First National Bank of Wyoming's Success Story Printer-Friendly PDF Version WHO First National Bank of Wyoming Laramie, WY $174 million assets Rick Melone, Senior Vice President, Chief Credit Officer WHEN 2009 - Present WHAT Having implemented Crest, First National Bank of Wyoming can now produce a wealth of actionable intelligence about its CRE loan portfolio with ease. Crest meets examiners’ expectations and is also proving its value by helping the bank stay ahead of the game in turbulent economic times. The Challenge In the early days of the current economic decline, responsible banks made proactive efforts to demonstrate to regulators that their institution’s risk management practices and procedures mitigate the inherent risk posed by concentrations of credit as outlined in the December 2006 Interagency Guidance on Commercial Real Estate Lending. Among those proactive bankers, Rick Melone, SVP and Chief Credit Officer of First National Bank of Wyoming, came to the decision that his bank needed the security and safety that only CRE loan stress testing could offer during this severe economic downturn. When the original spreadsheets and manual data processes limited the bank’s analysis, Rick chose to take his institution to the next level with smart and flexible automation software. In the process of conducting extensive research, attending industry seminars, and working very closely with the OCC, Rick acquired in-depth knowledge of the mechanics of stress testing and sought a very specific solution. He was looking for something automated, built by a third party, compatible with the bank’s current data systems, and able to produce robust CRE loan portfolio analysis all while weighing these benefits against his bank’s budget. In the end, he found CrestTM from Banker’s Toolbox, a CRE loan stress testing solution that has since earned the exclusive endorsement of the American Bankers Association (ABA). The Solution Shortly after signing the contract, First National Bank of Wyoming was able to immediately reap the benefits of automated loan stress testing with CrestTM, such as unlimited portfolio segmentation possibilities and the ability to run comprehensive stress tests with multiple variables. And since Crest streamlines the data import and maintenance process, the bank has shrunk down the amount of manual effort to its absolute minimum. “I love the ease, I love the content, and I love the information it produced,” said Melone. “It made it very easy without having to put in a lot of work.” One of the greatest benefits the bank has come to realize is the simple, easy-to-understand analysis and reporting. When it comes to interpreting the output, Rick declared, “I could give these graphs to a 10 year old and ask them to read it and it would be that easy.” Melone went on to praise the Banker’s Toolbox team for aiding the bank every step of the way. From the first reports drawn up with the assistance of the consulting team, to the end support team, in Melone’s words, “there is nothing we’ve run into so far that they couldn’t answer in a way that was both quick and efficient.” The Result Melone appreciates the fact that Crest is able to give a clear view of how the loan portfolio currently looks, and what actions he needs to take to keep the bank out of trouble. The bank sees immense value in the program, and more importantly, the bank’s regulators were pleased with the reports and even mentioned that they see great value and benefit in Crest. Having established the ideal commercial real estate loan management program, First National Bank of Wyoming is now ahead of the curve. When Melone meets other bankers at seminars who are still struggling because they can’t decide where to begin with stress testing, he has confidence that if they would take just one look at Crest, they could make up their minds. In conclusion, Rick acknowledged, “For a small community bank, I know it’s sometimes hard to bite the bullet and spend the money. But this program is well worth it for us.” About First National Bank of Wyoming A community bank with local ownership in each of the three communities in which it is located: Laramie, WY; Cheyenne, WY; and Fort Collins, CO. Chartered in 1964 and headquartered in Laramie, Wyoming, First National Bank of Wyoming provides the “service you deserve” with honest, knowledgeable and friendly personnel. Whether you need commercial or personal banking services, FNB Wyoming is there to assist you with all your banking needs. For more information, visit the company’s website at www.fcwebank.com. About Banker’s Toolbox, Inc. Austin, TX-based Banker's Toolbox, Inc. helps community financial institutions manage risk and streamline compliance examinations. The company's product suite consists of proven solutions for money laundering detection and reporting, risk management through fraud and kite prevention, secure wire processing automations, and commercial real estate loan portfolio risk assessment. The Banker's Toolbox team is a unique combination of seasoned bankers and technologists who specialize in designing, developing, and implementing risk management solutions while providing unparalleled customer service. For more information, call 888-201-2231 or visit the company’s Web site at www.bankerstoolbox.com.

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