Iowa has 224 headquartered banks holding $31.0 billion in total commercial real estate loans as of June 30, 2026. Their combined CRE balances increased +4.6% year over year, while the top five institutions accounted for 30.8% of CRE loans held by banks headquartered in the state. BestCRE ranks the leading Iowa institutions by total commercial real estate loans reported on schedule RC-C of the FDIC Call Reports. The ranked table includes 25 banks with a combined $20.4 billion in CRE loans, providing borrowers with a comparable view of portfolio size, property mix, recent growth and concentration.
The ranking is a starting point for identifying banks with demonstrated commercial real estate exposure, not a prediction that any institution will approve a particular request. The table separates construction and land, multifamily, owner occupied, and investor nonfarm nonresidential balances. It also shows year over year change, CRE share of loans, investor CRE relative to equity capital, and national rank. Bank lending remains relationship driven and local, so borrowers should use these measures to identify plausible matches and then speak directly with several institutions. The research draws on FDIC Call Reports and the FDIC Summary of Deposits 2026.
Iowa banks ranked by total CRE loans
| Rank | Bank | Headquarters | Total CRE loans ($M) | Construction and land ($M) | Multifamily ($M) | Owner occupied ($M) | Change, 1 year | CRE share of loans |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bankers Trust Company | Des Moines, IA | $3,514 | $523 | $383 | $318 | +0.0% | 58.3% |
| 2 | West Bank | West Des Moines, IA | $2,255 | $325 | $504 | $457 | -0.9% | 76.4% |
| 3 | Hills Bank and Trust Company | Hills, IA | $1,472 | $354 | $536 | $300 | +7.2% | 40.2% |
| 4 | Cedar Rapids Bank and Trust Company | Cedar Rapids, IA | $1,300 | $239 | $709 | $161 | +11.6% | 64.6% |
| 5 | Quad City Bank and Trust Company | Bettendorf, IA | $1,020 | $275 | $463 | $150 | -1.3% | 53.8% |
| 6 | Central Bank | Storm Lake, IA | $1,000 | $158 | $128 | $328 | +10.1% | 50.0% |
| 7 | Northwest Bank | Spencer, IA | $939 | $167 | $133 | $252 | +1.8% | 37.7% |
| 8 | Community State Bank | Ankeny, IA | $903 | $346 | $301 | $75.2 | +7.2% | 69.9% |
| 9 | Bank Iowa | West Des Moines, IA | $825 | $190 | $141 | $163 | +6.9% | 45.9% |
| 10 | Luana Savings Bank | Luana, IA | $822 | $108 | $388 | $79.8 | +11.2% | 44.2% |
| 11 | Farmers State Bank | Waterloo, IA | $612 | $78.6 | $209 | $133 | -2.1% | 46.9% |
| 12 | First Citizens Bank | Mason City, IA | $597 | $101 | $97.8 | $151 | -8.1% | 45.0% |
| 13 | Lincoln Savings Bank | Reinbeck, IA | $591 | $56.5 | $175 | $144 | -8.6% | 49.9% |
| 14 | Farmers State Bank | Marion, IA | $530 | $99.3 | $87.8 | $94.1 | +9.6% | 60.8% |
| 15 | Availa Bank | Carroll, IA | $460 | $65.9 | $102 | $114 | +9.5% | 38.6% |
| 16 | VISIONBANK OF IOWA | Ames, IA | $439 | $86.3 | $65.5 | $86.1 | -2.2% | 58.1% |
| 17 | CBI Bank & Trust | Muscatine, IA | $414 | $52.4 | $39.4 | $155 | +6.7% | 38.4% |
| 18 | First National Bank, Ames, Iowa | Ames, IA | $406 | $34.0 | $171 | $109 | -6.4% | 61.4% |
| 19 | Bank Midwest | Spirit Lake, IA | $402 | $75.5 | $115 | $95.0 | +34.8% | 38.3% |
| 20 | American State Bank | Sioux Center, IA | $362 | $33.2 | $81.3 | $170 | -4.5% | 26.7% |
| 21 | Fidelity Bank & Trust | Dubuque, IA | $353 | $74.5 | $63.1 | $94.4 | +14.1% | 18.5% |
| 22 | The Security National Bank of Sioux City, Iowa | Sioux City, IA | $311 | $64.7 | $105 | $65.0 | +11.2% | 25.7% |
| 23 | Farmers Trust and Savings Bank | Spencer, IA | $285 | $86.2 | $106 | $30.7 | -0.4% | 56.2% |
| 24 | Capra Bank | Dubuque, IA | $276 | $107 | $24.9 | $62.9 | +84.0% | 49.0% |
| 25 | South Story Bank & Trust | Slater, IA | $273 | $58.0 | $32.9 | $82.9 | +2.2% | 47.7% |
Source: FDIC Call Reports as of June 30, 2026 (schedule RC-C). Dollar figures in millions. Change, 1 year compares total CRE loans with June 30, 2025. Bank names link to each bank’s FDIC record. Table shows the top 25 of 224 banks headquartered in Iowa.
