Putting “Community” in Community Bank

Northrim continues legacy of support with matching grants, record giving, volunteerism

Northrim Bank marked its 35th anniversary last December, celebrating its evolution from a humble trailer in a midtown Anchorage parking lot to a full-service financial institution with 21 branches across Alaska, more than 500 team members and over $3 billion in assets. As Northrim has grown, so has its investment in the communities it serves.

“Our financial results are more than numbers on a page for Northrim—they increase the Bank’s ability to reinvest in Alaska through lending partnerships and community support,” said Jason Criqui, Chief Banking Officer. “Deposits gathered in Alaska help fund loans in Alaska, including for local businesses, housing and community projects. Those projects create jobs, expand services and increase the local property tax base that communities rely on to operate and grow.”

In 2025, as the Bank achieved record profitability, it also set a record for community contributions, giving more than $1.7 million to organizations across Alaska—its third consecutive year of giving above $1 million. Northrim’s long-standing giving priorities remain focused on economic development, community reinvestment, higher education, and health and wellness, while the Bank continues to expand support for areas that matter most to its customers and communities, including Alaska Native initiatives and affordable housing.

Among Northrim’s 2025 contributions were $150,000 to the University of Alaska Foundation’s Langland Northrim Alaskan Leadership Endowment in honor of Chairman Joe Schierhorn’s retirement, disaster relief support following Typhoon Halong’s impact in Western Alaska, and a $300,000 commitment to the Troth Yeddha’ Indigenous Studies Center at the University of Alaska Fairbanks, helping advance the project toward its $10 million match challenge.

Northrim employees also gave generously through the annual United Way campaign, raising more than $176,000 for communities across the state last year. That total includes direct employee donations as well as Northrim’s 50 percent match for employee gifts to United Way.

Beyond financial contributions, Northrim employees also give back through service. In 2025, team members contributed more than 4,100 volunteer hours to 110 organizations, while also serving on nonprofit boards and in leadership roles statewide.

“Northrim employees are dedicated to supporting their local communities and their commitment to volunteering shows that dedication,” said Mike Huston, Northrim Bank President and CEO. “From youth programs and food security to education and economic development, Northrim’s people bring their expertise and energy to the communities they call home.”

That momentum continued into the first quarter of 2026, when Northrim partnered with the Federal Home Loan Bank of Des Moines (FHLB Des Moines) to deliver $700,000 in grants to a wide range of Alaska nonprofit and government organizations focused on community development and affordable housing.

The funding was made possible through the FHLB Des Moines Member Impact Fund, a matching grant program that amplifies the charitable giving of member institutions by providing $2.50 for every $1 contributed. In 2026, the grant program awarded more than $12.9 million, funding 497 applications in Alaska, South Dakota, Guam and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands.

“By partnering with our members, we are able to multiply the generosity of local financial institutions and deliver real, visible impact to families and communities across our district,” said Kris Williams, President and CEO of FHLB Des Moines. “We are honored to stand alongside our members in supporting the organizations that make our communities stronger every day.”

As an FHLB Des Moines member institution, Northrim provided $200,000 to 31 nonprofit organizations throughout Alaska, which FHLB Des Moines matched for a total of $700,000. The grants Northrim helped secure will support organizations in Southcentral, Southeast and Interior Alaska, benefiting efforts related to affordable housing, food security, homelessness and other community development needs.

“Northrim’s commitment to Superior Customer First Service extends to serving the community—from the financial resources of the Bank to the time and talents of its employees,” Huston said. “As throughout our history, we will continue to support local communities and work with our customers to ensure that Alaskans thrive.”