First Southwest Bank

We are a proud sponsor of Colorado Gives Day on December 10th! Giving early has started; Colorado Gives is collecting donations for local nonprofits. Donate to the causes you care about. One hundred percent of your donation goes directly to the nonprofits you choose to support https://lnkd.in/ddd2Jni7

High upfront rental costs shouldn't stand in the way of living where you work.?? Since 2022, the Workforce Rental Assistance Micro-loan Program has been helping renters in La Plata County cover critical expenses like first and last month’s rent and security deposits. This micro-loan program, a collaboration between La Plata Economic Development Alliance, First Southwest Bank, and La Plata County, provides a practical solution for those earning up to 80% of AMI. To date, $71,588 has been loaned to support 18 renters, and $33,460 is still available! Here are some details: - Flexible loans up to $5,000, no collateral required. - 4% interest rate, payable over three years with no pre-payment penalties. - Borrower must make 80% or less of AMI and meet minimum of 660 FICO score As Sarah Tober, MBA, our Executive Director, put it: "Our mission to foster a strong local economy includes providing pathways for community members to live where they work. This program offers a viable solution for those seeking stable housing." If you or someone you know could benefit from this program, learn more and apply at FSWB.bank or call First Southwest Bank at (970) 375-1100.

Don't let poor credit hold you back from financial opportunities. Were you turned down for a loan? Do you want to improve your credit score but don't know where to start? Our Credit Builder Loan Program is designed to help you build or repair your credit. Follow the link to learn more: https://lnkd.in/gaz2dMNe

We're excited to shine a spotlight on First Southwest Bank (FSWB), a proud sponsor of Noel Night! This November marks FSWB’s 10th anniversary as a Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI), and we couldn’t be more grateful for their ongoing commitment to local growth and economic development. For over 100 years, FSWB has been dedicated to supporting rural Colorado communities. In our latest blog post, we shared FSWB's mission, values, and what inspired them to support Noel Night—a beloved community event that brings people together to celebrate the holiday season and support local businesses. Read the blog post below. ?? Thank you, FSWB, for your continued dedication to building a vibrant, thriving community in Southern Colorado!

Since 2002, Local First La Plata County has proudly hosted Noel Night, Durango’s beloved holiday event that marks the official start of the holiday shopping season. This year, we’re thrilled to bring back the festivities on Friday, December 6th from 10 AM to 10 PM, with presenting sponsor, First Southwest Bank. Noel Night is more than just a shopping event—it's a celebration of our vibrant local businesses and a reminder of the power of shopping local. With live music, Santa photos, s’mores, gift-wrapping stations, and a special Makers Market featuring local artists and entrepreneurs, Noel Night fosters community spirit while boosting the local economy. Originally born out of a desire to help local businesses recover after the Missionary Ridge Fire, Noel Night has become a cornerstone event for the Durango community, significantly impacting the local economy and creating connections that last well beyond the holiday season. At Local First, our mission is simple: to support local, independent businesses in La Plata County and create a stronger, more resilient local economy. From working with locally-owned design firms to partnering with local makers for our holiday market, we ensure every part of this event keeps it local, first. We’re grateful to our sponsor First Southwest Bank for their continued support and for helping us create a festive and meaningful experience for our community. ?? Come join us for a day of holiday cheer and help us shop, eat, and love local! #NoelNight #LocalFirst #SupportLocal #Durango #SmallBusiness #LaPlataCounty

Thank you for your patience. Things are looking great, and the remodel now has an anticipated finish date of early 2025. As a reminder, our Pagosa Springs location has updated hours during our remodel. Monday-Thursday 8am-4:30pm Friday 8am-5pm.4 Our drive-thru will be closed at this time. If you have any questions, please reach out to Loretta Paniagua (970) 731-6931.

Last night our First Southwest Bank Cortez team supported our local Southwest Open School students in a #PitchCompetiton organized by Fundamental Needs & SWOS. Starting a new business venture can be one of the most challenging endeavors you can embark on, but without challenge, there can be no growth. The main objective of this course is to provide students with the knowledge and resources necessary to start and run a successful business (with a focus on uplifting their community). Students will develop their ability to speak, write, and act in a professional manner. To achieve these objectives, students will form teams, identify key issues in their community, and build venture plans to combat these inequalities. At the conclusion of this course, students will join in a shark tank-like pitch competition to launch their businesses. For additional information go to www.fundamentalneeds.net ??THE PITCHES?? ?SWOS STORE ?NIRVANA SO-BAR & Marketplace ??THE JUDGES?? ?Casey Simpson | SWOS Director ?Chris Lopez | CHFA ?Marvina Pete | First Southwest Bank ??THE SPONSORS?? ?Durango Motor Company ?Reflections In Metal ?Centennial Candle Co. ?Bronze Bliss Tanning & Waxing Studio ?Target Rental ?LOR Foundation ?Colorado Housing and Finance Authority ?First Southwest Bank Here are some photos from that event! Marina Russell Kendall Dixon-Calhoun Marvina Pete

