First International Bank & Trust Announces Plans to Enter Grand Forks and Hires Local President, Wayne Zink

LOAN AND DEPOSIT PRODUCTION OFFICE NOW OPEN IN TEMPORARY SPACE
WHILE NEW BRANCH IS UNDER CONSTRUCTION

WATFORD CITY, ND –First International Bank & Trust is excited to share that they are planning an expansion of their footprint by adding a location in Grand Forks, ND. This will be the bank’s 21^st location in North Dakota and will secure a branch presence in the state’s most populated cities.

Stephen Stenehjem, CEO/Chairman shared, “While this is a new market for First International Bank & Trust, we have been serving customers in this region for many years. Our bankers have strong ties with businesses and families in the area and we are pleased to be able to provide a location in Grand Forks to better serve their needs.”

The new full service branch will be located at 1970 South Columbia Road and is expected to be completed by the fall of 2017.

“After making the decision to enter the market, we wanted to find the right leader that was well respected and connected in the community and would be able to deliver our style of banking to this region. We are pleased to share that we have hired Wayne Zink to be our Grand Forks President,” said Peter Stenehjem, President of First International Bank & Trust. Zink has twenty six years’ experience in banking, with eighteen of those years serving customers in Grand Forks.

The Bank has also hired three additional bankers at this time and continue to seek additional talent. Andy Byron is a Commercial Banker with more than 16 years of financial experience and has been very active in the Grand Forks community. Mike Herman and Brian Gutierrez will handle personal banking needs for customers.

Until construction is complete at the new location, First International Bank & Trust will conduct business at 2617 South Columbia Road as a loan and deposit production office. They are open for business today.

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