Northern State Bank: how it compares with its peers
Against 73 WI banks with half to twice its assets, Northern State Bank's strongest measure in Q2 2026 is efficiency ratio (54.54% vs. a 61.89% peer median). Its weakest relative measure is assets per employee ($6.8M vs. $7.0M).
| Measure | Northern State Bank | Peer median | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| Return on assets Annualized net income over average assets. | 1.66% | 1.27% | Top third Ahead of 74% of peers |
| Net interest margin Annualized net interest income over earning assets. | 3.94% | 3.87% | Middle third Ahead of 59% of peers |
| Efficiency ratio Noninterest expense per dollar of revenue. Lower is better. | 54.54% | 61.89% | Top third Ahead of 75% of peers |
| Assets per employee Total assets over full-time-equivalent staff. | $6.8M | $7.0M | Middle third Ahead of 41% of peers |
| Loans to deposits Net loans and leases over total deposits. | 52.07% | 87.10% | Context |
What it means for lending operations
Its efficiency ratio of 54.54% is better than the 61.89% peer median. Banks that already run lean usually find their next gains in loan growth: faster digital applications and fewer borrowers abandoning a slow document chase.
Banks closest in size
- Clare Bank, National Association Platteville, WI · $332M
- State Bank of Newburg Newburg, WI · $328M
- The Equitable Bank, S.S.B. Wauwatosa, WI · $327M
- The First National Bank of River Falls River Falls, WI · $325M
- Bank of Alma Alma, WI · $340M
- Cumberland Federal Bank, FSB Cumberland, WI · $342M
Questions about Northern State Bank
How big is Northern State Bank?
Northern State Bank, established in 1933, is headquartered in Ashland, WI. It reported $331M in total assets in its Q2 2026 FDIC call report and operates 7 offices.
What is Northern State Bank's return on assets?
1.66% annualized in Q2 2026, against a 1.27% median for 73 WI banks with half to twice its assets, ahead of 74% of them.
What is Northern State Bank's efficiency ratio?
54.54% in Q2 2026: it spent about 55 cents in noninterest expense for each dollar of revenue. The peer median is 61.89%, and lower is better.
Is Northern State Bank growing its loans?
Net loans shrank 1.1% over the year to Q2 2026, while deposits grew 8.7%.
Sources and method
Figures are from the FDIC’s public call report data for the quarter ending 06/30/2026, via FDIC BankFind. Return on assets and net interest margin are annualized year to date. Peers are WI banks with half to twice its assets in the same quarter, excluding this bank. The page refreshes daily, so new quarters appear as banks file. Compare another bank or see every Wisconsin bank ranked.