Edgar Filing: FIRST INTERSTATE BANCSYSTEM INC

e10vq

UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM 10-Q


þ		Quarterly report pursuant to section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

For the quarterly period ended September 30, 2010


o		Transition report pursuant to section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

For the transition period from to

COMMISSION FILE NUMBER 001-34653

First Interstate BancSystem, Inc.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)


Montana		81-0331430

(State or other jurisdiction of		(IRS Employer
incorporation or organization)		Identification No.)


401 North 31st Street, Billings,MT		59116-0918

(Address of principal executive offices)		(Zip Code)

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: 406/255-5390

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.

Yes þ No o

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate Web site, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files.)

Yes o No o

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, or a smaller reporting company. See definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer” and “smaller reporting company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.


Large accelerated filer o	Accelerated filer o	Non-accelerated filer þ	Smaller reporting company o
		(Do not check if a smaller reporting company)

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act).

Yes o No þ

Indicate the number of shares outstanding of each of the Registrant’s classes of common stock:


	September 30, 2010 — Class A common stock			15,308,712
	September 30, 2010 — Class B common stock			27,489,328

FIRST INTERSTATE BANCSYSTEM, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q


Index	Page
Part I. Financial Information

Item 1 — Financial Statements (unaudited)

Consolidated Balance Sheets September 30, 2010 and December 31, 2009		3

Consolidated Statements of Income Three and nine months ended September 30, 2010 and 2009		4

Consolidated Statements of Changes in Stockholders’ Equity Nine months ended September 30, 2010 and 2009		5

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows Nine months ended September 30, 2010 and 2009		6

Notes to Unaudited Consolidated Financial Statements		8

Item 2 — Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations		19

Item 3 — Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk		35

Item 4T — Controls and Procedures		36

Part II. Other Information

Item 1 — Legal Proceedings		36

Item 1A — Risk Factors		36

Item 2 — Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds		36

Item 3 — Defaults Upon Senior Securities		36

Item 4 — (Removed and Reserved)		36

Item 5 — Other Information		36

Item 6 — Exhibits		37

Signatures		39
EX-10.6
EX-10.9
EX-31.1
EX-31.2
EX-32

FIRST INTERSTATE BANCSYSTEM, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

Consolidated Balance Sheets

(In thousands, except share data)

(Unaudited)


	September 30,		December 31,
	2010		2009
Assets
Cash and due from banks	$	124,933	$	213,029
Federal funds sold		774		11,474
Interest bearing deposits in banks		416,648		398,979

Total cash and cash equivalents		542,355		623,482

Investment securities:
Available-for-sale		1,692,426		1,316,429
Held-to-maturity (estimated fair values of $141,543 as of September 30, 2010 and $130,855 as of December 31, 2009)		136,998		129,851

Total investment securities		1,829,424		1,446,280

Loans		4,452,387		4,528,004
Less allowance for loan losses		120,236		103,030

Net loans		4,332,151		4,424,974

Premises and equipment, net		192,021		196,307
Goodwill		183,673		183,673
Company-owned life insurance		72,867		71,374
Other real estate owned (“OREO”)		35,296		38,400
Accrued interest receivable		37,251		37,123
Mortgage servicing rights, net of accumulated amortization and impairment reserve		14,505		17,325
Core deposit intangibles, net of accumulated amortization		9,235		10,551
Other assets		80,423		88,164

Total assets	$	7,329,201	$	7,137,653

Liabilities and Stockholders’ Equity
Deposits:
Non-interest bearing	$	1,098,375	$	1,026,584
Interest bearing		4,803,806		4,797,472

Total deposits		5,902,181		5,824,056

Securities sold under repurchase agreements		455,861		474,141
Accounts payable and accrued expenses		44,313		44,946
Accrued interest payable		15,241		17,585
Other borrowed funds		5,674		5,423
Long-term debt		37,513		73,353
Subordinated debentures held by subsidiary trusts		123,715		123,715

Total liabilities		6,584,498		6,563,219

Stockholders’ equity:
Nonvoting noncumulative preferred stock without par value; authorized 100,000 shares; issued and outstanding 5,000 shares as of September 30, 2010 and December 31, 2009		50,000		50,000
Common stock		263,719		112,135
Retained earnings		408,036		397,224
Accumulated other comprehensive income, net		22,948		15,075

Total stockholders’ equity		744,703		574,434

Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity	$	7,329,201	$	7,137,653

See accompanying notes to unaudited consolidated financial statements.

