Page 8 - Helena Chamber B2B Spring22

2021 CHAMBER AWARDS 2021 Business of the Year
Business of the Year award winner Opportunity Bank of Montana. Pictured: CEO, Pete Johnson
Photo Credit: Gary Marshall, IR
Opportunity Bank of Montana
The 2021 Business of the Year Award had many excellent and noteworthy nominations this year. It is a difficult task to work through them and find the points that set one apart from the others.
The recipient this year had an excellent nomination and many key notes of why they are the top choice.
• Opportunity Bank was founded in 1922 with a single office in Helena and they are celebrating their 100th anniversary.
• During the pandemic, they were one of the very first to be ready to help their commercial business owners to quickly get their applications in and receive the PPP funding.
• In support of their employees through the pandemic, they have paid upwards of $100,000 to 150 different employees for COVID-related paid leave.
• When fire ravaged the Montana town of Denton this past year, Opportunity Bank responded by establishing a relief account to receive
donations and was able to collect and pay out over $850,000 to help Denton.
• To support the community they provide sponsorships for the YWCA Rise and Shine Breakfast, Big Brothers Big Sisters, Intermountain, Big Sky Institute for the Advancement of Nonprofits, St. Peter’s Health Foundation, Exploration Works, Prickly Pear Land Trust, and Florence Crittenton. They are a major sponsor for many non-profits and received the Pinnacle Award in 2018 for their support of philanthropy and non-profits by the Big Sky Institute.
• Over $169,000 was paid out to Helena organizations last year alone (charitable contributions, sponsorships, etc.) In 2021, 37 employees reported volunteering over 2,300 hours to 41 separate organizations in Helena.
• Also in 2021, they announced the agreement that will culminate the acquisition of First Community Bank headquartered in Glasgow. This change will grow the company by 25% in assets.
• They have 400 employees across the state with over 100 in Helena.
• Opportunity bank is the 4th largest bank headquartered in Montana and the top residential mortgage lender in the state.
• They are the only company headquartered in Helena with stock that trades on NASDAQ and has approximately 800 shareholders.
• In 2021, they announced plans to build a 20,000 sq. ft. building at the mall site for their operations center. In this building, employees will enjoy a state of the art 99 seat training facility.
Please join us in congratulating our 2021 Business of the Year, Opportunity Bank!
8 BUSINESS TO BUSINESS CONNECTION
VISION: Catalyst for growth; Convener of leaders and influencers; Champion for a thriving community. MISSION: Engaging and supporting businesses to facilitate economic growth and community prosperity.