First Interstate buys Mountain West Bank

GREAT FALLS — The $72.8 million sale of Montana’s Mountain West Bank to First Interstate Bank closes Friday.

A total of 63 of Mountain West’s 204 employees have resigned since the sale was announced in February, 79 will continue with First Interstate Bank and 62 will receive severance packages.

Eight branches of Mountain West Bank are closing because they are too close to current First Interstate branches and First Interstate officials have said the property will be sold.

Kyle Herda, a First Interstate Bank vice president in Great Falls, says Mountain West customers will have the same account numbers with First Interstate, their automatic payments will continue and they can continue using their Mountain West checks.