MINNEAPOLIS, Oct. 7 /PRNewswire/ -- The Oak Ridge Financial Services Group, Inc. (Oak Ridge) today announced the addition of Ben Crabtree to its Financial Institutions Group as its Senior Advisor. Crabtree brings the Minneapolis-based financial services firm over 30 years of in-depth experience, specializing as a bank analyst. Most recently, he worked for Stifel, Nicolaus & Company as a Principal with primary responsibilities for providing sell-side public equity research on Midwestern community banks.

Oak Ridge's Financial Institutions Group (FIG) specializes in providing investment banking and fixed income sales and trading services to financial companies including banks, thrifts, insurance companies, money managers, public funds, finance companies and specialty lenders. The company's team consists of seasoned professionals with many years experience and in-depth knowledge of the capital markets and financial services industry.

In his role with Oak Ridge, Crabtree will be supporting the firm's community bank clients with a monthly newsletter that will address timely and important issues facing community banks.

"It's not very often you find someone with Ben's skills and experiences who is available to join your team at such an opportune time," stated Oak Ridge Chief Executive Officer Marc Kozberg. "Our executive team is very familiar with Ben's expertise and depth of banking knowledge, so we know we're bringing on a veteran senior adviser who will be able to help advise our clients, especially in these unprecedented challenging times for banks," Kozberg said.

Crabtree, a Chartered Financial Analyst, is a graduate of the University of North Dakota. He joins Craig Mueller and David Stieber in the company's Financial Institution Group.

"Ben has been through difficult banking cycles during his career, and this experience will be extremely helpful for our bank clients," stated Mueller, the group's senior vice president. "The community banks need capital solutions now, with the help of Ben, we can identify problems sooner and provide solutions exclusively suited for community banks." Mueller went on to say, "Many community banks have not been allowed to receive the government TARP capital and we are actively working with multiple banks on other capital raising options."

Oak Ridge, with its Financial Institution Group, is the only Twin Cities based investment banking firm specializing in community banks. Crabtree adds a depth of knowledge and experience that uniquely compliments the rest of the Financial Institution Group.

"I am excited to use the experience I have gained over the years and focus on helping community banks at a time that they are encountering unprecedented strife in their businesses," Crabtree said. "I look forward to developing articles which identify the obstacles bankers will experience and, with the help of the Financial Institution Group team, identify successful solutions."

The Oak Ridge Financial Services Group, Inc. has been creating, managing and protecting wealth for its clients since 1977. Oak Ridge has grown to be a diversified, full-service firm that has built a successful reputation for keeping pace with the ever-changing needs of its clients. Oak Ridge is a member of FINRA and SIPIC.

    Contact:  Jim Potter
              (763) 923-2272

SOURCE Oak Ridge Financial Services Group, Inc.