Millions of dollars in real estate taxes are paid on time each year to counties by banks from escrow accounts on home and commerical loans. Lending increased 21 percent from 1999 to 2000. Bank directors and employees volunteer a collective total of nearly 300,000 hours each year to local charities and organizations.
Bankers are in school classrooms and meeting with community groups to teach financial management.
In recent years, bankers have reached 58,000 young people and adults throught a Personal Economics Program. Many of our competitors do not have to meet stringent capital requirements , which affect safety and soundess. Funds collected by some competitors are transferred out of state and no money is available for loans to business, agriculture and individuals in North Dakota. A cooperative effort of the North Dakota Bankers Association, Independent Community Banks of North Dakota and the North Dakota Department of Agriculture. North Dakota has 30,500 family farms and ranches.