Montana’s largest commercial real estate bank lenders differ substantially in portfolio size, property exposure and recent growth. BestCRE ranks banks headquartered in Montana by total CRE loans reported in FDIC Call Reports as of June 30, 2026. The 25 banks in the table hold $28.4 billion in CRE loans, including $5.2 billion in construction and land loans, $3.5 billion in multifamily loans, $8.4 billion in owner occupied loans and $11.3 billion in investor nonfarm nonresidential loans. These balances show each bank’s overall CRE activity, but they do not disclose individual loan terms, current underwriting decisions or property level availability.
The ranking covers Montana headquartered banks, not every institution making commercial property loans in the state. Montana has 34 headquartered banks with $28.5 billion in total CRE loans, up +4.7% year over year. The institutions at the top account for most of that balance, with the top five holding 91.3% of state headquartered bank CRE loans. Banks based elsewhere may also serve Montana through local branches, while nonbank lenders are outside FDIC Call Reports. Borrowers should therefore treat this ranking as a starting point for identifying active bank balance sheets, then compare multiple institutions based on property type, location, relationship requirements and current credit availability.
Montana banks ranked by total CRE loans
| Rank | Bank | Headquarters | Total CRE loans ($M) | Construction and land ($M) | Multifamily ($M) | Owner occupied ($M) | Change, 1 year | CRE share of loans |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Glacier Bank | Kalispell, MT | $12,859 | $2,660 | $1,076 | $3,928 | +19.2% | 60.1% |
| 2 | First Interstate Bank | Billings, MT | $8,497 | $576 | $1,848 | $2,591 | -14.4% | 59.5% |
| 3 | Stockman Bank of Montana | Miles City, MT | $3,337 | $1,232 | $256 | $409 | +12.2% | 63.6% |
| 4 | Opportunity Bank of Montana | Helena, MT | $829 | $145 | $114 | $189 | +0.7% | 52.6% |
| 5 | The Yellowstone Bank | Laurel, MT | $466 | $92.5 | $7.7 | $227 | +12.6% | 62.0% |
| 6 | Independence Bank | Havre, MT | $402 | $8.9 | $29.7 | $299 | +31.7% | 36.3% |
| 7 | TrailWest Bank | Lolo, MT | $349 | $97.0 | $42.3 | $69.0 | +16.9% | 38.9% |
| 8 | Farmers State Bank | Victor, MT | $289 | $65.0 | $22.7 | $117 | +17.8% | 54.9% |
| 9 | American Bank | Bozeman, MT | $214 | $51.7 | $23.4 | $79.8 | -8.6% | 54.1% |
| 10 | First Montana Bank, Inc. | Missoula, MT | $178 | $23.1 | $27.5 | $64.0 | -4.2% | 55.2% |
| 11 | Little Horn State Bank | Hardin, MT | $167 | $40.4 | $9.2 | $49.3 | +23.8% | 46.9% |
| 12 | Three Rivers Bank of Montana | Kalispell, MT | $114 | $29.6 | $5.4 | $54.1 | -19.5% | 46.1% |
| 13 | Bank of Bridger, N.A. | Bridger, MT | $88.9 | $15.7 | $2.2 | $54.3 | -1.8% | 22.8% |
| 14 | Bank of The Rockies | Helena, MT | $80.4 | $18.9 | $2.7 | $40.0 | +15.9% | 37.7% |
| 15 | Freedom Bank | Columbia Falls, MT | $75.5 | $17.0 | $1.3 | $30.3 | +27.4% | 54.5% |
| 16 | Madison Valley Bank | Ennis, MT | $62.7 | $16.7 | $1.4 | $22.5 | -0.5% | 48.9% |
| 17 | Valley Bank of Kalispell | Kalispell, MT | $62.4 | $25.7 | $0.0 | $22.7 | +12.5% | 41.5% |
| 18 | Manhattan Bank | Manhattan, MT | $53.2 | $16.7 | $1.4 | $12.6 | +1.4% | 32.7% |
| 19 | Valley Bank of Ronan | Ronan, MT | $47.6 | $16.9 | $0.6 | $20.9 | +10.4% | 31.6% |
| 20 | Eagle Bank | Polson, MT | $47.6 | $8.6 | $2.9 | $15.0 | +4.2% | 48.3% |
| 21 | Ascent Bank | Helena, MT | $37.9 | $4.1 | $6.0 | $17.8 | +0.7% | 45.9% |
| 22 | Citizens Bank & Trust Company | Big Timber, MT | $34.2 | $5.2 | $0.0 | $16.1 | +36.6% | 35.4% |
| 23 | Bank of Bozeman | Bozeman, MT | $34.0 | $9.5 | $0.3 | $14.2 | -0.2% | 42.8% |
| 24 | The Bank of Baker | Baker, MT | $27.0 | $4.7 | $4.9 | $13.1 | +4.0% | 30.1% |
| 25 | Belt Valley Bank | Belt, MT | $21.6 | $13.1 | $1.7 | $4.4 | +0.4% | 29.2% |
Source: FDIC Call Reports as of June 30, 2026 (schedule RC-C). Dollar figures in millions. Change, 1 year compares total CRE loans with June 30, 2025. Bank names link to each bank’s FDIC record. Table shows the top 25 of 34 banks headquartered in Montana.
