By Micheal Rios, Tulalip News
What unfolded during the afternoon of July 31st outside Native American Bank looked less like a customer appreciation event and much more like a neighborhood celebration. Children bouncing inside an inflatable playhouse mixed with the cheers of teenagers trying to dunk willing volunteers into a tank of water. Families carried containers filled with Tulalip-inspired deliciousness while others cooled off with popsicles under the summer sun.
From 12p.m. to 3p.m., the Tulalip-located bank branch hosted its first annual membership gathering. They invited Tulalip tribal members, customers, and the surrounding community to enjoy an afternoon filled with food, games, and giveaways. Less than a year after opening its doors on the Reservation, the bank used the occasion to thank the community for welcoming it to Tulalip while continuing to strengthen the relationships that have become central to its mission.
Inside and outside the branch, tables overflowed with complimentary tote bags, notebooks, pens, and other Native American Bank gifts that visitors happily carried home.
The celebration also highlighted local businesses. Tulalip owned food truck Ryan’s Rez- ipes served free lunches throughout the afternoon, drawing a steady line of hungry guests. Once lunch wrapped up, Michael Pablo Jr’s ice cream truck became the next popular stop as families enjoyed frozen treats while visiting with friends and neighbors.
“This is the first annual customer appreciation day here at our Tulalip branch. It’s also a celebration of Native American Bank’s 25th anniversary,” said branch supervisor Raychell Williams (Upper Skagit). “We are extremely mission driven in each of our communities, and so in planning this event we were intentional about having community representation as involved as possible. Having two Tulalip food vendors not only adds to the welcoming environment, but also allows us to support local small businesses as well.”
The afternoon reflected the same vision Native American Bank shared when it officially opened its Tulalip branch last October. Founded in 2001 by Tribal Nations and Alaska Native corporations, Native American Bank was created to provide financial services designed specifically for Indian Country.
Today, the Native owned Community Development Financial Institution works with tribal governments, Native businesses, housing authorities, nonprofit organizations, and individual customers across the country. Its mission has always centered on supporting tribal sovereignty and expanding economic opportunity in Native communities.
When the Tulalip branch opened, Native American Bank President and CEO Tom Ogaard spoke about why establishing a permanent presence in western Washington was an important milestone for the institution.
“We are thrilled to be opening here in Snohomish County,” Ogaard said. “Nearly half of Washington’s federally recognized tribes are located in the Puget Sound region. Our physical presence here allows us to develop the relationships that are so important in Indian Country.”
Those relationships were evident throughout Friday’s celebration. Instead of focusing solely on financial services, bank employees spent the afternoon greeting customers by name, visiting with families, handing out prizes, and enjoying the festivities alongside the community. Conversations about checking accounts and business lending naturally blended into stories about family, upcoming community events, and shared experiences.
The Friday membership celebration demonstrated that vision in a way that did not involve paperwork or financial transactions. “I’m so happy to be here. I opened an account here soon after they opened because I wanted to support a business that works diligently to support Indigenous communities,” shared a local tribal elder. “The staff here are very personable and have never made me feel like just another number. In fact, when I opened my account they took the time to sit with me and show me how to install their banking app and connect my info. That may seem trivial, but to someone like me who isn’t tech savvy at all, it meant everything”
As the afternoon came to a close and families headed home with full stomachs and carrying giveaways items, the first annual membership appreciation day accomplished something that cannot be measured on a balance sheet. It strengthened the connection between Native American Bank and the community it came to serve.
Less than a year after opening its Tulalip branch, the bank continues to show that its greatest investment is the trust it is building with people.