Pub. 5 2017 Issue 1

12 The Community Banker www.mibonline.org I n 1947, American Bank opened its doors as Livingston State Bank in the town of Livingston, Montana. They were then, and remain today, a full-service, family-owned bank with a focus on MIBWELCOMES NEWMEMBER AMERICANBANK! MSU HOSTS COMMUNITYBANKING FORUM WITHMIB BANKERS MIB NEWS M IB's partnership with Montana State University to create and implement a community banking program for their students has hit high gear. MSU and MIB bankers hosted a community banking forum at MSU on March 1. It was so well attended by students that they had to bring in extra chairs. MIB board director Brice Kluth of First State Bank of Shelby joined MIB members Kalli Ryti of First Security Bank, Bozeman and Travis Write of Stockman Bank in answering prepared and spontaneous questions by students about the internship and what a career in community banking is like. A number of students stayed to visit with bankers after the event. The MSU business and finance faculty are very enthusiastic about this program. MSU has since received nearly 20 applications from students eager for bank internship positions, and six banks have signed up to offer internships this summer. Read more about this program at http://mibonline.org/training/msu-community-banking-program/, and consider offering an MSU internship at your bank - it's a great way to introduce college finance students to a community bank- ing career in Montana. M IB Member Relations Director Laura Welker joined around 30 Montana community bankers at the 2017 ICBA Community Banking Live! Convention in San Anto- nio, TX the middle of March. ICBA put on another jaw-dropping MIB REPRESENTSMONTANACOMMUNITY BANKINGAT THE 2017 ICBACONVENTION event with a massive tradeshow, dozens of workshops, general sessions by ICBA leadership, F-14 pilot Carey Lohrenz, astronaut twins Mark and Scott Kelly, and NFL quarterback Drew Bledsoe, a silent auction on St. Patty’s Day, various receptions and banquets, and a rocking show by Big & Rich. Laura attended several meet- ings with our fellow community banking associations and ICBA leadership, and hosted MIB’s annual Montana Reception for Mon- tana delegates and associate members, which was well attended and enjoyed by all. We would like to give a special shout-out to United Bankers’ Bank and BMA Banking Systems for sponsor- ing this year’s reception! Montana bankers donated a table full of items for the ICBPAC Silent Auction Fundraiser, helping to raise over $537,000 to support community banking’s national interests. We always enjoy this chance to connect with ICBA leadership and staff, Montana bankers, and other state associations, the opportu- nity to learn from the hottest and best in the community banking industry, and get energized by the fantastic work ICBA does on our behalf year-round. Thanks for another great convention, ICBA! (Check out the photo spread and President’s Address from the ICBA Convention also in this issue.)