TCF Bank
An American commercial banking brand that operated as the retail banking subsidiary of TCF Financial Corporation until its 2021 acquisition by Huntington Bancshares.
Last updated August 22, 2026
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Overview
TCF Bank was an American commercial banking brand associated with TCF Financial Corporation, a bank holding company whose name derived from Twin City Federal. The institution traced its history to Chemical State Savings Bank, founded in 1917, and developed through name changes, acquisitions, regional expansion, and corporate consolidation. Although the TCF name became associated with a Minneapolis–Saint Paul-based banking organization, the company later established its corporate headquarters in Detroit, Michigan, reflecting the importance of its Michigan operations and the earlier combination with Chemical Financial. The bank served consumers, small businesses, commercial customers, and institutional clients through a branch network and a range of specialty finance businesses. Its branch operations extended across Minnesota, Illinois, Michigan, Colorado, Wisconsin, Ohio, and South Dakota, with approximately 478 branches reported before its merger with Huntington. Its broader lending and leasing activities reached all 50 U.S. states and also extended into Canada, New Zealand, and Australia. The business therefore combined conventional retail and commercial banking with specialty lending and equipment-leasing capabilities. TCF's corporate development was driven heavily by acquisitions. It acquired O.A.K. Financial Corporation in 2010, Northwestern Bank in 2014, Monarch Community Bancorp and Lake Michigan Financial Corporation in 2015, and Talmer Bancorp in 2016. These transactions expanded its geographic footprint and customer base, particularly in Michigan and neighboring Midwestern markets. In 2017, David B. Ramaker retired as president and chief executive officer and was succeeded by David T. Provost. In 2018, the company announced that it would move its headquarters and more than 500 employees to Detroit. In 2019, Chemical Financial merged with TCF Financial Corporation and adopted the TCF Financial Corporation name. The combined organization continued to operate its banking business under the TCF Bank brand. The company also invested in prominent naming-rights arrangements, including the venue later known as TCF Center in Detroit and the University of Minnesota stadium that was subsequently renamed Huntington Bank Stadium. The TCF organization was acquired by Huntington Bancshares in June 2021. To obtain regulatory approval for the transaction, 13 Michigan branches were sold to Horizon Bank. Following the merger, TCF Bank ceased to operate as an independent banking brand and its facilities and customer-facing identity were progressively integrated into Huntington's network. The former TCF brand is consequently best understood as a historical U.S. banking brand rather than an active standalone institution.
History
TCF Bank's institutional history reached back to Chemical State Savings Bank, established in 1917. The predecessor institution operated for decades under the Chemical name and changed its identity several times as its business developed. It became Chemical Bank Trust in 1964 and Chemical Bank in 1974. One notable early event occurred in 1937, when the Chemical Bank headquarters was the site of a robbery involving Tony Chebatoris. The case became historically significant in Michigan because Chebatoris was the only person to receive the death penalty in the state. The organization later pursued a growth strategy based on acquisitions. In May 2010, it purchased O.A.K. Financial Corporation. The bank acquired Northwestern Bank in October 2014 for $121 million in cash, followed by Monarch Community Bancorp in April 2015 in a stock transaction and Lake Michigan Financial Corporation in June 2015 for cash and stock. In August 2016, it acquired Talmer Bancorp in a transaction valued at $1.7 billion in cash and stock. These deals enlarged the institution's presence across the Midwest and strengthened its Michigan franchise. Leadership changed in 2017, when David B. Ramaker retired as president and chief executive officer and David T. Provost succeeded him. The company announced in July 2018 that it would move its headquarters, together with more than 500 employees, to Detroit. The relocation reinforced Detroit's role in the group's corporate structure and followed the expansion of the bank's Michigan operations. In 2019, Chemical Financial merged with TCF Financial Corporation, described as the third-largest bank in the Minneapolis–Saint Paul area at that time. The combined company assumed the TCF Financial Corporation name, while TCF Bank remained the operating banking brand. Its branch network covered Minnesota, Illinois, Michigan, Colorado, Wisconsin, Ohio, and South Dakota. In addition to branches, the organization operated specialty lending and leasing businesses nationwide and internationally in Canada, New Zealand, and Australia. The organization continued to adjust its footprint. In 2020, it sold all seven of its Arizona branches to Global Credit Union. The same period brought public criticism and litigation after a Livonia, Michigan, branch involved police in the handling of legitimate settlement checks deposited by Sauntore Thomas, an African-American customer. Thomas filed suit, alleging racial discrimination. TCF apologized the following day and acknowledged that the police should not have been called, while stating that the bank applied additional controls to large deposits and cash requests. TCF also pursued prominent community and venue branding. It held naming rights for the University of Minnesota stadium, which later became Huntington Bank Stadium, and acquired naming rights to Detroit's Cobo Center in 2019. The venue was renamed TCF Center in August 2019 and later became Huntington Place after the Huntington transaction. Huntington Bancshares acquired TCF in June 2021. Regulatory approval required the divestiture of 13 Michigan branches to Horizon Bank. After completion of the acquisition, the TCF banking business was integrated into Huntington, ending TCF Bank's existence as an independent operating brand.
