Community Reinvestment Act Statement

Bank of the Rockies, with the main office in White Sulphur Springs, Montana, and other offices consisting of the Shields Valley Office in Clyde Park, Montana, Paradise Valley Office in Emigrant, Montana and the Livingston Office in Livingston, Montana, continues to meet the credit needs of the local communities it serves and within the boundaries established by the Bank. The city of White Sulphur Springs, Montana, is centrally located in Meagher County with most loans made to residents of Meagher County. The Shields Valley Office, Paradise Valley Office and Livingston Office meet the needs of Park County.

The Bank offers the following types of credit: single family residential loans, home improvement loans, small business loans, farm and ranch loans, community development loans, commercial loans, consumer loans, FHA, FSA and VA housing loans, SBA and USDA FSA and B&I guaranteed loans, guaranteed student loans, and county guaranteed loans.

The banks delineated community consists of Meagher and Park Counties, and offers full service banking to residents of the communities it serves, and endeavors to inform the members of the communities about all available services. The bank employs newspaper advertising, direct mailing literature, "statement stuffers" and a message center in White Sulphur Springs as additional means of advertising. Services offered to meet the needs of the community include:
* Rocky Mountain and Rocky Mountain Plus Checking - Checking accounts with a wide range of benefits for persons of all ages.
* Business Manager - Business receives immediate credit for their accounts receivable, and their customers make payments directly to the bank.
* Annuities
* Trust Services
* Life Insurance Services
* Health Insurance Services

Directors, advisory directors, officers and employees of the bank continue to serve many community-oriented groups. The bank also subscribes to publications, which provide a general review of the economy and employment.

Advisory Board meetings focus on the needs of their area and how the Bank can serve those needs. As an example, we've implemented a loan program for student FFA and 4-H projects.

It is considered that by keeping the directors, advisory directors, officers and employees informed of local economic conditions, and by having those same persons serve with community-oriented groups, the bank has been able to ascertain the credit needs of the communities, and receive input from community members regarding credit services. Future advertising will continue to include newspapers and direct mail programs as well as the message center.

As previously indicated, the City of White Sulphur Springs is centrally located within Meagher County, Montana. There is not a clear distinguished geographical distribution of credit extensions, credit applications, or denials, due to the natural consequence that a majority of our Meagher County bank customers live within the City of White Sulphur Springs rather than the surrounding areas. The Shields Valley Office, Paradise Valley Office, and Livingston Office are all located in Park County, Montana and serve those geographical areas.

The Bank does not participate in prohibited, discriminatory, or other illegal credit practices.

The Bank of the Rockies has a history of active participation in local community development programs.

The Bank continues to be active in the area of financing for single family dwellings, and also offers long-term financing of single family dwellings for low and moderate income families.

The Bank is also active in making home improvement loans.

The Bank has, and continues to make small business and farm loans within its lending area, and also participates and originates business loans with SBA and USDA guarantees.

The Bank continues to participate in USDA agricultural guaranteed loan programs as a certified lender. The Bank continues making loans in conjunction with the Farmer Mac program in addition to providing farm and ranch operating loans.

The Bank continues to make available to the public a community room located upstairs in the White Sulphur Springs bank, as well as the one located at the Paradise Valley Office in Emigrant. The Bank annually sponsors the Meagher County Arts Council, which provides arts and entertainment to our community and the bank also sponsors theater productions in Livingston. It also supports the local public televison station and particularly the News Hour with Jim Lear. The Bank has sponsored various functions in the Clyde Park and Wilsall communities and is also involved in the communities surrounding Emigrant and Livingston.

The bank continues with a fundraiser program called "Casual Day" wherein employees are given the privilege of dressing "casual" each Friday for a small donation. The funds collected are given to a local charitable cause selected by the employees. Since it's inception in 1993, the bank has distributed over $8,000.00 from this fundraiser.

Following is a listing of what the Bank of the Rockies has done during the past twelve (12) months to attempt to serve our communities (this list is not all inclusive):
* Presented a $500 "Casual Day" scholarship to a White Sulphur Springs high school student.
* Presented a $500 scholarship to a Clyde Park and also a Livingston student through the Montana Bankers Education Foundation.
* Offered loans under the low interest housing program through the Montana Board of Housing and Farm Service Agency.
* Offered loans under the low interest business loan program of the Federal Home Loan Bank (CIP) program for economic development.
* Offered student loans.
* Offered business loans through the U. S. Small Business Administration.
* Offered long term agricultural real estate loans through the Farm Service Agency and also utilized Farmer Mac as a secondary market.
* Offered low interest computer loans to families of Meagher and Park Counties.
* Participated in the Rotary Club's Toys for Kids program wherein envelope are hung on the Bank's Christmas tree and anyone wishing to purchase needed items for the child takes an envelope and returns the wrapped gifts to the Bank for pickup.
* Held drawing for "World's Largest Christmas Stocking" for children 12 and under at all branches.
* Had Santa Claus in the Bank at all branches except for Paradise Valley who had a holiday mixer.
* White Sulphur Springs Office served chili at the local Christmas Stroll.
* Continually examine our services and prices to attempt to offer all products within reason at an afforable price.
* Allowed numerous groups to use our community room without cost.
* Directors, officers and staff remain very active in various local boards and organizations.
* Offered to give classes about banking to high school students and also provide tours of the bank for the schools.
* Sponsor appreciation page for local school athletic and speech and drama groups.
* Sympathy cards sent to families of deceased customers.
* Took top students from White Sulphur Springs, Clyde Park/Wilsall, Livingston and Gardiner schools on a tour and luncheon at Federal Reserve Bank in Helena. Also provided students with pictures of the occasion.
* Handed out trick-or-treat bags and candy on Halloween, and had a pumpkin drawing contest.
* Provide checking account study material to schools.
* White Sulphur Springs office and Shields Valley Office participate in Adopt-A-Highway program.
* Tellers hand out suckers and coloring books to children in the lobby and coming through the drive-up with their parents, and dog treats to canines coming through the drive-up (must be accompanied by an adult).
* Offered Business Management accounts receivable collection and accounting services to local merchants.
* Have MSU Extension Service brochures on various subjects available at the Bank.
* Offered Electronic Tax Filing and also have tax filing forms available at the Bank.
* Are a "Bank of Promise" through the America's Promise program, and continue to look for opportunities to enhance our program.
* Participates in ABA's National Teach Children to Save Day and other related programs.
* Sent agricultural newsletters to farm and ranch customers and non-customers and also sponsored seminars for our Ag customers.
* Participate in "Christmas Script or Cash" Loan Program in Meagher County.
* Offered service of going to a shut-in's home to have documents signed if need be.
* Bank purchased book for local libraries in honor of employee's birthday's each year.
* Send out congratulatory cards to new parents.
* Sponsored "Senior Page" in Meagher County News for graduating high school seniors.
* Sponsored advertisement to feature athletes in Meagher and Park Counties.
* Christmas Lighting sponsor at Shield's Valley Office.
* Sponsored ads in various newspapers in Meagher and Park County covering high school sporting events.
* Home Start Savings

A copy of our most recently approved CRA Public Notice can be obtained at any of our branches.