LETTER: End of an era for Flathead Bank

In 1971, an entrepreneurial independent banker from Wolf Point, Montana, A.R. Appelgren, organized a group of Bigfork residents and raised the required capital to establish the Flathead Bank of Bigfork. The bank has grown from its humble beginnings to serve the communities of Bigfork, Lakeside, Kalispell, Belgrade, Cut Bank and Ennis to the 15th largest bank in Montana.

On Monday, Aug. 15, we will reopen our doors as part of First Interstate Bank, a community bank serving customers in Montana, Wyoming and South Dakota.

Thank you and best wishes to our directors, officers and staff for 45 years of dedication to our bank, customers and communities. A special thank you to our customers that supported us over the years. For many of us, 800 Grand Drive will always be Our Bank: Flathead Bank of Bigfork. —Larry W. Jochim, chairman, and John R. Hanson, CEO, Flathead Bank