- 2021
Acquisition by Huntington Bancshares
[1]Huntington acquired TCF, with 13 Michigan branches divested to Horizon Bank for regulatory approval.
- 2020
Arizona branches sold
[1]TCF sold its seven Arizona branches to Global Credit Union.
- 2019
Chemical Financial merges with TCF Financial
[1]The combined organization adopted the TCF Financial Corporation name.
- 2018
Headquarters move to Detroit announced
[1]TCF announced plans to move its headquarters and more than 500 employees to Detroit.
- 2017
David T. Provost succeeds David B. Ramaker
[1]Provost became president and chief executive officer after Ramaker's retirement.
- 2016
Acquisition of Talmer Bancorp
[1]The company acquired Talmer Bancorp in a cash-and-stock transaction valued at $1.7 billion.
- 2015
Two regional acquisitions
[1]The organization acquired Monarch Community Bancorp and Lake Michigan Financial Corporation.
- 2014
Acquisition of Northwestern Bank
[1]The company acquired Northwestern Bank for $121 million in cash.
- 2010
Acquisition of O.A.K. Financial Corporation
[1]The bank expanded through the acquisition of O.A.K. Financial Corporation.
- 1974
Name changes to Chemical Bank
[1]The bank shortened its name to Chemical Bank.
Products and positioning
A Midwestern regional bank combining consumer and commercial banking with specialty lending and leasing, expanded through acquisitions and later absorbed into Huntington Bancshares.
Consumer banking
Retail banking
TCF Bank operated a regional branch network serving individual customers with conventional deposit accounts and other everyday banking services. Its retail footprint covered several Midwestern states and formed the most visible part of the TCF brand.
Business banking
Commercial banking
The bank served businesses and commercial customers through lending, deposit, treasury, and related financial services. Commercial banking complemented the consumer branch franchise and supported the institution's regional-market strategy.
Specialty finance
Specialty lending and leasing
TCF operated specialty lending and leasing businesses in all 50 U.S. states and in Canada, New Zealand, and Australia. These activities extended the organization beyond its branch footprint and gave it an international specialty-finance presence.
Controversies
2020
Racial-discrimination lawsuit over handling of customer checks
In January 2020, a TCF branch in Livonia, Michigan, contacted police after an African-American customer attempted to deposit settlement checks connected to a racial-discrimination case. The checks were later understood to be legitimate, and the customer filed a lawsuit seeking damages. TCF apologized and said that police involvement had been inappropriate, while explaining that the branch used heightened procedures for large deposits and cash requests.
2020
TCF Bank apologizes to customer after police call
TCF Bank apologized for calling police on Sauntore Thomas, a Black customer who was trying to deposit checks, and said local police should not have been involved. Thomas said he was discriminated against; the bank said it could not validate the checks.
Marketing campaigns
- 2019TCF Center naming-rights program
Detroit · United States
TCF acquired naming rights to Detroit's Cobo Center, which was renamed TCF Center in August 2019. The program increased the visibility of the TCF name in the Detroit metropolitan area.
Outcome. The venue was renamed Huntington Place after the Huntington acquisition.
