The First Interstate BancSystem Foundation celebrated $100 million in giving since its inception in 1990 with an open house at the First Interstate Bank in Coeur d’Alene on Tuesday. 

The milestone, Retail Manager Rana Cantrell said, reflects the institution's values and goal of building stronger communities in the five locations the North Idaho Market First Interstate Bank serves. 

“We're passionate about our communities,” Cantrell said. “We believe we can strengthen them when we all pitch in together and help.” 

Cantrell said the bank’s support focuses on causes that matter locally, including financial literacy, youth development, disaster relief and nonprofit capacity building. 

“We have several nonprofits we work with through a foundation program called Believe in Local, where employees have a chance to nominate local nonprofits to receive financial support,” Cantrell said. 

A few of those recipients are Family Promise of North Idaho, Safe Start, Canopy Village, (Children's Village at the time), and the Coeur d'Alene Backpack Program. Each has received $25,000, Cantrell said.

She said the bank also has an employee gift and volunteer matching program.  

“If we donate our time or volunteer our time at an organization, the bank will match us for our volunteer hours with dollars back to those programs," Cantrell said.

She added that First Interstate closes early for its annual Volunteer Day, allowing employees to assist nonprofits.

She said community members who would like to volunteer with nonprofits can call 208-758-0754 or email Cantrell at [email protected].