08/19/2025: Fueling Growth with Local Partnership: How State Bank Helps Mann Brothers Expand Across Indiana

In the fast-moving world of convenience stores and real estate, having a banking partner who understands your pace—and can match it—makes all the difference. Just ask Jesse Mann, CEO of Mann Brothers Holdings, LLC, and the force behind Friendly Market, a growing franchise of 31 operational convenience stores across Indiana.

What started as a small business built from a single closed-down gas station in Marion has evolved into a diverse enterprise, encompassing retail shopping plazas, convenience stores, gas stations, real estate investments, and farmland holdings. However, even as the business scaled, Jesse and his brother, Sonny, kept their operations close to home.

“Our headquarters are right here in Lafayette,” Jesse says. “We’re spread across central Indiana, but staying local matters to us. It’s how our business was built.”

And it’s why, when it came time to finance a complex nine-store acquisition, Jesse turned to a bank that understood more than just numbers. He turned to State Bank.

From One Gas Station to 31 Locations

Jesse’s entrepreneurial journey began in 2006, shortly after he left college. With limited options and no formal experience, he teamed up with his brother, who had recently sold a small deli business in New York. A family friend offered them a unique opportunity: a closed-down gas station with favorable terms.

“We didn’t have much, but the offer gave us just enough space to get started,” Jesse recalls. “And from there, we figured it out one store at a time.”

In 2013, they formed Mann Brothers Holdings, LLC to consolidate their growing real estate investments. By 2016, they completed their first ground-up build and began operating their own stores under the Friendly Market brand.

Today, Friendly Market isn’t just a local staple—it’s a dynamic operation with partnerships spanning national fuel brands like Shell, Marathon, BP, and Citgo, along with others.

A Big Deal During a Tough Season

In late 2023, Jesse found himself navigating one of the most critical deals in the company’s history: the acquisition of nine new stores from a family that had owned and operated them for over 50 years. It was a sensitive, high-stakes transaction with a narrow window for completion, spanning from Thanksgiving to the New Year, one of the busiest times of the year.

“Timing was everything,” Jesse says. “Nobody wants to work during the holidays, and coordinating everyone—lawyers, lenders, the sellers—was a challenge.”

That’s where State Bank stepped in. Jesse had been introduced to Brad Marley by Olivia Walker, a longtime family friend and a residential mortgage lender at the State Bank. The professionalism and responsiveness Brad demonstrated sealed the deal.

“I told Brad what we were up against,” Jesse recounts. “He said, ‘Give me three days.’ He drove down, met with the bank’s president, and got us the answer we needed. That kind of turnaround—during the holidays—was incredible.”

Custom Solutions, Fast

It wasn’t just the financing that impressed Jesse. During that same acquisition, Mann Brothers wanted to implement smart safes in their stores, an operational feature that would save time by eliminating daily cash runs to the bank. But there was one problem: State Bank didn’t offer that service at the time.

“They could’ve said no, like the other big banks had,” Jesse says. “But instead, Brad and Casey Spencer figured out how to make it happen. They partnered with Loomis, set everything up, and completed the task within that short window. It was amazing.”

That responsiveness set State Bank apart from the larger institutions Jesse had worked with in the past.

“With big banks, there’s always a chain of command. But here, the decision-makers are local,” he says. “That speed matters, especially when you’re running dozens of locations.”

Banking That Reflects the Business

Mann Brothers Holdings and Friendly Market are fast-paced, community-rooted businesses. Their stores operate in small towns across Indiana. For Jesse, working with a bank that reflects that same character is essential.

“Most of our stores are in small communities,” he explains. “Lafayette is our biggest market, and even that’s not huge. We need partners who understand our scale, our challenges, and how fast we move.”

That local alignment extends beyond transactions. Jesse regularly sees State Bank out in the community, partnering with local chambers of commerce and attending local events.

“They were at a golf outing just the other day,” he says. “They’re visible. They’re involved. That matters.”

Planning for the Future—Together

State Bank’s involvement with Mann Brothers hasn’t stopped with loans and accounts. They’ve also provided valuable business advice and insight. Jesse and his team are now working with the bank to explore offering a 401(k) plan to employees, a move aimed at attracting and retaining talent as the business continues to grow.

“Brad has been proactive about bringing ideas to the table,” Jesse says. “He’s not just checking boxes—he’s thinking ahead with us.”

That level of commitment, Jesse says, is what keeps him coming back.

“They’ve had our back through it all,” he says. “From lending to operations to long-term planning, they’re not just a bank. They’re a partner.”

Built on Relationship and Commitment

When asked to describe his relationship with State Bank in one sentence, Jesse puts it simply: “They are big on relationship and commitment, and we’re happy to be partners with them.”

That partnership is already paying dividends. As Mann Brothers looks toward its next phase of growth, State Bank remains its first call for funding, strategy, and support.

“I recommend them to anyone,” Jesse says. “Brad, Casey, Justin, the whole team—they’re awesome people, and they deliver.”

In an industry where margins are tight and timing is everything, that kind of trust is more than valuable—it’s essential.