ANCHORAGE, AK – First National Bank Alaska welcomes Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act (ANCSA) Regional Association President Kim Reitmeier and Helio Alaska, Inc. Co-founder/CEO Lukas Stutzer as the newest additions to the bank’s Board of Directors. Reitmeier and Stutzer join Board Chair and CEO/President Betsy Lawer, Vice Chair Lucy Mahan, Adm. Tom Barrett, John Binkley, Perry Eaton, Darren Franz, Jane Klopfer, Doug Longacre, Pat Pitney, Tom Tougas and Janet Weiss on the board.
“I’m pleased to announce that Kim and Lukas have joined First National’s Board of Directors. They both share our commitment to shaping a brighter tomorrow for all Alaskans,” said Board Chair and CEO/President Betsy Lawer.
“Kim provides the kind of leadership and resilience that are essential to the bank’s mission. Her vision for Alaska’s future promises to reinforce First National’s positive impact on the communities we serve. Lukas’ solid foundation in aviation and business development will be of great benefit in board decision-making and his genuine passion for empowering Alaska’s youth aligns well with First National’s community support. Together, Kim and Lukas’ unique skills will strengthen our mission to support local businesses and promote sustainable growth in the Great Land.”
Reitmeier is a leading advocate for Alaska Native people and communities. As President of the ANCSA Regional Association, she promotes growth and economic strength for Alaska Native corporations, making education, advocacy and collaboration cornerstones of the organization’s work. Reitmeier was a recipient of the Alaska Journal of Commerce’sTop Forty Under 40 award, the YWCA Women of Achievement Award and was inducted into the Anchorage ATHENA Society. She serves on the Alaska Community Foundation and the Alaska Chamber boards.
Stutzer, a fourth-generation Alaskan, has revitalized the production of the Helio Courier aircraft while overseeing operations, strategic planning and regulatory compliance for Helio Alaska, Inc. Committed to fostering educational opportunities in aviation, Stutzer co-founded High School to Flight School, a nonprofit initiative dedicated to providing scholarships to local students aspiring to enter the aviation field. He is also committed to fostering community-focused business growth for Alaska small businesses.
Alaska’s community bank since 1922, First National Bank Alaska proudly meets the financial needs of Alaskans with ATMs and 28 locations in 19 communities throughout the state, and by providing banking services to meet their needs across the nation and around the world.
In 2024, Alaska Business readers voted First National “Best of Alaska Business” in the Best Place to Work category for the ninth year in a row, Best Bank/Credit Union for the fourth time running, and Best Customer Service. The bank was also voted “Best of Alaska” in 2024 in the Anchorage Daily News awards, ranking as one of the top three in the Bank/Financial category for the sixth year in a row. American Banker again recognized First National as a “Best Bank to Work For” in 2024, for the seventh consecutive year.
For more than a century, the bank has been committed to supporting the communities it serves. In 2024, for the eighth consecutive reporting period, over a span of twenty-four years, First National received an Outstanding Community Reinvestment Act performance rating from the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency. Our dedicated team strives to provide exceptional customer service to meet the banking needs of our fellow Alaskans to help shape a brighter tomorrow.
First National Bank Alaska is a Member FDIC, Equal Housing Lender, and recognized as a Minority Depository Institution by the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency, as it is majority-owned by women.