<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?><edgarSubmission xmlns="http://www.sec.gov/edgar/ownership" xmlns:com="http://www.sec.gov/edgar/common">
  <headerData>
    <submissionType>144</submissionType>
    <filerInfo>
      <filer>
        <filerCredentials>
          <cik>0001989390</cik>
          <ccc>XXXXXXXX</ccc>
        </filerCredentials>
      </filer>
      <liveTestFlag>LIVE</liveTestFlag>


    </filerInfo>
  </headerData>
  <formData>
    <issuerInfo>
      <issuerCik>0000903419</issuerCik>
      <issuerName>ALERUS FINANCIAL CORP</issuerName>
      <secFileNumber>001-39036</secFileNumber>
      <issuerAddress>
        <com:street1>401 DEMERS AVE</com:street1>
        <com:city>GRAND FORKS</com:city>
        <com:stateOrCountry>ND</com:stateOrCountry>
        <com:zipCode>58201</com:zipCode>
      </issuerAddress>
      <issuerContactPhone>7017953200</issuerContactPhone>
      <nameOfPersonForWhoseAccountTheSecuritiesAreToBeSold>Koob Kari</nameOfPersonForWhoseAccountTheSecuritiesAreToBeSold>
      <relationshipsToIssuer>
        <relationshipToIssuer>Officer</relationshipToIssuer>
      </relationshipsToIssuer>
    </issuerInfo>
    <securitiesInformation>
      <securitiesClassTitle>Common Stock</securitiesClassTitle>
      <brokerOrMarketmakerDetails>
        <name>Fidelity Brokerage Services LLC</name>
        <address>
          <com:street1>245 Summer Street</com:street1>
          <com:city>Boston</com:city>
          <com:stateOrCountry>MA</com:stateOrCountry>
          <com:zipCode>02110</com:zipCode>
        </address>
      </brokerOrMarketmakerDetails>
      <noOfUnitsSold>597</noOfUnitsSold>
      <aggregateMarketValue>19963.00</aggregateMarketValue>
      <noOfUnitsOutstanding>24903238</noOfUnitsOutstanding>
      <approxSaleDate>09/14/2026</approxSaleDate>
      <securitiesExchangeName>NASDAQ</securitiesExchangeName>
    </securitiesInformation>
    <securitiesToBeSold>
      <securitiesClassTitle>Common Stock</securitiesClassTitle>
      <acquiredDate>07/03/2025</acquiredDate>
      <natureOfAcquisitionTransaction>Stock Award</natureOfAcquisitionTransaction>
      <nameOfPersonfromWhomAcquired>Issuer</nameOfPersonfromWhomAcquired>
      <isGiftTransaction>N</isGiftTransaction>
      <amountOfSecuritiesAcquired>178</amountOfSecuritiesAcquired>
      <paymentDate>07/03/2025</paymentDate>
      <natureOfPayment>Compensation</natureOfPayment>
    </securitiesToBeSold>
    <securitiesToBeSold>
      <securitiesClassTitle>Common Stock</securitiesClassTitle>
      <acquiredDate>07/01/2026</acquiredDate>
      <natureOfAcquisitionTransaction>Stock Award</natureOfAcquisitionTransaction>
      <nameOfPersonfromWhomAcquired>Issuer</nameOfPersonfromWhomAcquired>
      <isGiftTransaction>N</isGiftTransaction>
      <amountOfSecuritiesAcquired>243</amountOfSecuritiesAcquired>
      <paymentDate>07/01/2026</paymentDate>
      <natureOfPayment>Compensation</natureOfPayment>
    </securitiesToBeSold>
    <securitiesToBeSold>
      <securitiesClassTitle>Common Stock</securitiesClassTitle>
      <acquiredDate>07/03/2026</acquiredDate>
      <natureOfAcquisitionTransaction>Stock Award</natureOfAcquisitionTransaction>
      <nameOfPersonfromWhomAcquired>Issuer</nameOfPersonfromWhomAcquired>
      <isGiftTransaction>N</isGiftTransaction>
      <amountOfSecuritiesAcquired>176</amountOfSecuritiesAcquired>
      <paymentDate>07/03/2026</paymentDate>
      <natureOfPayment>Compensation</natureOfPayment>
    </securitiesToBeSold>
    <nothingToReportFlagOnSecuritiesSoldInPast3Months>Y</nothingToReportFlagOnSecuritiesSoldInPast3Months>
    <noticeSignature>
      <noticeDate>09/14/2026</noticeDate>
      <signature>/s/ Dylan Troy as a duly authorized representative of Fidelity Brokerage Services LLC, as attorney-in-fact for Koob Kari</signature>
    </noticeSignature>
  </formData>
</edgarSubmission>
