RAPID CITY, South Dakota – For the second year in a row, Pioneer Bank & Trust has been honored with the “Originator of the Year” Award in the Large Bank Category from Merchants Bank at the annual Merchants Bank Mortgage Conference.

As “Originator of the Year,” Pioneer Bank & Trust has performed consistently, exceeding the criteria that Merchants sets for its correspondent banks. To be named “Originator of the Year,” Pioneer Bank & Trust has delivered high quality loans to Merchants Bank year after year. The Merchants Bank Correspondent Network has nearly 220 banks across North Dakota, South Dakota, Iowa, Nebraska, Minnesota and Wisconsin.

The relationship between Pioneer Bank & Trust and Merchants Bank helps to keep rates low for qualified applicants and also helps mortgage customers by helping to make sure mortgage files are processed in a timely fashion.

Merchants Bank is headquartered in Winona, MN. Pioneer Bank & Trust has locations in Spearfish, Belle Fourche, Buffalo, Sturgis and Rapid City.