History

Discover why so many individuals and businesses choose The Bank of Star Valley and enjoy the personal attention only your hometown, locally owned and managed, bank can provide to you.

Star Valley has prospered over the past 116 years with the support of strong, local banks who know the great people and the area. This proud banking history began around 1907 with Freedom State Bank and Afton State Bank, who later merged to become Star Valley State Bank. When Star Valley State Bank merged with an out-of-area institution in 1994, Star Valley was left only with bank branches owned, operated, and headquartered by bank managers hundreds of miles away. These branches' decisions were influenced by the goals and objectives of management and shareholders outside the area, not by the real needs of the Star Valley citizens and businesses.

In 1994, a group of citizens decided a locally owned and managed community bank remained essential for Star Valley's businesses and citizens to continue to prosper. Over 140 individuals came together, pooled their hard-earned funds, and set out to charter a new community bank, The Bank of Star Valley. The Bank of Star Valley opened its doors to the Star Valley community on March 28, 1996. The vision and demands of the Bank's founders were to restore the long tradition of home-town banking, strong local market knowledge, a local decision-making process, and to provide a focus on each customer through exceptional customer service, honesty, confidentiality, and professionalism.

The Bank of Star Valley has received support from the great communities it serves. Over the past 26 years, it has grown from $2 million in assets to over $360 million. The Bank has three full-service branches throughout Star Valley (Alpine, Thayne, and Afton), and an ATM network that provides customers with national access to their funds. In an era of “bigger is better,” mergers, and mega banks, and social engineering The Bank of Star Valley continues to show that a commitment to ever-improving service, use of technology to enhance on-line services, and a long Wyoming tradition of neighbors helping neighbors is alive and well.

The Bank of Star Valley is a strong financial supporter and active citizen of the Star Valley community. Bank staff and their families take pride in being involved in various community affairs, ranging from the arts to student programs, community organizations and economic development.

The Bank of Star Valley proudly carries a 5-star rating from Bauer Financial, Inc., the highest rating Bauer Financial issues to financial institutions.

In providing convenience, experience and financial strength, the Bank of Star Valley stives to offer its customers the finest in personal service, listen carefully to your needs, customize our services to better serve you, and provide quick response to your requests and concerns. Further, our decisions are based on traditional banking principles, and not the latest social fads.

We invite you to give us a chance and see for yourself that banking with the Bank of Star Valley is a better way to bank.