FIRST INTERSTATE BANCSYSTEM, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

Consolidated Statements of Income

(In thousands, except per share data)

(Unaudited)


	For the three months				For the nine months
	ended September 30,				ended September 30,
	2010		2009		2010		2009

Interest income:
Interest and fees on loans	$	67,033	$	70,335	$	201,428	$	210,108
Interest and dividends on investment securities:
Taxable		10,540		10,430		32,673		30,651
Exempt from federal taxes		1,137		1,304		3,476		4,085
Interest on deposits in banks		252		200		733		292
Interest on federal funds sold		3		56		21		220

Total interest income		78,965		82,325		238,331		245,356

Interest expense:
Interest on deposits		12,973		18,206		42,747		56,639
Interest on federal funds purchased		—		10		—		20
Interest on securities sold under repurchase agreements		209		179		632		597
Interest on other borrowed funds		1		369		3		1,345
Interest on long-term debt		512		760		1,940		2,399
Interest on subordinated debentures held by subsidiary trusts		1,526		1,502		4,420		4,804

Total interest expense		15,221		21,026		49,742		65,804

Net interest income		63,744		61,299		188,589		179,552
Provision for loan losses		18,000		10,500		49,400		31,800

Net interest income after provision for loan losses		45,744		50,799		139,189		147,752

Non-interest income:
Other service charges, commissions and fees		7,821		8,056		22,073		21,623
Service charges on deposit accounts		4,497		5,436		13,854		15,285
Income from origination and sale of loans		7,355		5,090		14,841		25,682
Wealth management revenues		3,091		2,741		9,304		7,927
Investment securities gains, net		66		74		108		126
Other income		2,025		3,603		5,220		7,837

Total non-interest income		24,855		25,000		65,400		78,480

Non-interest expense:
Salaries, wages and employee benefits		27,994		28,035		83,451		85,589
Occupancy, net		3,939		3,914		12,044		11,656
Furniture and equipment		3,411		2,993		10,108		9,016
FDIC insurance premiums		2,337		2,377		7,460		9,741
Outsourced technology services		2,402		2,334		7,100		8,288
OREO expense, net of income		2,608		5,160		6,129		6,079
Mortgage servicing rights amortization		1,221		1,277		3,469		6,344
Mortgage servicing rights impairment (recovery)		1,991		296		2,212		(6,969	)
Core deposit intangibles amortization		437		530		1,316		1,600
Other expenses		11,670		10,460		32,892		31,214

Total non-interest expense		58,010		57,376		166,181		162,558

Income before income tax expense		12,589		18,423		38,408		63,674
Income tax expense		3,860		6,105		11,890		21,332

Net income		8,729		12,318		26,518		42,342
Preferred stock dividends		862		862		2,559		2,559

Net income available to common stockholders	$	7,867	$	11,456	$	23,959	$	39,783

Basic earnings per common share	$	0.18	$	0.37	$	0.61	$	1.27

Diluted earnings per common share	$	0.18	$	0.36	$	0.61	$	1.25

See accompanying notes to unaudited consolidated financial statements.

