Our Story
Mesaba Finance traces its roots back to 1938, when it was formed as Mesaba Loan Company by Maurice "Mosey" Banen in Minnesota. Entrepreneur Mark M. Erjavec acquired the company in 1994, when it was a Regulated Lender in the State of Minnesota, specialized in automobile and secured consumer financing. As a boutique investment bank, we serve a niche clientele controlled by foreign owner and sovereign nation clientele.
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1938
Originally formed as the Mesaba Loan Company, on the Mesaba Iron Range in northern Minnesota
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1945
Commercial aircraft financing for the airline industry
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1977
Transitioned to a corporation to finance automobiles
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1994
Acquired by entrepreneur Mark Erjavec
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1995
Pioneer in the development of several innovative consumer and commercial lending products
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1997-1999
Company temporarily ceases operations
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2001
A renewed enterprise now based in Minneapolis sets its sights on growing internationally
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2002
Established our first proprietary distressed investment fund via Blue Heron Incorporated
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2004
Significant period of growth and success attributed to the distressed debt operations and real estate lending
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2009
Mesaba is reorganized into an international wealth management firm focused on Europe
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2016
Mark Erjavec spins off wealth management to an international buyer
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2017
Mark Erjavec and his team implement a robust international agriculture investment strategy on five continents
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2021
In its 83rd year, the company organized as an investment bank and developed proprietary fund strategy