Notice of Acquisition of a Bank or Bank Holding Company by a Bank Holding Company

Notice of Acquisition of a Bank or Bank Holding Company by a Bank Holding Company Stearns Financial Services, Inc. Employee Stock Ownership Plan (the "ESOP"), Saint Cloud, Minnesota, intends to apply to the Federal Reserve Board for permission to increase its ownership interest in Stearns Financial Services, Inc., Saint Cloud, Minnesota, up to 25.0231% and thereby indirectly increase its control of Stearns Bank, National Association, Saint Cloud, Minnesota. The Federal Reserve considers a number of factors in deciding whether to approve the notice, including the record of performance of banks we own in helping to meet local credit needs. You are invited to submit comments in writing on this application/notice to the Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis, Attention: Applications Officer, Division of Supervision, Regulation and Credit, P.O. Box 291, Minneapolis, MN 55480-0291. Comments can also be sent electronically to MA@mpls.frb.org. The comment period will not end before January 4, 2026 and may be somewhat longer. The Board's procedures for processing notices may be found at 12 C.F.R. Part 262. Procedures for processing protested notices may be found at 12 C.F.R. 262.25. To obtain a copy of the Federal Reserve Board's procedures, or if you need more information about how to submit your comments on the notice, contact Mark Nagle, Assistant Vice President, at (612) 751-1563. The Federal Reserve will consider your comments and any request for a public meeting or formal hearing on the notice if they are received in writing by the Reserve Bank on or before the last day of the comment period. December 5 2025 LMNS0418138