First National Bank Alaska and its employees directed financial support of $1,014,750 to Alaska communities in 2019. The total includes charitable gifts, activity sponsorships and in-kind donations of time and expertise during the year.
Health, youth, educational, civic and arts organizations from all around the state were recipients of donations from First National.
As has been the case throughout the bank’s history, Alaska’s youth were at the center of First National support. The bank continued its history of contributions to organizations such as Alaska Children’s Trust, Alaska Junior Theater, Boys and Girls Club, Shriners Children Hospital, Big Brothers Big Sisters, Junior Achievement, the Boy Scouts, and Girl Scouts of Alaska.
Significant donations to Alaska Pacific University, Ilisagvik College, Alaska School Activities Association, Cook Inlet Tribal Council’s Education Innovation Fund and the University of Alaska Foundation continued the bank’s focus on secondary and higher education.
In addition to these donations and many others, bank employees volunteered hundreds of hours to assist organizations and the people they serve. First National Bank Alaska also donated thousands of dollars of gift items such as children’s toys, sporting goods, school and office supplies and clothing items.
“First National has a strong commitment to the communities we serve and all of Alaska,” said Chair and Chief Executive Officer Betsy Lawer. “This commitment has long been a part of our mission statement and the bank’s culture. These contributions are just one way we show that we believe in Alaska, as we have for nearly a century.”
Alaskan-owned and -operated since 1922, First National proudly meets the financial needs of Alaskans with ATMs and branches in 18 communities throughout the state, and by providing banking services to meet their needs across the nation and around the world. In 2019, Alaska Business readers voted the bank the “Best of Alaska Business” in the Best Place to Work category for the fourth year in a row and American Banker recognized First National as a “Best Bank to Work For” for the second year in a row. The same year, Anchorage Daily News readers voted the bank one of the state’s top three financial institutions in the ADN “Best of Alaska” Awards. First National was also recognized as the most admired company in the state by MSN.com and received the Rita Sholton Large Business of the Year Award from the Alaska Chamber.