When a business seeks to scale up, its leadership needs to have the right partner by their side — an advisor who celebrates their success and supports them through tailored solutions to their most pressing problems.
In the case of Twin Cities-based Therapy OPS, 21st Century Bank is proud to have been the right fit.
Therapy OPS Sets A Foundation For Success
The business provides occupational, physical and speech therapy for children and young adults with disabilities and offers therapy groups and alternative therapies. Through a family-focused approach, Therapy OPS gives its clients tools to navigate life successfully.
The practice opened in 2014 in Inver Grove Heights and experienced immediate success. Steady requests from the community for Therapy OPS’ services meant its leaders needed to recruit a new therapist to their team every six months to meet demand. As far as organizational growth goes, that’s exceptional.
Therapy OPS’ relationship with 21st Century Bank began in 2019 when the husband-and-wife team Chris and Rachel Kuenzli were in the process of expanding the location of their therapy services in Inver Grove Heights, just south of St. Paul. The pair had outgrown their current space and were eager to add room for additional services.
After months of trying to secure funding for their project with a big box bank and making little progress, they turned to 21st Century Bank. The lending team suggested a Small Business Administration (SBA) 7(a) loan — an ideal solution for expanding and improving real estate and buildings, refinancing debt and providing working capital. The loan application was submitted within three days of their initial meeting, and the plan was in motion.
“It was a 180-degree difference from the previous bank,” said Chris.
With support from 21st Century Bank, the Kuenzlis could continue their mission of further helping families in their community. Growth continued, and their expanded office opened in 2019, allowing them to accept more clients and hire more therapists.
21st Century Bank’s ‘Community Bank’ Difference
Our ability to quickly support business owners through conventional loans and Small Business Administration (SBA) loan programs sets 21st Century Bank apart. Another is our ability and desire to earn our clients’ long-term business – we’re in this industry for the close-knit customer relationships and the ability to participate in customer success stories. It’s rewarding work. That’s why, when the Kuenzlis were ready for the next phase of business growth, 21st Century was one of the first partners they contacted.
“You get to know people here,” said Senior Vice President/Head of Lending Rich Bales. “We have long-term employees and long-term clients.” Rather than transactional, one-off interactions, our team is interested in developing deep relationships.
By 2022, Therapy OPS sought to move forward with something they had been thinking about for a while — opening a second location. With an understanding of their business goals from the past and present, Rich was able to support the business as they pursued a prospective location for their second clinic in Hastings, MN.
“We almost put our original clinic in Hastings,” said Chris. “A couple of years ago, when we started looking into it seriously, there were still no services like ours being offered down there. That’s part of what made it so easy to choose that location.”
Tapping into his familiarity with the area, Rich weighed in on possible sites and worked closely with Chris to review possible scenarios for each property and the type of loan they were pursuing.
For the new construction project, Rich felt Therapy OPS was a perfect candidate for an SBA 504 loan. This type of loan is ideal for financing major assets, such as buildings, that promote business growth. The terms of a 504 loan allowed Therapy OPS to purchase the right property with a lower down payment and fixed interest rate so the owners would retain more operating capital.
The new location opened in September 2023. Today, Therapy OPS employs 14 full-time therapists and serves families from as far away as Red Wing and Mankato, MN. With a solid business plan, determined drive and immense passion — alongside a long-term partnership with 21st Century Bank — Chris and Rachel have made their business goals a reality.
“Without 21st Century Bank taking a chance on us, our first project may not have gotten off the ground,” said Chris. He and Rachel know that without a community bank taking a real interest in the way they serve the community, Therapy OPS wouldn’t be able to support as many of the families through empowerment and a breadth of resources.
