May 2025

Click here to see a full list of upcoming webinars.

2025 May 12-15 ICBA Capital SummitWashington, D.C. June 6 MIB Young Banker Award Application Due  July 16-18 MIB Convention and Trade ShowBig Sky ResortBig Sky, Montana September Griz TailgateMissoula, Montana October 8-9  MIB Women in Banking ConferenceSpringhill SuitesBozeman, Montana October 10 Fall Board MeetingSpringhill SuitesBozeman, Montana

The landscape of compensation and pay transparency has changed significantly since 2020. Currently, 36 states have some form of pay transparency law in the United States. These laws vary from state to state and may include a variety of requirements, from posting a pay range for internal and external job postings to not asking salary history questions of applicants. Failure to follow these new pay transparency laws may result in monetary violations that range from $100 to $10,000 per violation.

For many financial institutions, vendor contracts are a double-edged sword. They ensure access to critical technology and services — but if not carefully structured, they can also lead to unexpected costs, restrictive terms and limited flexibility over time.

Business leaders continue to be challenged with increasing healthcare costs. Both fully insured premiums and self-funded claim projections have surged in recent years.

In a diverse world, one of the greatest skills a leader can have is the ability to talk to people with different perspectives. This goes beyond making space for diversity of background, experience or opinion; it’s about listening and learning. Teams are made up of people from diverse walks of life and with different life experiences, and they all have valuable contributions to make.

In March, MIB members joined thousands of other community bankers in attending ICBA Live in Nashville. ICBA’s annual event celebrating community banking was held at the Gaylor Opryland Resort and Convention Center.

EFTA. Q: We issued a provisional credit to a customer for an online card-not-present transaction while we investigated the error they alleged. The dispute for the transaction was filed through our EFT system provider. The merchant denied the dispute based on the methods used to verify the customer at the time of initiating the transaction. The merchant provided us with a copy of the bank customer’s driver’s license as well as a “selfie” photo which the merchant requires when initiating a transaction. We recognize the selfie as being a picture of our customer.

Prospera is a nonprofit economic development organization that helps businesses find their pathway to success. Working to advance and inspire diverse economies and resilient communities in southwest Montana, their focus is helping people start and grow their businesses, which, in turn, strengthens the local economy. Prospera is celebrating 40 years of economic and community development.