^{New Whitefish Bank Groundbreaking, Fall 2022}

Happy New Year!

A new year is always exciting. But for us at Stockman, 2023 is not only exciting, it’s a milestone to celebrate. This year is our 70^th anniversary! It is humbling to think about our modest start in 1953 and how deep our roots run in this great state. We are extremely proud to be Montana’s community bank, covering the entire state.  Plus, with our innovative online & mobile banking and vast ATM network, we take care of customers in lots of places where we don’t even have a bank. After 70 years, we continue to serve more of our neighbors each day. This year, we will open two new banks, one in Bozeman and one in Whitefish.

From the beginning, as a Montana-born company built on western values, we have always been focused on creating long-standing relationships through integrity, expertise, and results. This mission has not changed. At Stockman, you still experience a Montana-only focus, face to face customer service, and a western work ethic second to none. Your money stays here and is put to work here, helping Montana homeowners, small businesses, and local agriculture. Our bankers are part of the community, supporting schools, not-for-profits, and neighborhood businesses. One obvious progression over the decades is our ever-changing technology. We’ve long said technology should enhance customer service, not replace it. So, we continue to build on our strong offering of convenient services including online and mobile banking. These services allow our customers to bank how they want, when they want. Our commitment to stay on the cutting edge of technology gives our customers the best of both modern digital convenience and traditional community banking.

Looking back at 2022, it was a challenging and rewarding year for Stockman. We enjoyed growth in banking, wealth management and insurance. Stockman Bank was named one of Forbes 2022 World’s Best Banks, received a 5-Star rating from Bauer Financial, voted the best bank in Billings & Great Falls, and recognized as the best mortgage team in Missoula for the fourth straight year, just to name a few top accomplishments. Stockman Wealth Management continues its strong growth, opening offices in Kalispell, Bozeman and Eastern Montana to go along with another annual record of assets under management. We also rolled out new products that allow all investment levels to be served. Stockman Insurance added several young, up-and-coming, staff members, as well as seasoned veterans. It is now covering more Montanans than at any time in its history and is the second largest, privately-owned agency in the state. At Stockman you receive the same great service regardless of your financial needs – banking, investments, financial planning, and insurance.

As we continue to build on our strong foundation, I want to thank our customers, employees and directors, and all Montanans! We could not have achieved any of this without your trust, support, and hard work year after year, now for 70 years. We look forward to serving you, and all your financial needs, for the next 70!

Bill