- University of Minnesota stadium naming sponsorship
Minnesota · United States
TCF held naming rights for the University of Minnesota stadium, associating the bank with a prominent collegiate sports venue.
Outcome. The stadium was later renamed Huntington Bank Stadium following the acquisition.
Brand decisions
2021
Sell Michigan branches and complete Huntington acquisitionM&ABackground
Huntington Bancshares' acquisition of TCF required branch divestitures to address regulatory concerns.
Action taken
Huntington acquired TCF, and 13 Michigan branches were sold to Horizon Bank as part of the approval process.
Aftermath
TCF Bank was integrated into Huntington and ceased to operate as an independent brand.
2019
Merge Chemical Financial with TCF FinancialM&ABackground
The merger combined Chemical Financial with TCF Financial and created a larger regional banking organization.
Action taken
The combined company adopted the TCF Financial Corporation name and continued using TCF Bank for its banking operations.
Aftermath
The company operated hundreds of branches across seven U.S. states before its later acquisition by Huntington.
2016
Acquire Talmer BancorpM&ABackground
TCF sought a larger scale and a stronger Michigan franchise through a major bank acquisition.
Action taken
The company acquired Talmer Bancorp in cash and stock.
Aftermath
The transaction materially broadened the organization's regional banking platform.
Acquisition consideration. $1.7 billion (2016)
2015
Acquire Monarch Community Bancorp and Lake Michigan Financial CorporationM&ABackground
The company used multiple transactions to strengthen its community-banking presence.
Action taken
TCF acquired Monarch Community Bancorp for stock and Lake Michigan Financial Corporation for cash and stock.
Aftermath
The transactions increased the company's presence in Michigan and surrounding markets.
Lake Michigan Financial Corporation acquisition consideration. $187.4 million (2015)
2014
Acquire Northwestern BankM&ABackground
TCF continued building scale through Midwestern bank acquisitions.
Action taken
The company acquired Northwestern Bank for $121 million in cash.
Aftermath
The acquisition expanded the institution's operating footprint.
Acquisition consideration. $121 million (2014)
2010
Acquire O.A.K. Financial CorporationM&ABackground
The organization pursued expansion through acquisitions of financial institutions and related businesses.
Action taken
TCF acquired O.A.K. Financial Corporation.
Aftermath
The transaction contributed to the bank's broader regional growth strategy.
Recent events
Metro-Detroit Black Business Alliance launches with TCF Bank support[5]
Reported:
The Metro-Detroit Black Business Alliance launched with $1 million in support from TCF Bank to support Black-owned businesses in Metro Detroit.
Huntington Bancshares announces $22 billion merger with TCF Bank[6]
Reported:
Huntington Bancshares announced a $22 billion merger with TCF Bank, which was set to be completed the following year, subject to regulatory and shareholder approvals.
TCF Bank partners with Autobooks to offer online payments[7]
Reported:
TCF Bank partnered with Autobooks, enabling small-business customers of Chemical Bank, a division of TCF National Bank, to enroll in Autobooks and accept online payments. Chemical Bank waived the monthly software fee for the first 90 days.
Lawsuit filed against TCF Bank alleging racial discrimination[4]
Reported:
Sauntore Thomas filed a lawsuit against TCF Bank, accusing the bank of racial discrimination after a branch refused to accept checks and police were called over suspected fraud. TCF Bank apologized to Thomas and said local police should not have been involved.
TCF Bank apologizes to customer after police call[3]
Reported:
TCF Bank apologized for calling police on Sauntore Thomas, a Black customer who was trying to deposit checks, and said local police should not have been involved. Thomas said he was discriminated against; the bank said it could not validate the checks.
Sources7 sources
- 1TCF Financial Corporationen.wikipedia.org
- 2TCF Bank official websitetcfbank.com
- 3TCF Bank apologizes to customer after police callfreep.com
- 4TCF Bank apologizes to customer after police callabcnews.com
- 5大底特律黑人企业联盟在TCF银行支持下成立detroitnews.com
- 6Huntington Bancshares 宣布与 TCF Bank 合并，交易金额为 220 亿美元mprnews.org
- 7TCF Bank与Autobooks合作提供在线支付dbusiness.com
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