Distinctly Montana Magazine

S U M M E R 2 0 1 9 S P E C I A L S E C T I O N • M Y M O N T A N A H O M E 81 Bank on experience. Building a home is a bit like running a small business. There are contractors and designers to hire, vendors and specifi c materials to choose and purchase, deliveries to schedule and a site to select (location, location, location!). This "business" may not earn traditional profi ts; but a quality home effi ciently built the way you want it will pay more meaningful dividends for as long as you live in it. Would you start a business without a bookkeeper or CPA? Surely not. Yet many people embarking on a home construction project forget the importance of a partner who will keep a keen eye on the financial details. "When you're building a home, you want a banker who will roll up his or her sleeves and dive in right alongside you," says Tyler Erickson, vice president at American Bank. "We make it our job to watch the bottom line so that you can keep your eyes on the prize — that dream home you've worked so hard for." American Bank fi rst opened its doors in 1947 as Livingston State Bank in the town of Livingston. Throughout its history, the family-owned bank has provided a full slate of products and services that customers in Montana need, from simple checking accounts to complex construction and business lending. Its ability to understand customer needs helped the company grow to more than 65 professionals in fi ve communities across Montana — Livingston, Big Timber, Bozeman, Big Sky and Whitefi sh. Erickson says that long-time, local experience is crucial when it comes to building a new house. "Because we've been around in our communities for so long, we know the local contractors, suppliers and inspectors you'll be working with," Erickson says. "Our goal is to make the construction process effi cient and enjoyable for everyone — because we know that's how you'll ultimately get the best work for the best price." End-to-end service. The backbone of a company like American Bank is relationships. Those relationships will matter throughout your construction process. An experienced residential construction loan team will make the process easier, saving you not just money but precious time as well. Of course, there's the complex bookkeeping of a construction process. There too, it's important to have an experienced professional on your side, from the day you approve the blueprints until fi nal inspection. As your project moves ahead, your banker is there with you checking invoices against your original budget, and confi rming that lien waivers are signed and inspections passed before fi nal bills are paid. And when your home is fi nished your banker can help with the transition to a home mortgage that is just right for you. American Bank can handle every step of the construction fi nancing process, so you can be assured that most, if not all, costs associated with your construction loan are addressed at loan origination. American Bank will help manage your loan and construction draw services in-house, which saves you money and signifi cantly shortens your to-do list. "Construction projects are complex," Erickson says. "Fortunately, your construction loan doesn't have to be." Paid Advertisement

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