FIRST INTERSTATE BANCSYSTEM, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

Consolidated Statements of Changes in Stockholders’ Equity

(In thousands, except share and per share data)

(Unaudited)


									Accumulated
									other		Total
	Preferred		Common			Retained			comprehensive		stockholders’
	stock		stock			earnings			income		equity

Balance at December 31, 2009	$	50,000	$	112,135		$	397,224		$	15,075	$	574,434
Comprehensive income:
Net income		—		—			26,518			—		26,518
Other comprehensive income, net of tax		—		—			—			7,873		7,873

Total comprehensive income												34,391

Common stock transactions:
246,596 common shares purchased and retired		—		(3,699	)		—			—		(3,699	)
11,506,503 common shares issued		—		153,120			—			—		153,120
117,140 non-vested common shares issued		—		—			—			—		—
14,724 non-vested common shares forfeited		—		(80	)		—			—		(80	)
Non-vested common shares vesting during period		—		59			—			—		59
86,129 stock options exercised, net of 69,363 shares tendered in payment of option price and income tax withholding amounts		—		650			—			—		650
Tax benefit of stock-based compensation		—		234			—			—		234
Stock-based compensation expense		—		1,300			—			—		1,300
Cash dividends declared:
Common ($0.3375 per share)		—		—			(13,147	)		—		(13,147	)
Preferred (6.75% per share)		—		—			(2,559	)		—		(2,559	)

Balance at September 30, 2010	$	50,000	$	263,719		$	408,036		$	22,948	$	744,703


Balance at December 31, 2008	$	50,000	$	117,613		$	362,477		$	8,972	$	539,062
Comprehensive income:
Net income		—		—			42,342			—		42,342
Other comprehensive income, net of tax		—		—			—			8,304		8,304

Total comprehensive income												50,646

Common stock transactions:
545,428 common shares purchased and retired		—		(9,555	)		—			—		(9,555	)
254,156 common shares issued		—		3,813			—			—		3,813
64,136 non-vested common shares issued		—		—			—			—		—
114,052 stock options exercised, net of 163,924 shares tendered in payment of option price and income tax withholding amounts		—		77			—			—		77
Tax benefit of stock-based compensation		—		725			—			—		725
Stock-based compensation expense		—		640			—			—		640
Cash dividends declared:
Common ($0.3875 per share)		—		—			(12,165	)		—		(12,165	)
Preferred (6.75%)		—		—			(2,559	)		—		(2,559	)

Balance at September 30, 2009	$	50,000	$	113,313		$	390,095		$	17,276	$	570,684

See accompanying notes to unaudited consolidated financial statements.

FIRST INTERSTATE BANCSYSTEM, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows
(In thousands)
(Unaudited)


	For the nine months
	ended September 30,
	2010			2009
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net income	$	26,518		$	42,342
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Provision for loan losses		49,400			31,800
Net loss on disposal of property and equipment		408			44
Depreciation and amortization		15,172			17,078
Net premium amortization on investment securities		4,103			638
Net gains on investment securities transactions		(108	)		(126	)
Net gains on sales of loans held for sale		(9,561	)		(15,151	)
Net gain on sale of student loan portfolio		(249	)		—
Net impairment (recovery) on mortgage servicing rights		2,212			(6,969	)
Write-down of other real estate owned, premises and equipment and investments		5,643			5,705
Loss on early extinguishment of debt		306			—
Net increase in cash surrender value of company-owned life insurance policies		(1,493	)		(1,233	)
Stock-based compensation expense		1,287			741
Tax benefits from stock-based compensation expense		234			746
Excess tax benefits from stock-based compensation		(220	)		(704	)
Deferred income taxes		(2,981	)		4,194
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
(Increase) decrease in loans held for sale		(10,591	)		19,884
Increase in interest receivable		(128	)		(48	)
Decrease (increase) in other assets		7,266			(3,489	)
Decrease in accrued interest payable		(2,344	)		(1,386	)
Decrease in accounts payable and accrued expenses		(2,941	)		(1,723	)

