First Interstate Bank's purchase of Mountain West Bank closes Friday

The $72.8 million sale of Montana's Mountain West Bank to First Interstate Bank closes Friday.

The Great Falls Tribune reports (http://gftrib.com/1uhm0SX) 63 of Mountain West's 204 employees have resigned since the sale was announced in February, 79 will continue with First Interstate Bank and 62 will receive severance packages.

Eight branches of Mountain West Bank are closing because they are too close to current First Interstate branches and First Interstate officials have said the property will be sold.

Kyle Herda, a First Interstate Bank vice president in Great Falls, says Mountain West customers will have the same account numbers with First Interstate, their automatic payments will continue and they can continue using their Mountain West checks.

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Information from: Great Falls Tribune, http://www.greatfallstribune.com