At its recent annual shareholder meeting, David Hanson, President and Chief Executive Officer, announced that the American State Bank Holding Company, Inc. had another successful year in 2023. The Holding Company reported year-end total assets of more than $620,000,000.
The Holding Company’s wholly owned subsidiary, American State Bank & Trust Company, continued its historical practice of achieving strong growth and performance on an annual basis. Overall, the Bank’s commitment to capital strength continues with strong capital levels that are all well in excess of regulatory minimums. Hanson was pleased to report that the Bank continued its dominant market share position in 2023. In addition, the Bank’s total loan portfolio remains well diversified in the consumer, commercial, agricultural, and residential real estate sectors.
During the meeting, the shareholders elected the following Directors to the ASB&T Board: Tamara Davidson Sogard, Patrick O. Sogard, Earl Rennerfeldt, Laurie Furuseth, Rick Tofte, Ryan Geltel, Rick Braaten, Ken Kjos, and David Hanson.
Also at the meeting, Ken Heen, retired ASB&T President & CEO, was recognized and thanked for serving the Board from 2011 to 2024. Ken Kjos, former Vice President & Agriculture Loan Manager, was newly elected to the Board of Directors.
The Board approved the promotions of Sarah Kemmet to Assistant Vice President/ Deposit Operations Manager; Kathy Casto to Assistant Vice President/ Electronic Banking Manager; and Janna Lutz to Raymond James Financial Advisor.
Hanson said, “Our staff continues to focus on making our community better through the delivery of creative and secure financial services. The relationships we’ve built with customers and the community continue to be our strength as a Community Bank,” he said, “We continue to support our growing customer base to successfully meet the challenges and opportunities in the Williston area. As part of our core business practices, we’re happy to support community projects, organizations and agencies through monetary contributions and employee participation.”
Among the many entities that received contributions and employee participation from ASB&T in 2023 were: CHI St. Alexius Williston Medical Foundation, Williston State College and Foundation, The Williston Water World Project, Coyote Foundation, Entertainment, Inc!, Great Plains Food Bank, Williston High School, Williams County 4-H, Trinity Christian School, Basin United Way, Salvation Army, Upper Missouri Ministries, Relay For Life, Williston Regional Economic Development Corporation, Band Day Festival, Williston Area Chamber of Commerce, Williston Downtowners Association, Williston Parks & Recreation, and Region 1 Senior Services.
ASB&T’s Employee Directed Donation program, in its 14th year, contributed an additional $8,000 to 26 community organizations. In total, the employee directed donation program has directed approximately $230,000 to local charitable organizations on behalf of ASB&T’s individual employees.