Bankers Trust Company leads with $3.5 billion in CRE loans, including $2.3 billion of investor nonfarm nonresidential loans. West Bank ranks second at $2.3 billion and has the table’s highest reported CRE share of loans among the leaders at 76.4%. Portfolio mix differs substantially. Hills Bank and Trust Company reports $536.0 million in multifamily loans, while Cedar Rapids Bank and Trust Company reports $708.6 million. Recent movement also varies. Capra Bank shows +84.0% year over year growth, Bank Midwest shows +34.8%, and Fidelity Bank & Trust shows +14.1%. First Citizens Bank declined -8.1%, while Lincoln Savings Bank declined -8.6%. Concentration is another differentiator. West Bank’s investor CRE to equity ratio is 4.75x, compared with 0.96x at Fidelity Bank & Trust. These figures describe reported portfolios and do not establish current credit availability.
Out of state banks with branches in Iowa
| Bank | Headquarters state | Branches in Iowa | Deposits in Iowa ($M) | Total CRE loans, all states ($M) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| U.S. Bank, N.A. | Ohio | 55 | $7,878 | $50,718 |
| Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. | South Dakota | 39 | $7,853 | $121,623 |
| Nicolet National Bank | Wisconsin | 36 | $3,324 | $4,900 |
| Bank of America, N.A. | North Carolina | 4 | $2,858 | $79,906 |
| First Interstate Bank | Montana | 45 | $1,984 | $8,497 |
| UMB Bank, N.A. | Missouri | 8 | $996 | $15,713 |
| First Mid Bank & Trust, N.A. | Illinois | 14 | $980 | $3,676 |
| BMO Bank, N.A. | Illinois | 21 | $801 | $28,802 |
| Great Southern Bank | Missouri | 18 | $658 | $3,211 |
| Associated Bank, N.A. | Wisconsin | 6 | $617 | $10,594 |
| First National Bank of Omaha | Nebraska | 3 | $399 | $6,021 |
| Frontier Bank | South Dakota | 3 | $255 | $101 |
Source: FDIC Summary of Deposits 2026. Deposits and branches are for Iowa only; CRE loans are bank wide.
Portfolio data helps borrowers build a focused bank list
Total CRE loans provide an initial indication of a bank’s appetite for commercial property exposure and its capacity to hold loans. A large portfolio can make an institution relevant for a borrower’s search, but size alone does not establish fit. Bankers Trust Company reports $3.5 billion in total CRE loans, while West Bank reports $2.3 billion. Borrowers can begin with institutions whose overall scale appears compatible with the financing request, then compare the portfolio categories that most closely match the property.
The loan mix shows where each bank is most active, and year over year change identifies institutions that are adding or reducing reported balances. Concentration can signal that a bank may be selective even when its CRE book is large. Borrowers should treat the ranking as a screening tool, contact several banks, and discuss the property, sponsorship and existing banking relationship directly. The table reflects balances as of June 30, 2026, not live commitments or approval criteria.
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Tell Us About Your DealHow BestCRE Capital WorksLoan mix and concentration distinguish the leading portfolios
The 25 ranked banks collectively report $3.8 billion in construction and land loans, $5.2 billion in multifamily loans, $3.9 billion in owner occupied loans, and $7.6 billion in investor nonfarm nonresidential loans. Individual portfolios can look quite different within those totals. Community State Bank reports $345.9 million in construction and land loans and $301.1 million in multifamily loans. Central Bank reports $328.1 million in owner occupied loans and $385.4 million in investor nonfarm nonresidential loans.
