BISMARCK, N.D. – First Western Bank & Trust’s acquisition and merger with BlackRidgeBANK is officially complete. The operations of the two banks are now under the First Western Bank & Trust name.

“First Western Bank & Trust is excited to have BlackRidgeBANK officially become part of our family,” said First Western Bank & Trust CEO Brenda Foster. “These two banks are now joined together to offer our customers an expanded range of banking services and products in more locations to serve them. The same great people will continue to provide the same great personalized local service which our customers have come to enjoy.”

With similar cultures, a focus on customer service and commitment to serving their communities, these two organizations are a perfect match. Their goal is to give customers enhanced business banking, consumer banking, ag banking, leasing, home loans, insurance and trust services at convenient locations from Minot, ND to Minneapolis, MN.

The combined organizations will have assets of nearly $1.7 billion, with more than 300 employees at 15 different locations in 11 communities across North Dakota and Minnesota. The communities they will serve include Minot, Bismarck, Fargo and West Fargo in North Dakota as well as Eden Prairie/Minneapolis, Alexandria, Carlos, Miltona, Baxter/Bemidji, Crosslake and Nisswa in Minnesota.

First Western Bank & Trust has been and will continue to be a community bank and a place where customers know they can Bank on Us. They will continue to support and invest in the communities they serve and strive to make them a better place to live, work and do business. First Western Bank & Trust’s customers will continue to receive the exceptional personal service they have come to expect from both First Western Bank & Trust and BlackRidgeBANK, now under one name.