Few businesses stay in operation for 100 years, but Grand Marais State bank is an exception to that rule. In honor of that, Jim Amundson, president and CEO of the Independent Community Bankers of Minnesota presented Grand Marais State Bank President Mike LaVigne with a commemorative U.S. flag encased in glass and wood with an inscription in brass noting the occasion.
Jim Amundson, president and CEO of the Independent Community Bankers of Minnesota, traveled to Grand Marais on Monday, September 12 to present Grand Marais State Bank President Mike LaVigne with an American flag encased in wood as a way to honor the bank’s 100th anniversary.
“The mahogany wood casing was made in the veterans’ woodworking shop at the Hastings Veterans home in Hastings, Minnesota,” said Amundson.
LaVigne, who has been at Grand Marais State Bank almost 34 years, graciously accepted the award on behalf of the bank.
Amundson said the mission of the Independent Community Bankers of Minnesota is to provide members with the resources and advocacy so they can remain independent and effectively compete in the financial industry, grow their banks, and positively impact the economy in their local communities.
“One of the things that we do is to provide webinars, online training, and seminars,” Amundson said.
For a bank located in a remote location, those online training sessions and Webinars are invaluable, said LaVigne.
The award presentation was the first highlight in a weeklong celebration commemorating the bank’s 100 years of service to the community. It was followed by daily drawings for cash and ended in a Friday celebratory meal for customers.
With $94 million in local assets the bank, which is owned by the VonHoltum family of Minneapolis, the Grand Marais State Bank and its Tofte branch are poised to offer banking services to the citizens of Cook County for the next 100 years, said LaVigne.
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