truly been living, working, and investing in the betterment of the place we all call home. Here’s to continuing to look at the bright side in 2026!