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