Article: ACORN protests raise bank's profile; Community activists twice have targeted Private Bank since it received a low rating from the FDIC for its community lending practices. The tiny Minneapolis-based bank, with $43 million in assets, says it is working to make more loans to low-income borrowers.(BUSINESS)

For three years, the 12 employees of Private Bank Minnesota labored in obscurity, trying to produce the first profit for the start-up with one small office in the Piper Jaffray Tower in downtown Minneapolis.

The obscurity ended Feb. 17.

That's when about 30 members of the community activist group ACORN took the elevator to the 40th floor and crashed Private Bank. Filling the small reception area, the activists overwhelmed the seven workers on duty with bull horns and chants, demanding that Private Bank do more for low-income residents.

"It was scary because of the numbers and the noise," said Vicki Turnquist, Private Bank's president and ...

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