Stockman Bank to build bank in Whitefish

Stockman Bank plans to open a new branch in Whitefish, with construction expected to start next year.

The Whitefish bank will be Stockman's first in the Flathead Valley. Stockman operates more than 30 locations throughout Montana.

Joe Kola will serve as market president of the Whitefish location starting Aug. 1. Kola brings 22 years of banking experience to the position. A Kalispell native, he most recently worked as the market president of First Interstate Bank in Kalispell.

Kola started his career on the teller line while attending the University of Montana's School of Business Administration, earning a bachelor’s degree in finance followed by a master's in business administration. He also graduated with honors from Pacific Coast Banking School and Leadership Wyoming in 2015.

After college, he worked as a credit analyst, then as a commercial relationship manager, a commercial group manager, and finally as a market president.

Kola also serves on the board of Flathead Education Foundation, the Flathead Valley Community College Foundation, Glacier AERO and the Logan Health Foundation.

"We are excited to welcome Joe to the Stockman Bank family," Jeremy Morgret, chief of branch supervision for Stockman Bank, said in a statement. "His experience and deep-rooted knowledge and understanding of the Flathead Valley will be key for us as Stockman enters this new market."