The business of banking boils down to something more than numbers; at its heart, it’s about people. This is something First Interstate Bank understands at a profound level, as I discovered in my earliest interactions with the organization. Upon assuming the role of President and CEO in November, I spent my first 90 days traveling our 14-state footprint. I came away impressed with our local bankers’ ability to see the human hopes and dreams behind our clients’ financial goals and to build relationships that surpass mere transactions.
Throughout my tour, another distinguishing characteristic stood out: First Interstate’s palpable commitment to community. Our people are passionate about helping local communities thrive. We do this in our “day jobs” by lending to small businesses, promoting homeownership, and investing in community development, but we also go beyond, giving back to our neighbors and communities through civic and philanthropic activities.
In 2024, First Interstate Bank and the First Interstate BancSystem Foundation gave more than $7.1 million in grants and donations to nonprofit organizations serving our communities. To boost local impact, we partnered with the Federal Home Loan Bank of Des Moines and secured an additional $1.9 million in grants, further amplifying our support to organizations focused on affordable housing and community development.
Financial support is not enough to build and maintain vibrant communities, like those we are privileged to be part of — time and energy are required to put dollars to good use and extract the most from limited resources. Our employees donated more than 51,000 hours of their time in 2024 to provide financial education, raise funds for community events, serve on the boards of civic and charitable organizations, and volunteer at nonprofits advancing necessary causes.
Corporate responsibility transcends philanthropy and community involvement. Our commitment to serving all First Interstate Bank stakeholders with integrity touches everything we do and naturally demands that we meet high standards of environmental sustainability, social responsibility, and corporate governance. As this report shows, we are dedicated to continuous improvement across our organization.
As a full-service community bank with a long-term vision and a resolute focus on taking care of people, we have a strong foundation to build on as we move forward. We will continue to invest in our current footprint and further strengthen and grow our relationships as we seek to create sustainable value for all our stakeholders — clients, employees, communities, and shareholders alike.
Sincerely,
James A. Reuter
President & CEO
First Interstate BancSystem, Inc.
FDIC-Insured - Backed by the full faith and credit of the U.S. Government
