Building More Than Business: A Partnership Story with SBJ Masonry

By Jason Winter
Citizens State Bank President

At Citizens, we see small businesses as the heartbeat of our communities. They create jobs, bring ideas to life, and help local economies grow. That is why we focus on being more than just a lender. We aim to be a partner. Someone business owners can talk to, lean on, and plan with as they move through each stage of their journey. Steve Bunn’s story is a great example of what that kind of partnership can look like over time.

Back in 2007, Steve was a skilled tradesman with a truck, a strong work ethic, and a vision for something more. Like many people starting out, he had the drive but needed someone willing to support that first step. One of those early steps was buying his first truck, and we were proud to help finance it. It may have seemed simple at the time, but it was the starting point for everything that followed.

Getting a business off the ground is never easy, and Steve was doing it during a tough time for the construction industry. He had to navigate cash flow, find consistent work, and build a reputation from scratch. Those early years were about long days, steady effort, and earning trust one job at a time. Along the way, our role was not just about providing financing. It was about having ongoing conversations around decisions such as when it made sense to invest, when it was better to hold back, and how to manage through uncertainty.

From the beginning, Steve was focused on doing things the right way. That meant showing up, delivering quality work, and standing behind it. Over time, people noticed. Customers came back, word spread, and the business started to grow. What began with one person and one truck slowly turned into a team. With that growth came new challenges, including more equipment, bigger projects, and more complex planning.

As things expanded, the banking relationship evolved too. Growth brings a lot of important decisions, from managing cash flow to timing new investments and taking on additional risk. Having someone who understands the business and can talk through those decisions can make a real difference. It is often less about a single transaction and more about having a sounding board who helps you think a step ahead.

Today, SJB Masonry has grown into a full-service concrete, masonry, and precast company working across commercial, agricultural, and industrial projects. The company employs more than 40 people and has completed over 1,500 projects. That is a long way from where it started, but the values behind the business have stayed the same: quality work, strong relationships, and pride in what they do every day.

Stories like Steve’s are a good reminder that a lot of successful businesses start small. What matters is the consistency, the decision making, and the people who support you along the way. Sometimes that support begins with something as simple as financing a truck, but over time it grows into a long-term partnership built on trust and understanding.

For business owners, there is a helpful takeaway in that. A banking relationship should be more than just transactions. It should be a resource you can rely on, whether you are planning your next step, managing day-to-day challenges, or thinking about the future. Sometimes all it takes is the right support at the right time, along with someone in your corner who is invested in your success, to turn a small start into something much bigger. Having that kind of partner in your corner can make all the difference.