THANKING OUR SPONSOR, BELL BANK Visit us at bell.bank With a team dedicated to correspondent banking, Bell Bank provides flexible underwriting, competitive lending terms and prices, fast decision-making and consistent communication. Having partnered with hundreds of community banks, we’ll help you enhance your customer relationships through our experience-based expertise in participation loans, bank stock, ownership loans and equipment financing. taker who feeds on being outdoors and going fast. My favorite hobby is skydiving and I hate golf. I met my wife Michelle just after graduating from Carroll and have shared countless adventures with her. She is a huge supporter of community banking, as well, and has helped make my goals a reality. We don’t have any two-legged children, but we have four horses, two German shepherds and three cats. While we were raising the money and putting together the investor group to buy First Security Bank of Helena (later rebranded to Ascent Bank), I was blown away by how many of our investors were willing to be part of “The Bank” because they attributed their success to a community bank. I heard story after story of a community banker taking a risk on them that allowed them to build a successful business. Those stories helped reinforce my belief in community banks and I realized that we all share common goals and values, despite the little differences between all of our banks. Soon after, I was invited to join the MIB board of directors and saw even more how similar we are. Now, as I step into the role of president of MIB, I want to make sure that our organization has everything it needs to continue to serve the community banks of Montana. The Montana Independent Bankers Association is the only trade association in Montana dedicated to community banks and everything we stand for. We, as a group of banks, are faced with countless challenges from the credit unions, mega and regional banks, fintechs, regulators and more. The MIB and its leadership stand not only beside us, but often in front of us, taking on those battles. I am committed to finding ways to strengthen our organization through membership, finances and innovation as we continue to do the good work of building up our communities. Please feel free to reach out to me electronically or in person to discuss anything I can do to help you. I really do want to get know more of our community bankers and build on those relationships! Community Banker 5
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