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The American Bankers Association (ABA) honored First Interstate for its outstanding employee program that advances the Bank’s Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) efforts.
First Interstate earned an honorable mention in Outstanding Overall DEI Program for its Collective Learning Series.
The Collective Learning Series is an educational and community-building initiative First Interstate hosts for employees once a month. The hour-long, web-based events delve into various DEI topics, encouraging employees and leaders to engage in subjects they are passionate about. Each event features a rotating panel of employees, community members and external partners who share insights and expertise on designated topics, fostering open and honest communication across the organization.
At the heart of the series—and our broader DEI strategy—is a commitment to building a culture of inclusion. We focus on leveraging the strengths of our team members to create environments where people feel seen, heard, and valued. Through intentional communication, we make sure that voices have opportunities to be not just heard but understood, working to build trust and collaboration across the organization.
“We need team members who see the world differently in order to innovate and build new processes and adapt to changing technologies,” said Chief Banking Officer Lorrie Asker. “And by building teams who hold hands together in solving problems, we can engage in challenging conversations and innovation. And I think that’s how we live our value of People First, Always and Seeking Greatness, and really achieving the ultimate goal of positively impacting the client experience and improving our shareholders’ return on their investment.”
First Interstate’s DEI work is going to help the Bank achieve its “dream state,” said President and Chief Executive Officer Kevin Riley.
We have worked to establish a community of practice for our managers, helping them foster safe spaces where teams are empowered to contribute.
“We all want to take care of each other,” Riley said. “Our clients come from all walks of life. If you can appreciate the differences in people and be open with a client, it’s going to feel better for the client. It doesn’t matter what they’re wearing or how they look or their personality or where they come from, they’re going to feel more comfortable in our interactions, and that always helps the relationship.”
About the American Bankers Association DEI Awards
The ABA’s DEI awards recognize ABA member banks for their internal-facing programs, leadership and activities focused on improving diversity, equity, and inclusion within their workplace. There were three categories (Outstanding Overall DEI Program, DEI Outstanding Leader, and Innovation Incentive awards), and each category had one winner and one honorable mention.
“We are proud to celebrate all of the winners and honorable mentions of these awards,” said Cathy Nestrick, ABA’s vice president of women’s leadership and DEI. “These financial institutions and individuals have worked to create a more inclusive and equitable environment for their employees, customers and communities every day.”
Read more about the winners on the ABA’s website.