Denver-based Native American Bank said Tuesday it has named J.D. Colbert president and chief executive.
Colbert comes to Denver from Bank2 in Oklahoma City, where he was an executive vice president overseeing relations with American Indian communities.
Bank2, which describes itself as the nation’s fastest-growing Indian- owned bank, has $85 million in assets. Colbert, who is Chickasaw-Creek, served as a consultant to the Chickasaw Nation in starting the bank.
“J.D. did a great job for us, and we are enthused that he has this opportunity,” said Ross Hill, president of Bank2. “He will make an excellent president of Native American Bank.”
Colbert founded the North American Native Bankers Association, which represents Indian-owned banks in the U.S. and Canada. He has worked as an examiner with the Federal Reserve Bank of Boston, a chief financial officer, a bank president and a tribal administrator.
Colbert replaces William Snider, interim CEO since the resignation of John Beirise last April. Beirise helped found the bank in 1999.
Native American Bank is a $63 million bank with headquarters in Denver, a retail branch in Browning, Mont., and loan-production offices in Box Elder, Mont., and Anchorage, Alaska. Twenty-four federally recognized Indian tribes, Alaska Native corporations and tribal organizations own the bank.
Staff writer Aldo Svaldi can be reached at 303-820-1410 or asvaldi@denverpost.com.
