- Routing / ABA # 092905456
- (406) 892-1776
- Lobby Hours: Mon-Fri: 9AM-5PM | Sat: 9AM-1PM
In 2005, Don Bennett set out to build a different kind of community bank: one grounded in relationships, personal service, and doing the right thing. The idea for Freedom Bank began in his basement before opening in a 980-square-foot trailer along Highway 2, proudly marked by an American flag and a banner that said it all:
“Ya gotta start somewhere!”
A lot has changed since those early days. Freedom Bank has grown from that little trailer into a thriving community bank headquartered in Columbia Falls.
What hasn’t changed is the idea behind it. We’re still deeply connected to the Flathead Valley and committed to knowing the people and businesses we serve. For us, growth has never been about becoming less personal. It’s given us more ways to serve our customers and invest in the community that gave us our start.
We believe banking should be relationship-first and technology-enabled. Not the other way around.
That means technology should make banking more convenient without making your bank harder to reach. When you have a question or need help, you’ll find real people who listen, know our products, and take the time to help.
Our modern banking tools let you manage your money on your schedule, from checking balances and depositing checks to moving money and monitoring account activity.
Personal service with modern capability. That’s the balance we’ve worked to maintain as we’ve grown.
We support three areas that define life here: youth, community well-being, and wilderness preservation.
Youth
We back programs that give kids access to healthy food, quality education, and the support they need to thrive. We invest in the next generation because they’re building the future of our valley.
Community Services
We support organizations caring for our neighbors and strengthening our communities, including programs serving families, seniors, veterans, recreation, health, and other local needs.
Wilderness
The mountains, rivers, and trails surrounding us aren’t just scenery. They’re part of our economy, our way of life, and who we are. We support organizations working to protect these places and make outdoor recreation accessible for generations to come.
Banking comes with a lot of policies, processes, numbers, and decisions. But the principle behind how we approach them is pretty simple:
Do the right thing, always.
It’s the standard we try to bring to how we treat customers, how we support our employees, how we make decisions, and how we show up for our community.
“My vision is an environment where I am surrounded by cheerful, engaged people who encourage and inspire success for themselves and those around them. My vision includes the goal of building a solid financial base for future generations, friends, coworkers and community while enabling the creation of positive, life-long memories for everyone along the way.”
– Don Bennett
