In West St. Paul, Riverland Community Health is more than a clinic—it’s a healthcare home. With services including primary care, behavioral health, dental care, midwifery, and access to specialists such as dermatology and cardiology, Riverland is dedicated to addressing the full spectrum of community health needs.
“We’re not-for-profit, we’re perpetually underfunded, and we try to be everything to everyone,” said Chief Financial Officer Lori Zook. “It’s a model that doesn’t have the financial structure that is appealing to most banks.”
That structure, dependent on federal grants and public programs, often means inconsistent cash flow—something that many financial institutions aren’t willing or equipped to support. So, when Riverland needed a financial partner who understood its mission and constraints, it turned to a values-based community bank: Drake Bank.
“Drake took a look at what we were doing and thankfully believed in us,” said Zook. “They helped us get into a different program with Minnesota DEED, worked with us to get a cash flow need met that was more critical—like, ‘I can’t make payroll next week, can we make something happen?’”
It was the beginning of a relationship that would not only help Riverland survive but also grow.
Drake’s responsiveness was essential. Riverland’s team could call and get answers quickly. If someone didn’t have the solution, they found someone who did. Paperwork was hand-delivered when needed, and the Bank’s team was ready to adapt to Riverland’s needs—whether setting up new operating accounts or answering questions on the fly.
Riverland’s relationship with Drake began just as the clinic was undergoing a significant transformation. In 2023, leadership changed hands and started a process of restructuring and rebuilding. They had also just undergone a difficult reduction in the workforce. But with new funding and renewed focus, they began to grow again. In less than a year, they added nearly 20 staff members, launched a prenatal program that now supports over 150 patients, and expanded their in-house 340B pharmacy from filling 60 prescriptions a week to over 4,000 per month.
“Drake isn’t transactional,” said CEO & Chief Medical Officer Dr. Dave Thorson. “They’re relational. And that’s what we believe in, too. That’s how communities survive.”
Riverland continues to expand its reach with school-based clinics, partnerships with local behavioral health providers, and collaborations with other Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHC) to reduce costs and improve care. Meanwhile, their patient satisfaction scores continue to rise, and the culture has undergone a complete shift.
“This has probably been the most rewarding two years of my entire clinical career,” Thorson said. “And I had a great career before this. But this feeds a different part of my heart.”
When asked what advice she’d give to others searching for a bank, Zook was clear: “Look at the smaller banks. They’re going to give you better customer service. You get to know your banker—and they get to know you.”
To learn more about the impactful work Riverland Community Health is doing in our community, visit their website at unitedfamilymedicine.org.
