Southport Bank is an independent community bank headquartered in Kenosha, Wisconsin. The bank is a Wisconsin-chartered state bank, the deposit accounts of which are FDIC insured. The bank was organized in 1997 by Karl J. Ostby and his first employee, Gerald Bonini. A Board of Directors was selected from the local Kenosha Business Community. A community stock offering was oversubscribed and 300,000 shares were sold raising $7,500,000.

Southport Bank was incorporated on March 21, 1997. The first official day of business was May 22, 1997, and the bank officially opened its doors to the public on June 2, 1997. Initially, the bank operated from a trailer, until the permanent building was constructed next door in the Spring of 1998.

A mortgage department was started in June of 1998. In November of 1998, the lower expansion and build out began. This was completed in January of 1999 and the operations area and the mortgage department were relocated to the lower level of the main office.

The bank grew at a steady pace reaching its first $100 million in assets on July 29, 1999. Additional work stations were added in the main and lower levels of the main office.
 
On April 16, 1999, Southport Bank raised additional capital through a stock rights offer. Each original investor in 1997 was allowed to purchase one additional share for every two shares owned. The shareholders infused $4,200,000 into capital. In December of 1999, Southport Investments, Inc. was formed. Southport Bank began its branch operations opening three separate branches in 2000.

In July of 2001 a Customer Call Center was established to personally answer incoming calls to the bank. On January 30, 2002 the bank launched its web site www.southportbank.com. During that same year on-line internet banking became available to both retail and commercial customers. Southport Investment Management was opened March 18, 2002 to provide brokerage services for customers. The bank formed its holding company, Southport Financial Corporation, to better serve the shareholders on August 30, 2002. Another asset milestone, $200 million was reached in September 2002.

2003 brought another growth year for Southport Bank, reaching assets of $250 million on September 15th. The Southport Financial Center building at 6905 Green Bay Road was purchased on October 31, 2003 to furnish space for continual growth.