Jeff Newgard, new president/CEO of Bank of Idaho, starts tenure with donation to College of Arts and Letters New Year’s Eve Gala

POCATELLO – The new President and CEO of Bank of Idaho, Jeff Newgard, has begun tenure with a $5,000 donation to Idaho State University’s College of Arts and Letters New Year’s Eve Gala.

The Gala is held every year to raise money for scholarships in the visual and performing arts. In its first two years, more than 40 students have received scholarships.

“We do this for the students,” Newgard said. “It gives them an opportunity to continue their education through scholarships. We have a gem in this community in ISU, and we want to be a contributing factor in their success.”

Newgard took over the reigns from former President Park Price at the beginning of July. He previously served as executive vice president and Eastern Washington Region president for HomeStreet Bank in Seattle, and president and CEO of Yakima National Bank from 2005 to 2013. Newgard graduated from Washington State University with his MBA, and later became the youngest bank CEO in Washington at age 32.

“I am a community banker at heart,” Newgard said. “As an executive I really missed community banking, and missed leading a community bank. This is what attracted me to Bank of Idaho.”

Newgard brings a philanthropic spirit and vision to his new role. Part of his mission is to link the bank directly to the community. This year the bank established a goal of donating service hours to various parts of the community. Through November, Bank of Idaho employees had donated more than 8,130 volunteer hours to the community.

“It’s one thing to open your pocketbook but it’s another thing to get shoulder to shoulder with people in the community and make a difference,” Newgard said.

Serving the community directly summarizes what Newgard’s vision is as the president and CEO of Bank of Idaho.

“If our community does well, then we do well,” Newgard said. “Our headquarters are in Southeast Idaho, and we can offer our customers a great deal, from our continued service excellence to quality banking and advice.”

Newgard plans to keep serving the communities of Southeast Idaho in different ways. Bank of Idaho currently donates to the Pocatello and Idaho Falls symphonies, the Museum of Idaho, different cultural events and the various auditoriums in the area. The bank also provides ongoing support in other areas, including local civic organizations, charitable causes, and the men and women of our military, both active and retired from service.