Wow — what a convention! More than 150 community bankers, associate members, speakers, sponsors and friends joined us in Butte, making the 2026 gathering the largest convention we have ever held in the Mining City. While turnout was remarkable, it was the energy in every education session, reception and outdoor activity that truly made the week memorable.

An event of this size and quality is a team effort, and our thank-you list is long. Our Premier Level Sponsors stepped up in a meaningful way, and our Event Sponsors helped make each block of the event possible. Our exhibitors, speakers, volunteers, board members, bank and associate members, and attendees each made this such a special event, and we are grateful for everyone’s support and enthusiasm for our 59th Annual Convention. 

A Warm Welcome — and Perfect Timing

The Wednesday evening Welcome Reception set the tone with a phenomenal turnout. As storm clouds gathered over Butte, bringing some relief from the summer heat, we enjoyed the evening and wrapped up just ahead of the downpour that soon arrived in full force. It felt like a small convention miracle, and a fitting start to a week when so many things came together just right.

Thursday morning began with breakfast and our Member Meeting. It was encouraging to see so many members engaged as we shared an update on the association’s work and the developments shaping the year. From ICBA LIVE in San Diego and our advocacy efforts in Washington, D.C., to meetings at the Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis’ Helena Branch, interim legislative work ahead of the 2027 session and legislative updates from the Blockchain Task Force, there was plenty to discuss.

As we moved into our seminars, Kristina Morris, vice president of innovation investments at ICBA, opened the educational program with “Community Banking Innovation: What Innovation Looks Like Now.” Her presentation offered an impressive and practical look at how innovation is evolving for community banks and what leaders should be thinking about now.

Dan Stimpson, CPA, managing director at Stifel Solutions, followed with “Optimizing Banks’ Interest Rate Risk Management.” His timely update gave attendees a useful perspective on how to navigate interest rate risk in a complex operating environment.

Fresh Air, Friendly Competition and a Memorable Evening

Thursday afternoon’s outdoor activities went off without a hitch, giving attendees an opportunity to spend time together outside the meeting room. We cannot thank Joel Rosenberg and Loren Brown enough for leading the golf outing and trap shoot. Their planning and steady leadership helped make both activities enjoyable from start to finish.

The Vendor Reception held that evening offered time to visit exhibitor booths, catch up and continue conversations from earlier in the day. We also kicked off the PAC Auction, and Mike Hawthorne knocked it out of the park in leading this effort. As I said that night, we really need Mike to keep this tradition going next year!

We were thrilled to welcome Shon Myers, vice chairman of ICBA and president, CEO and chairman of Farmers & Merchants Bank in Miamisburg, Ohio, to Montana. We were among Shon’s first stops on the convention circuit this year, and he did a terrific job. His experience as a current bank president and former chair of the Community Bankers Association of Ohio gave him an authentic and valuable perspective on the opportunities and pressures community banks face.

Chris Fisk, the ultimate Butte historian and a distinguished history teacher at Butte High School, brought the evening to a close. Simply put, you cannot go wrong inviting Chris to tell the history of Butte. His presentation, “A Night in Butte History,” delivered in every way. I cannot remember hearing a room laugh so hard. Chris gave us an unforgettable mix of local history, personality and humor. 

A Strong Friday Program

The convention continued Friday morning with a wide-ranging seminar lineup covering the strategic, technological, economic and regulatory issues shaping community banking:

• Remaining Independent: Strategies and Practices for Remaining Independent in the Age of Industry Consolidation — Tom Keenan, President, Keenan & Partners
• Understanding Artificial Intelligence and Third-Party Risk — Mandy Fisher, CPA, CFE, CISSP, Vice President and Chief Information Security Officer; and Casey Balcerzak, Vice President and Chief Information Officer, Opportunity Bank
• Montana Economy at Mid-Year 2026 — Jeffrey A. Michael, Director, Bureau of Business and Economic Research, University of Montana
• Update from the Banking Commissioner — Melanie Hall, Commissioner, Division of Banking and Financial Institutions, State of Montana

Together, these sessions gave attendees practical ideas they could take home to their institutions, as well as a clearer view of the forces likely to shape the remainder of 2026 and beyond.

Celebrating Leadership and Service

Now, I need to circle back to Thursday evening and our awards presentation; it rightfully deserves its own section. We had the privilege of recognizing some amazing individuals and organizations whose leadership, partnership and service represent the best of community banking.

MVP Bank Member Award: Opportunity Bank of Montana
We were proud to present the 2026 MVP Bank Member Award to Opportunity Bank of Montana. President and CEO Laura Clark is an impressive leader who has built an incredible team. Laura was one of the first board members I met when I joined the association, and I have appreciated her steady guidance and leadership. We also cannot thank her enough for spearheading the Fundamentals of Banking Course, which has seen phenomenal growth over the past year.

Outstanding Associate Member Award: Bell Bank
The Outstanding Associate Member Award is always one of our most difficult selections because we are fortunate to work with so many fantastic associate members. This year, we were pleased to recognize Bell Bank and its very own Craig McCandless. Although I have not known Craig long, I enjoyed catching up with him over coffee in Helena, and he has always made an effort to reach out and stay connected. He has been a true partner to MIB, consistently stepping up to support us and help our association thrive. We are grateful to Bell Bank’s dedication to MIB and proud to recognize their contributions.

Young Banker Award: Caden Harkins, Three Rivers Bank of Montana
Caden Harkins has distinguished himself through remarkable professional growth, advancing from personal banker to commercial credit analyst and now loan officer at Three Rivers Bank of Montana in just four years. His integrity, work ethic and commitment to serving people of all ages in his community make him an outstanding representative of the future of community banking in Montana. We were delighted to honor Caden with the 2026 Young Banker Award.

Thank You for Making Butte Special

To every sponsor, exhibitor, speaker, volunteer, board member, associate member, banker and guest who helped make the 2026 Convention possible: thank you. Butte gave us a record-setting turnout and an unforgettable experience. More importantly, everyone who attended helped reaffirm the strength, resilience and shared purpose of Montana’s community banks. We cannot wait to build on that momentum together through the remainder of the year and into 2027!