If you’ve spent much time driving around Columbia Falls lately, you’ve probably noticed that our community continues to grow and change, including the spaces occupied by local financial institutions. Freedom Bank is growing too, but rather than adding a new building, we found an opportunity to give an existing space in town a new purpose.
The Freedom Bank Operations Center at 1015 9th St West represents an exciting next step for our organization. As we’ve grown, so has the team behind the scenes supporting our customers, technology, operations, compliance responsibilities, and all the things that keep a community bank running well. We needed more room, and we were happy to find it right here in Columbia Falls.
When Freedom Bank got its start in 2005, one of the phrases that captured those early days was simple: “Ya Gotta Start Somewhere!” And we certainly did. From humble beginnings, including time spent operating out of a 980-square-foot trailer, Freedom Bank grew into the bank you know today on Highway 2.
More than 20 years later, we find ourselves saying something a little different:
Ya Gotta Grow Somewhere!
The Operations Center will house team members whose work keeps things running behind the scenes, meaning it is not a customer-facing location, and banking services will not be offered there. Our main office at 530 9th St West will remain the place where customers can walk through the door and get help from people empowered to solve problems.
We’re proud of the comfortable, welcoming workplace we’ve created at our main office, and over time, we’ve filled just about every available corner of it. As some team members move to the Operations Center and others shift into new workspaces at the main office, customers may notice a few familiar faces in different places. The people aren’t going anywhere. We’re simply creating room to grow while making sure our team continues to have comfortable, beautiful spaces to do their best work.
For Freedom Bank, growth means continuing to help local businesses navigate change, work through complicated circumstances with real people, and find practical solutions when a one-size-fits-all answer won’t do. It also means continuing to invest in the community that has supported us from the beginning.
As part of the move, our lobby will be closed on Monday, October 12th while we relocate team members and workspaces. Our drive-up will remain open, and we’ll still be answering phones throughout the day.
We’re grateful for how far this little community bank has come, excited about the people helping build its next chapter, and especially thankful to the customers and community who have given us the opportunity to keep growing.
