TULALIP, Wash. (September 30, 2025) — Native American Bank (NAB)—the first national American Indian-owned community development bank in the country—today celebrated the grand opening of its new branch in Quil Ceda Village in Tulalip, Wash., on The Tulalip Tribes Reservation.
The location offers an array of commercial and individual banking services for Native and non-native customers. It marks a strategic investment by the bank to increase its presence throughout the Pacific Northwest. Headquartered in Denver, NAB currently has a commercial lending office in Issaquah, Wash. and retail banking branches in Browning, Mont. on the Blackfeet Nation Indian Reservation and Denver.
“We are thrilled to be opening here in Snohomish County,” said Native American Bank President and CEO Tom Ogaard. “More than half of the state’s 29 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.”
The bank is deeply committed to expanding access to capital, Ogaard said. Since its founding in 2001, NAB has enabled hundreds of Native entrepreneurs and Alaska Native Corporations, tribes and their enterprises to start, grow and sustain their operations.
“We are honored to welcome Native American Bank on The Tulalip Tribes Reservation,” said Teri Gobin, Chairwoman of The Tulalip Tribes. “Their longstanding support for economic well-being and sovereignty for Tribal nations and organizations is deeply appreciated and we look forward to their success to support our future generations.”
The grand opening celebration included an opening prayer and songs from the Tulalip Canoe Family and singing from Quil Ceda Elementary School students. Representatives from U.S. Senator Patty Murray’s office, Governor Bob Ferguson’s office and state Senator Claudia Kauffman’s office were also on hand for the festivities.
“As a Nez Perce woman, Leadership Liaison to Tribal Nations, and chair of the Senate Business, Financial Services & Trade Committee, I’m thrilled to celebrate the opening of the Native American Bank’s Tulalip branch,” Sen. Kauffman said in a statement. “This milestone reflects the power of Native leadership to expand access to financial tools that honor our values and support self-determination. It’s a meaningful step toward building stronger local economies and a more resilient future for Indian Country.”
Since NAB’s inception, it has issued more than $400 million in loans to support Native entrepreneurs, tribes, Tribal Housing Authorities and Alaska Native Corporations. Approximately half of these loans were to projects located on reservation lands. Ninety-five percent of its loans are made in Indian Country.
Of its 37 shareholders, 31 are designated as tribes, tribal Enterprises or Alaska Native Corporations.