Bridgeview Bank of Illinois has provided banking services for nearly 45 years and is an approved participant in Illinois' Interest on Lawyer Trust Accounts (IOLTA) program. IOLTA allows attorneys to pool client funds held in trust into a single high-interest account, with the interest earned going to fund legal aid programs that provide pro bono legal services and support access to justice. In 2009, IOLTA programs nationwide generated over $124 million for these community programs.

1. By Bridgeview Bank

2.  For nearly 45 years, Bridgeview Bank of Illinois
has provided clients with access to common and
specialized banking products. As a service to
attorneys, Bridgeview Bank stands out as an
approved participant in the state's Interest on
Lawyer Trust Accounts program.
The Interest on Lawyer Trust Accounts (IOLTA)
program is a collaboration between the banking
and legal professions. It protects the financial
resources that clients have entrusted to lawyers,
who must by law keep those accounts separate
from the professional's own money.

3.  In many cases, however, those funds will not earn
significant interest in an individual account.
The IOLTA closes that gap. It allows an attorney
to deposit the funds in trust into a single pooled
account that generates greater interest. The
interest the account accrues then goes to fund
pro bono legal services and justice programs like
legal-help hotlines, victim-services initiatives,
and law school scholarships. In 2009 alone,
IOLTA programs across the company produced a
combined total more than $124 million for these
community-enhancing initiatives.