It’s hard to believe how fast the summer went by, and I hope you all had an opportunity to enjoy the last several months with family and friends. There has been no shortage of activity at the Montana Independent Bankers Association (MIB), and we’re excited about the opportunities we’ve been working on here in Montana, as well as the critical pieces of legislation advancing in the U.S. Congress.
Register for the Fundamentals of Banking Course
MIB is excited to announce a new partnership with Helena College to offer the Fundamentals of Banking Course to both member and non-member banks. While the program is designed for new employees, we strongly encourage senior employees, high school students, college students and anyone interested in pursuing a career in the banking industry to register for this course.
I want to thank Laura Clark, president of Opportunity Bank, for establishing this banking course for her employees several years ago. Her successful program has garnered a great deal of positive feedback.
Curriculum
The Fundamentals of Banking Course is designed to give participants a clear understanding of the banking industry, from day-to-day operations to broader financial concepts. The aim is to spark long-term interest in the field, support employee retention and create opportunities for future advancement within the industry.
Schedule
The course will be conducted online, allowing you to access materials and complete assignments at your convenience each week. The first course started at the end of October. The same course will be offered from Jan. 26-March 6, 2026, and April 27-June 5, 2026.
Cost/Registration
The cost to register for the course is $250 for MIB member banks and $350 for non-member banks, high school students and college students. Learn more about the Fundamentals of Banking Course.
Blockchain and Digital Innovation Task Force
On Oct. 6, the Montana Blockchain and Digital Innovation Task Force convened for its first meeting. The task force was authorized by SB 330 during the 2025 legislative session, which passed with strong bipartisan support in both chambers and was signed into law by the governor. We are pleased that Loren Brown, CEO and president of Ascent Bank and current president of MIB, was appointed to the 21-member task force.
The Montana Blockchain and Digital Innovation Task Force will play a critical role in informing members about blockchain, financial and digital innovation technology, and providing context for related issues. The task force will study activity in other states and explore policy considerations that could impact the regulatory environment, consumer protections and the growth of business opportunities within our industry.
All of this will lay the groundwork for potential legislation that we anticipate will be brought forward during the next session in January 2027. The task force is required to report its findings and recommendations to the Economic Affairs Interim Committee and the Legislative Council by July 1, 2026.
Key Bills Advancing in Congress
We also want to point out the progress being made on key advances in Congress, including a number of bills passing out of the U.S. House of Representatives’ Financial Services Committee:
- H.R. 3234, which would increase the percentage limit of reciprocal deposits a bank can hold before they are classified as brokered deposits.
- H.R. 5262, which would allow banking agencies to forgo requesting a competitive analysis from the Justice Department for merger or acquisition applications involving banks with assets under $10 billion.
- H.R. 5276, which would reduce the Community Bank Leverage Ratio (CBLR) from 8-10% to 6-8% and allow the CBLR to be used by banks with up to $15 billion in assets.
- H.R. 5291, which would amend the Bank Holding Company Act to permit merchant banking investments made through a bank holding company’s affiliate to be held for a minimum of 15 years.
- H.R. 5317, which would allow community banks to hold custodial deposits without them being classified as brokered deposits, as long as those deposits do not exceed 20% of the bank’s total liabilities.
Final Thoughts
Finally, please note that 2026 membership renewal packets will be sent out in December. I want to personally thank each of you for being a member this year. You have made a significant difference and ensured that our voice is heard both here at home and in Washington. We encourage you to continue this partnership next year.
And since this will be the last edition of our quarterly magazine for the year, we wish you a healthy, prosperous and safe 2026, from all of us here at your community banking association.
