NSTS Bancorp is the holding company for North Shore Trust and Savings, a federally-chartered savings institution that has operated in Lake County, Illinois for over 100 years. The bank runs three branches in the Waukegan and Lindenhurst area, plus three loan production offices in Chicago, Aurora, and Plainfield added to extend its reach across the broader Chicagoland market. North Shore Trust and Savings is primarily a residential mortgage lender — one- to four-family first mortgages make up over 90% of its loan portfolio. The bank targets homebuyers and homeowners in Lake, Cook, and Will counties in Illinois and Kenosha County in Wisconsin, originating loans through branches, online, and through its branded mortgage lending team, Oak Leaf Community Mortgage. The bank follows a traditional savings institution model: it gathers deposits from local customers through checking, savings, money market, and CD accounts, then lends those funds out at higher rates, earning a net interest margin on the spread. Beginning in 2024, the bank added an originate-to-sell component, selling conforming loans to Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae and recognizing gain-on-sale income, while retaining non-conforming loans on its balance sheet. The bank also holds a meaningful investment securities portfolio, primarily agency mortgage-backed securities. Funding costs are a key profitability driver, as time deposits make up a large share of the deposit base and carry significantly higher rates than core deposits.