Our Cortez First Southwest Bank Branch hosted November 2024 Business After Hours Mixer in partnership with the CORTEZ AREA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE INC. We had a blast and certainly hope those who attended did too. We had delicious food, great music, wonderful door prizes, drinks, a dance contest, and best of all intentional networking. In November First Southwest Bank celebrates the 10th year as a designated Community Development Financial Institution Fund. We invite you into any of our six branches to get to know us as your local Community Development Financial Institution Fund (CDFI) and your 2024 Colorado Small Business Administration Rural Lender of the year. Madison Gholson Kendall Dixon-Calhoun Brenna M. Marvina Pete #CDFI #Southwest #Colorado #Cortez #Durango #Pagosa #Center #Saguche #Alamosa #SBAPerferredLender #SBA2024RuralLenderOfTheYear #Loans #PersonalBanking #BusinessBanking #CommericalBanking #CommunityBank #HomeEquityLOC #10Years #FinancialLiteracy #PeopleFirst

Bringing together bright minds and innovative leaders! Senior Lending Officer, Eric Guttormson spoke at CO Impact 2024 this past Wednesday. He was able to share detailed insights on FSWB, FSWCF, and HB's impact on rural communities in southern Colorado. In attendance to support was CCO, Kristy Esquibel, CMO, Jessica Henley and Executive Director at FSWCF, Rosy McDonough. CEO, Kent Curtis also received the Who's Who in Impact Investing Award. An initiative that celebrates leaders who are making significant contributions to impact investing and driving meaningful change in their communities. Congratulations to Eric and Kent on their amazing contributions!

Two days of hope. What did you love? What would make it better? Would you recommend Impact Days 2025 (Sept 9-10, 2025) to your colleagues and friends? Are you willing to share a testimonial with us? Over 20 CO Impact Days '24 participants raised their hands to express interest in launching their own Impact Days to raise between $100 million and $1 billion in impact investment capital for their communities. Together, we stepped deeper into our identities as impact investors, embracing and experiencing the blueprint to make real change. The two days were filled with hope, laughter, and courage. #impactdays #coimpactdays24 #fullspectrumcapital #workwelovewithpeoplewelove #nationalimpactinvestingmarketplace #trustworthyimpact #impactinvesting A huge thank you to our incredible sponsors and speakers: Gloria Prioleau – Glo Knows Suneela Jain – Tides Foundation Jeanne Hegner, CFA – Impact Finance Center Lourdes Rodríguez – David Rockefeller Fund Monalisa Olarte – The Colorado Trust Erin Kilmer Neel – Beneficial State Foundation Eric Guttormson – First Southwest Bank Renee Ferrufino – The Women's Foundation of Colorado Alexis Halbert – Impact Finance Center Ken Tsunoda – Money Over Dinner Chef Daniel Asher – Ecochef Culinary ???? Lyneir Richardson – Chicago TREND Travis Coggin – Mayor of Vail Blake Jones – Namaste Solar Wendy Turman – MKT Impact Capital Michael Johnson – IllumiNative Anna Bengstom – USDA Michael Leahey Rebecca Balter Ph.D. – Triangle Community Foundation Peter Spina – Gilson Family Foundation Shaun Floerke – Duluth Superior Community Foundation Susanna Penfield – Trustworthy Impact Mark Lewis – Trailhead Capital Jared Polis – Governor of Colorado Thank you for being part of this journey and for your contributions toward creating a stronger, more impactful community. Together, we’re building the future of impact investing. Thank you for our incredible sponsors. ·??????Amalgamated Bank ·??????BPM LLP ·??????The Christensen Fund ·??????The Colorado Health Foundation ·??????The Colorado Trust ·??????Community Capital Management, LLC ·??????First Southwest Bank ·??????Gilson Family Foundation ·??????Intuitive Websites ·??????Kirkland & Ellis ·??????USDA Forest Service ·??????Veris Wealth Partners ·??????Wipfli Michael Damien Kristina Colleen Jason Stephanie