Dec. 16, 2019

This paid piece is sponsored by The First National Bank in Sioux Falls.

For a refugee family, a single mother or a disabled veteran, having a place to call home can feel like a dream that’s out of reach. Without a stable source of income, the threat of homelessness is real. Those worries are put to rest with Habitat for Humanity of Greater Sioux Falls, a nonprofit, Christian housing ministry dedicated to making sure everyone has a place to live.

Yvette Christion has witnessed the power of housing firsthand. She’s a loan operations manager at The First National Bank in Sioux Falls and has served on the board of directors and finance committee for Habitat for Humanity. For Christion, giving of her time and talents by volunteering with the organization has been all about reinvesting in the community.

“The world is evolving and so is our function as finance professionals,” Christion said. “We are not just bankers; we are advisers. I use the knowledge I have accumulated here at the bank to help families’ dream of owning a home become a reality.”

Her fellow First National Bank employees are proud to support the mission of Habitat for Humanity along with her. Many volunteer to serve within the organization.

But that’s nothing new for the bank, which was founded in 1885 on service to community and the belief that the bank’s success depends on the success of the communities it serves.

This stewardship-driven culture has led to The First National Bank in Sioux Falls receiving its second consecutive “outstanding” rating on its Community Reinvestment Act, or CRA, examination by the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency.

The CRA is a federal law enacted in 1977. The law encourages banking institutions to help meet the credit needs of the communities in which they operate, specifically to benefit low- and moderate-income individuals and areas. Financial institutions receive a rating based on their investments, service and loans to these individuals and areas, determined by an examination covering a three-year period.

“We are extraordinary stewards, builders and sustainers of the community we are so incredibly fortunate to have here in Sioux Falls and the surrounding areas we serve,” CEO Bill Baker said.

From 2016-18, 51 of FNB’s 270 employees volunteered 2,788 hours with more than 25 nonprofit service organizations aimed at benefiting low- to moderate-income individuals. The First National Bank originated 30 Community Development, or CD, loans totaling $41.5 million in addition to the bank’s $12.4 million in CD investments and donations during that same period.

It’s a legacy of community investment that will continue into the future, Christion said.

“The bank emphasizes the importance of reinvesting in the community while allowing us as employees to step out of our comfort zones and gain a greater appreciation for the world around us,” she said.

“Our five core values inspire us to build successful relationships with the Sioux Falls area and give back. As a result, the bank has built a culture committed to lending and investing in the community.”

To begin experiencing First National Bank’s commitment to customers and community, click here or visit any location.