Banks and Credit Unions
In 1874, Bank of the West opened its doors on the California frontier as Farmers National Gold Bank. One of just 10 banks nationwide authorized to issue paper currency backed by gold reserves, the San Jose bank helped people build homes, finance farms, and grow their businesses.
Over the years, we grew bigger and reached beyond our hometown roots. Customers entrusted us with their money, we continued to provide great service, protect deposits and lend prudently to the growing communities we served. In 1880, Farmers National Gold Bank became First National Bank of San Jose.
Careful management and sound banking practices allowed the bank to contribute to the Bay Area’s growth through the 1906 earthquake, the Great Depression, and two World Wars. Following World War II, the bank grew rapidly and by 1979 had 35 San Francisco Bay Area locations and $350 million in assets.
In 1979, we changed our name to Bank of the West. The change reflected our desire to grow and provide our style of relationship banking beyond the Bay Area. Today, we have branch and commercial banking offices across the West Coast, the Southwest, the Midwest, and the Rocky Mountain states.
Since 1980, we have been affiliated with BNP Paribas, a leading bank in Europe with an international reach. In 2001, our holding company BancWest Corporation became a wholly-owned subsidiary of BNP Paribas.
Bank of the West has continued to grow in recent years, thanks to a combination of organic growth and strategic acquisitions, including United California Bank, the largest Los Angeles-based bank, in 2002, Union Safe Deposit Bank in California’s Central Valley and Community First Bank in Fargo, ND, both in 2004, and Commercial Federal Bank, of Omaha, in 2005.
Today, Bank of the West operates more than 600 retail, wealth, commercial and business banking offices in 23 states. Prudent credit underwriting, a diversified loan portfolio, and careful risk management have allowed us to grow to more than $80.7 billion in assets. It is one of the nation’s largest banks, yet it preserves its local feel and its award-winning style of relationship banking that ensures superior customer service.
The Cowboy State Bank slogan is “Banking the Cowboy Way” – which to them and their customers means banking with honesty, integrity, and diligence. And they’re a community bank, which is exactly what many of their customers want.
And the bank continues its community involvement and sponsorships – in organizations like the Sheridan County Chamber, Sheridan WYO Rodeo, Sheridan College Rodeo events, Rotary Downtown Sheridan Association, Tongue River Valley Community Center, School District events, the Library, Boy Scouts, and Keystone Awards. That’s what a “community bank” is all about.
Located in the foothills of the Bighorn Mountains with branches in Buffalo and Sheridan, First Northern Bank of Wyoming is committed to being your hometown bank.Since 1885, we’ve been dedicated to providing all your banking needs from personal banking to business services to investments. We truly are your full-service, home-grown, hometown bank. Member FDIC. Equal Housing Lender.
Sunlight Federal Credit Union has been open since 1953. It’s the 10th largest credit union in Wyoming with assets totaling $111.21 Million and providing banking services to more than 12,000 members.
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