Glacier Bank leads with $12.9 billion in CRE loans and +19.2% year over year growth, followed by First Interstate Bank with $8.5 billion and a -14.4% change. Stockman Bank of Montana ranks third with $3.3 billion and +12.2% growth. Their portfolios also have different mixes. Glacier Bank reports $5.2 billion in investor nonfarm nonresidential loans, while First Interstate Bank reports $1.8 billion in multifamily loans. Stockman Bank of Montana carries $1.2 billion in construction and land loans. Concentration is substantial at each leader: CRE represents 60.1% of loans at Glacier Bank, 59.5% at First Interstate Bank and 63.6% at Stockman Bank of Montana. Stockman’s 3.88x investor CRE to equity ratio is high relative to the other banks in the table. Among smaller institutions, Citizens Bank & Trust Company posted +36.6% growth, while Independence Bank posted +31.7%.
Out of state banks with branches in Montana
| Bank | Headquarters state | Branches in Montana | Deposits in Montana ($M) | Total CRE loans, all states ($M) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. | South Dakota | 21 | $3,288 | $121,623 |
| U.S. Bank, N.A. | Ohio | 17 | $3,190 | $50,718 |
| Citizens Alliance Bank | Minnesota | 7 | $362 | $434 |
| Bravera Bank | North Dakota | 7 | $272 | $903 |
| JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. | Ohio | 4 | $143 | $179,847 |
| The Bank of Commerce | Idaho | 1 | $132 | $942 |
| Merchants Bank | North Dakota | 1 | $41.1 | $7.3 |
| First Federal Bank & Trust | Wyoming | 1 | $39.3 | $208 |
| Native American Bank, N.A. | Colorado | 1 | $32.2 | $50.0 |
| Unity Bank | Wisconsin | 1 | $22.9 | $209 |
| First Western Trust Bank | Colorado | 1 | $22.8 | $1,182 |
| Summit National Bank | Wyoming | 1 | $13.4 | $6.8 |
Source: FDIC Summary of Deposits 2026. Deposits and branches are for Montana only; CRE loans are bank wide.
Portfolio size provides a practical starting point for a loan search
A large CRE portfolio can indicate appetite and capacity to hold commercial property loans, although it does not establish that a bank will approve a particular request. Borrowers can begin with total CRE loans, then review the categories that most closely match the proposed collateral. Glacier Bank’s $12.9 billion portfolio, First Interstate Bank’s $8.5 billion portfolio and Stockman Bank of Montana’s $3.3 billion portfolio place them at the top of the Montana headquartered ranking. A smaller bank may still be relevant when its reported mix aligns more closely with the requested property type.
Growth adds another useful signal. A positive year over year change shows that a bank added net CRE balances, while a negative change shows that its reported portfolio contracted. Neither result reveals the cause or predicts the next credit decision. Concentration can also affect selectivity because a bank with substantial CRE exposure may manage new commitments carefully. Bank lending remains relationship driven and local, so borrowers should contact several institutions, describe the property and requested structure consistently, and ask whether the opportunity fits current lending capacity.
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The category balances show where each bank’s existing CRE exposure is concentrated. Glacier Bank reports $2.7 billion in construction and land loans, $1.1 billion in multifamily loans, $3.9 billion in owner occupied loans and $5.2 billion in investor nonfarm nonresidential loans. First Interstate Bank has the largest reported multifamily balance in the table at $1.8 billion, alongside $2.6 billion in owner occupied loans and $3.5 billion in investor nonfarm nonresidential loans. Stockman Bank of Montana stands out for its $1.2 billion construction and land portfolio.