CRE share of loans and investor CRE to equity provide different views of concentration. West Bank reports a 76.4% CRE share of loans and a 4.75x investor CRE to equity ratio, both high relative to many banks in the table. CBI Bank & Trust reports a 38.4% CRE share and a 1.28x ratio, while American State Bank reports 26.7% and 1.20x. These measures can help borrowers anticipate selectivity, but they do not reveal a bank’s current pipeline, underwriting terms or willingness to pursue a specific transaction.
Borrowers can compare Iowa banks with other capital sources
This ranking covers banks headquartered in Iowa. Banks headquartered elsewhere may also lend in the state through local branches, but their Call Report loan totals cover activity across all states. U.S. Bank, N.A., headquartered in Ohio, has 55 Iowa branches and $7.9 billion in Iowa deposits, while reporting $50.7 billion in total CRE loans across all states. Wells Fargo Bank, N.A., headquartered in South Dakota, has 39 Iowa branches, $7.9 billion in Iowa deposits and $121.6 billion in total CRE loans across all states.
Other branch based options include First Interstate Bank, with 45 Iowa branches and $2.0 billion in Iowa deposits, and BMO Bank, N.A., with 21 branches and $801.1 million in deposits. Borrowers may also compare debt funds, life companies, CMBS, agency and SBA lenders. Those nonbank sources do not appear in bank Call Reports. Comparing several bank and nonbank sources gives borrowers a broader view of available structures while recognizing that bank lending is relationship driven and local.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which Iowa bank has the largest commercial real estate loan portfolio?
Bankers Trust Company ranks first among banks headquartered in Iowa, with $3.5 billion in total commercial real estate loans as of June 30, 2026. Its portfolio includes $523.2 million in construction and land loans, $383.4 million in multifamily loans, $318.1 million in owner occupied loans, and $2.3 billion in investor nonfarm nonresidential loans. CRE represents 58.3% of its total loans, and its investor CRE to equity ratio is 4.30x. Nationally, the bank ranks 138 by total CRE loans.
Which Iowa CRE lender reported the fastest year over year growth?
Capra Bank reported the largest year over year increase among the 25 ranked institutions, at +84.0%. The Dubuque headquartered bank had $276.1 million in total CRE loans as of June 30, 2026. Its reported portfolio included $106.7 million in construction and land loans, $24.9 million in multifamily loans, $62.9 million in owner occupied loans, and $81.6 million in investor nonfarm nonresidential loans. The growth figure measures the change in reported balances and does not indicate current approval activity.
How does BestCRE define commercial real estate loans for this ranking?
BestCRE uses commercial real estate balances reported on schedule RC-C of the FDIC Call Reports. The ranking combines construction and land development, multifamily, owner occupied nonfarm nonresidential, and investor nonfarm nonresidential loans. Across the 25 ranked Iowa headquartered banks, those categories total $20.4 billion. The table reports $3.8 billion in construction and land loans, $5.2 billion in multifamily loans, $3.9 billion in owner occupied loans, and $7.6 billion in investor nonfarm nonresidential loans as of June 30, 2026.
How do Iowa headquartered banks compare nationally by CRE loans?
The national rank compares each institution’s total CRE loans with 4,167 banks holding $3.07 trillion in CRE loans. Bankers Trust Company is the highest ranked Iowa headquartered institution at 138 nationally, followed by West Bank at 205 and Hills Bank and Trust Company at 301. Cedar Rapids Bank and Trust Company ranks 340, and Quad City Bank and Trust Company ranks 422. National rank provides scale context, but it does not show whether a bank is pursuing a particular property type or transaction at the time a borrower applies.
What interest rate benchmarks should Iowa CRE borrowers monitor?
As of Oct 26, 2026, the benchmark rates were a 7.00% Prime rate, 3.89% SOFR, a 4.78% 5 year Treasury, a 4.96% 10 year Treasury, and 3.88% Fed funds. These benchmarks provide market context, but the FDIC ranking does not report the pricing offered by any bank. Call Reports measure outstanding loan balances rather than quoted rates or terms. Borrowers should obtain current proposals directly from potential lenders because a benchmark alone does not establish the rate, structure or availability of a specific commercial real estate loan.
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BestCRE rankings are editorially independent and built only from public regulatory filings; no bank pays for placement. Call report figures describe loans held on each bank’s balance sheet and do not show loan terms, rates or current appetite. BestCRE is not a lender and does not make loans. Benchmark rates are informational, not quotes. See our Legal Disclaimer and Compensation Disclosure.