Alan Sorensen
Havre Daily News
hdn@havredailynews.com
Northwest Farm Credit Services is relocating this weekend to the new double-entry building on the southeast corner of the Holiday Village Shopping Center parking lot.
The FCS office in the 200 block of First Street West will be closed Friday for the move. FCS will reopen for business Monday at its new location.
The agricultural lender is taking up new residence for a variety of reasons, branch manager Megan Shroyer said.
“It's a good package, built to fit us, and will allow us to focus our attention on our customers,” she said.
The Havre office is part of Northwest Farm Credit Services Association, based in Spokane, Wash. The association includes FCS offices in Washington, Wyoming, Idaho and Montana.
Shroyer is joined in the Havre office by financial specialists Betty Knudson and Miranda Sather, and credit officer Bill Perry.
Knudson has been with the Havre office four years and Sather close to two. Shroyer and Perry both came to Havre in April. Shroyer has been with FCS for nine years and Perry has two years under his belt. Both are Montana natives.
Shroyer said FCS will occupy 2,000 square feet on the west side of the building. She added that she wasn't aware who would occupy the remaining 1,000 square feet on the east end. Shroyer said the owner of the new building, Randy Gans, built the building specifically with FCS in mind.
“It was a build to suit, so we had some say in how we wanted it structured because we're signing a 10-year lease,” Shroyer said. “He ultimately had the decision, but we had architects who worked with him. He worked with our Spokane office.”
Terry Schend, owner the building FCS is vacating Friday, said he has the building advertised for sale or lease.
Shroyer said FCS will continue doing business as it has for about 20 years at the old location.
“The cornerstone of the member-owned business are its farmers and ranchers, the people we deal with in agriculture,” she said.
Shroyer said Northwest Farm Credit Services Association has paid out $168 million in patronage dividends and company stock reduction to its members over the last five years.
The association also awards scholarships to members' children. That program changed this year, with the children of members' employees also qualified to apply.
“It's for the sons and daughters of customers and employees of customers,” Shroyer said. “And it doesn't matter what degree they pursue. It doesn't have to be in agriculture.”
FCS offers six $1,000 scholarships for graduating high school seniors and two $1,000 scholarships to eligible college students. The new office will open for business Monday and will hold an open house and customer appreciation day with a barbecue from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Dec. 14.