The mix is different among smaller banks. Independence Bank reports $299.4 million of its $401.9 million CRE portfolio in owner occupied loans. The Yellowstone Bank reports $227.1 million in owner occupied loans within a $466.0 million portfolio. Concentration measures provide another comparison. Stockman Bank of Montana’s investor CRE to equity ratio is 3.88x, compared with 0.61x at Independence Bank and 0.50x at Bank of Bridger, N.A. These figures describe relative balance sheet exposure, not available proceeds or approval standards.
Montana borrowers can compare local banks with additional capital sources
Banks headquartered outside Montana also operate local branches and are not included in the ranked table. Wells Fargo Bank, N.A., headquartered in South Dakota, has 21 Montana branches and $3.3 billion in deposits in the state. U.S. Bank, N.A., headquartered in Ohio, has 17 branches and $3.2 billion in Montana deposits. Their total CRE portfolios across all states are $121.6 billion and $50.7 billion, respectively. Citizens Alliance Bank and Bravera Bank each have 7 Montana branches, with $361.9 million and $271.8 million in state deposits.
Borrowers may also compare banks with debt funds, life companies, CMBS lenders, agency lenders and SBA lenders. These nonbank sources do not appear in bank call reports, so this ranking cannot measure their activity or availability. Comparing several sources matters because lender type, property category, requested proceeds and relationship considerations can affect which institutions will evaluate a transaction. The FDIC data provides a consistent view of bank portfolio size and mix, while direct lender discussions are needed to establish current interest, structure and execution requirements.
Frequently Asked Questions
What data does BestCRE use to rank Montana commercial real estate lenders?
BestCRE uses FDIC Call Reports, formally called Reports of Condition and Income, with CRE balances drawn from schedule RC-C as of June 30, 2026. Branch and deposit information comes from the FDIC Summary of Deposits 2026. Banks are ordered by total commercial real estate loans, which combine construction and land, multifamily, owner occupied, and investor nonfarm nonresidential balances. The table contains 25 Montana headquartered banks with $28.4 billion in combined CRE loans. It measures reported bank portfolios, not loan quotes, commitments or approvals.
Why are Wells Fargo and U.S. Bank not in the Montana ranking?
The ranked table is limited to banks headquartered in Montana. Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. is headquartered in South Dakota, while U.S. Bank, N.A. is headquartered in Ohio, so neither appears in the ranking even though both maintain Montana branches. Wells Fargo has 21 branches and $3.3 billion in deposits in the state. U.S. Bank has 17 branches and $3.2 billion in state deposits. Their reported total CRE loans across all states are $121.6 billion and $50.7 billion, respectively.
Which Montana bank has the largest commercial real estate portfolio?
Glacier Bank ranks first with $12.9 billion in total CRE loans as of June 30, 2026. Its portfolio includes $2.7 billion in construction and land loans, $1.1 billion in multifamily loans, $3.9 billion in owner occupied loans and $5.2 billion in investor nonfarm nonresidential loans. CRE accounts for 60.1% of its total loans, and its portfolio increased +19.2% year over year. Glacier Bank also holds national rank 38 among the 4,167 banks covered by the broader FDIC analysis.
Which Montana banks reported the strongest CRE loan growth?
Citizens Bank & Trust Company recorded the highest year over year change in the ranked table at +36.6%, bringing its total CRE loans to $34.2 million. Independence Bank followed with +31.7% growth and a $401.9 million portfolio. Freedom Bank reported +27.4%, while Little Horn State Bank reported +23.8%. Glacier Bank combined substantial scale with +19.2% growth on $12.9 billion in CRE loans. Growth reflects the change in reported balances and does not show the reason for the change or indicate future lending availability.
How current are the market rates shown on the page?
The benchmark rates are dated Oct 26, 2026, which is later than the June 30, 2026 bank portfolio date. The displayed benchmarks are a 7.00% Prime rate, 3.89% SOFR, 4.78% 5 year Treasury, 4.96% 10 year Treasury and 3.88% Fed funds rate. These figures provide market context only. They are not bank loan quotes and do not describe any ranked institution’s pricing. Actual borrowing costs and structures require direct discussions with lenders because FDIC Call Reports disclose portfolio balances rather than transaction level terms.
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BestCRE rankings are editorially independent and built only from public regulatory filings; no bank pays for placement. Call report figures describe loans held on each bank’s balance sheet and do not show loan terms, rates or current appetite. BestCRE is not a lender and does not make loans. Benchmark rates are informational, not quotes. See our Legal Disclaimer and Compensation Disclosure.