By way of a corporate partnership renewal, National Bank of Commerce will once again serve as the sponsor of the Merrill Thompson Classic, it was announced today. The largest locally-owned community bank serving Northwest Wisconsin and Northeast Minnesota, National Bank of Commerce has been the event's sponsor since its inception a decade ago.

"We are grateful to Bruce Thompson and the people at National Bank of Commerce for again agreeing to a naming rights partnership of the Merrill Thompson Classic. We think it is a great event for the community and our campus and it's only fitting we have a strong community partner to have its name on it," said UW-Superior Athletics Director Nick Bursik. "I think I say this every year, but as a department and a university we wouldn't be able to do some of the things we do without our corporate partners playing a role. Partners like National Bank of Commerce are crucial to us being able to provide a great experience for our student-athletes."

This year marks the 10th anniversary of the Merrill Thompson Classic. The event, which will take place at Mertz Mortorelli Gym November 8-9 will feature Marian University of Fond du Lac, Wis., Saint John's University from Collegeville, Minn., and Nebraska Wesleyan University from Lincoln, Neb. in addition to the Yellowjackets. Learn more about Merrill Thompson and the event's history by visiting the Merrill Thompson Classic page.

Merrill Thompson was a longtime educator and community leader in Superior and Douglas County. He was also a basketball enthusiast. A graduate of UW-Superior, Thompson enjoyed a lifelong passion for basketball, and Yellowjacket basketball in particular.
 
About National Bank of Commerce: The National Bank of Commerce (NBC) has enjoyed a long and prosperous history. The bank was originally chartered as Union National Bank of Superior on February 7, 1934. It replaced the already closed United States National Bank. It officially opened for business on April 16, 1934. Only a year and a half later, Union National Bank purchased the American Exchange Bank on December 31, 1935. Five years after that, the bank took another important step by changing its name and location when it purchased the National Bank of Commerce of Superior, and changed its legal name to National Bank of Commerce in Superior. In September 1972, NBC purchased the Poplar State Bank and its branch in Solon Springs, Wisconsin, and established both as branches.

Then, in 1979, NBC began construction on its new bank building in Superior. Built at 1127 Tower Avenue, it was just down the block from the previous location. After NBC moved into the new bank in 1980, it continually grew each year. But in 1998, the bank took the necessary steps to ensure unlimited growth. A holding company was established—NATCOM Bancshares, Inc. Only two years later, a new location was opened at 1314 E Superior St. in Duluth, Minnesota. This office would be NBC's first outside the state lines of Wisconsin. Since then, NBC has continued to grow with its newest locations opening in Superior—Midtown at 2822 Tower Ave. in March 2003 and in Hermantown at 4105 Richard Ave. in December 2004. NBC purchased Community Bank in November, 2008, and merged the two banks and their staff.