September 23, 2020

 

VIA EDGAR

 

United States Securities and Exchange Commission

Division of Corporation Finance

100 F Street, N.E.

Washington, D.C.  20549

Attention:     Ms. Tonya K. Aldave

 

Re:		Alerus Financial Corporation
		Request for Acceleration of Effectiveness of Registration Statement
		on Form S-3 SEC File No. 333-248841 (“Registration Statement”)

 

Dear Ms. Aldave:

 

On behalf of Alerus Financial Corporation, as registrant, the undersigned officer hereby requests that the effective date for the Registration Statement be accelerated so that it will become effective at 4:00 p.m. (Washington, D.C. time), or as soon as practicable thereafter, on Friday, September 25, 2020.

 

Feel free to telephone Joseph T. Ceithaml of Barack Ferrazzano Kirschbaum & Nagelberg LLP, the registrant’s legal counsel, at (312) 629-5143 with any questions or comments.

 

	Very truly yours,
	Alerus Financial Corporation
	/s/ Randy L. Newman
	Randy L. Newman
	Chairman, Chief Executive Officer and President