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Glacier Bancorp reports net income increase

Glacier Bancorp Inc. reported net income of $33.7 million for the current quarter, an increase of $3.2 million, or 11 percent, from the $30.5 million of net income for the prior year second quarter.

Diluted earnings per share for the current quarter were $0.43 per share, an increase of $0.03, or 8 percent, from the prior year second quarter diluted earnings per share of $0.40. Included in the current quarter was $867,000 of acquisition-related expenses.

Net income for the six months ended June 30, 2017 was $64.9 million, an increase of $5.8 million, or 10 percent, from the $59.1 million of net income for the first six months of the prior year. Diluted earnings per share for the first half of 2017 were $0.84 per share, an increase of $0.06, or 8 percent, from the diluted earnings per share of $0.78 for the same period in the prior year.

On June 6 the company announced the signing of a definitive agreement to acquire Columbine Capital Corp., the holding company for Collegiate Peaks Bank, a community bank in Buena Vista, Colorado.

As of June 30 Collegiate had total assets of $466 million, gross loans of $337 million and total deposits of $399 million.

The acquisition marks the company’s 19th acquisition since 2000, its eighth transaction in the past five years, and its fourth transaction in the state of Colorado.

The acquisition is subject to required regulatory approvals and other customary conditions of closing and is expected to completed during the first quarter of 2018.

Economic update presentation is Thursday

Darryl James, executive director of the Montana Infrastructure Coalition, will join the Montana Chamber Foundation for the 12th Annual Economic Update Series this month.

The seven-city series tour wraps up in Kalispell with a presentation at noon, Thursday, July 27, at the Hilton Garden Inn.

James will address the critical state of Montana’s infrastructure and the impact that has on the state’s economy. Patrick Barkey and Paul Polzin of the University of Montana Bureau of Business and Economic Research will present as well.

A core objective of the Montana Chamber of Commerce’s Envision 2026 strategic plan is infrastructure development. This series will focus on the economic impact of infrastructure as well as provide local, state, national, and global economic projections.

To register go online to http://events.montanachamber.com/?ee=137

FVCC courses aimed at sharpening business skills

Flathead Valley Community College is offering a number of short, summertime courses designed to help local business people ­— or prospective business people — be ready for the challenges ahead.

“Evaluate a Business Idea” is designed for people who are thinking about starting their own business, but don’t know where to start. The 90-minute session on Aug. 15 will help you evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of your business idea, and help you determine whether or not it’s feasible.

“Computer Skills Courses,” focusing on the mastery of Microsoft Office, Word and/or Excel, are set for 1 to 4 p.m. on Aug. 2, 8 and 16, and “Profit Mastery: Creating Value & Wealth” is a two-day course set for Aug. 16-17, designed to help business owners and managers get more from their financial statements, manage cash flow and evaluate financial performance.

For more information, call FVCC Continuing Education at 7526-3832, or register online at www.fvcc.edu.