Net cash provided by operating activities		81,933			92,343


Cash flows from investing activities:
Purchases of investment securities:
Held-to-maturity		(19,339	)		(6,550	)
Available-for-sale		(972,742	)		(591,026	)
Proceeds from maturities and paydowns of investment securities:
Held-to-maturity		11,482			13,959
Available-for-sale		606,461			370,563
Proceeds from sales of mortgage servicing rights		597			—
Purchases of mortgage servicing rights		—			(8	)
Proceeds from sale of student loan portfolio		24,829			—
Extensions of credit to customers, net of repayments		16,832			97,896
Recoveries of loans charged-off		2,100			1,817
Proceeds from sales of OREO		15,640			4,677
Capital expenditures, net of sales		(7,761	)		(30,294	)

Net cash (used in) provided by investing activities		(321,901	)		(138,966	)

FIRST INTERSTATE BANCSYSTEM, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (continued)
(In thousands)
(Unaudited)


	For the nine months
	ended September 30,
	2010			2009
Cash flows from financing activities:
Net increase in deposits	$	78,125		$	508,871
Net decrease in federal funds purchased		—			(30,625	)
Net decrease in repurchase agreements		(18,280	)		(134,165	)
Net increase (decrease) in other borrowed funds		251			(73,450	)
Repayments of long-term debt		(35,840	)		(6,657	)
Common stock issuance costs		(13,733	)		—
Proceeds from issuance of common stock		167,503			4,636
Excess tax benefits from stock-based compensation		220			704
Purchase and retirement of common stock		(3,699	)		(9,555	)
Dividends paid on preferred stock		(2,559	)		(2,559	)
Dividends paid on common stock		(13,147	)		(12,165	)

Net cash provided by financing activities		158,841			245,035

Net (decrease) increase in cash and cash equivalents		(81,127	)		198,412
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period		623,482			314,030

Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	$	542,355		$	512,442


Supplemental disclosures of cash flow information:
Cash paid during the period for income taxes	$	15,300		$	23,357
Cash paid during the period for interest expense	$	52,086		$	67,190

See accompanying notes to unaudited consolidated financial statements.

FIRST INTERSTATE BANCSYSTEM, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

Notes to Unaudited Consolidated Financial Statements
(In thousands, except share and per share data)

(1)

Basis of Presentation

In the opinion of management, the accompanying unaudited consolidated financial statements of First Interstate BancSystem, Inc. (the “Parent Company” or “FIBS”) and subsidiaries (the “Company”) contain all adjustments (all of which are of a normal recurring nature) necessary to present fairly the financial position of the Company at September 30, 2010 and December 31, 2009, the results of operations for each of the three and nine month periods ended September 30, 2010 and 2009 and cash flows for the nine months ended September 30, 2010 and 2009, in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”). The balance sheet information at December 31, 2009 is derived from audited consolidated financial statements. Certain reclassifications, none of which were material, have been made to conform prior year financial statements to the September 30, 2010 presentation. These reclassifications did not change previously reported net income or stockholders’ equity.

These consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with the audited consolidated financial statements and related notes included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2009. Operating results for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2010 are not necessarily indicative of the results that may be expected for the year ending December 31, 2010.

On March 5, 2010, the Company’s shareholders approved proposals to recapitalize the Company’s existing common stock. The recapitalization included, among other things, a redesignation of existing common stock as Class B common stock; a four-for-one stock split of the Class B common stock; and, the creation of a new class of common stock designated as Class A common stock. All share and per share information included in the accompanying consolidated financial statements, including the notes thereto, has been adjusted to give effect to the recapitalization of the common stock, including the four-for-one stock split of Class B common stock, as if the recapitalization had occurred on January 1, 2009, the earliest date presented. For additional information regarding the recapitalization, see “Note 5 — Common Stock.”

(2)

Investment Securities

The amortized cost and approximate fair values of investment securities are summarized as follows:


			Gross		Gross			Estimated
Available-for-Sale	Amortized		Unrealized		Unrealized			Fair
September 30, 2010	Cost		Gains		Losses			Value
Obligations of U.S. government agencies	$	885,542	$	5,273	$	—		$	890,815
Residential mortgage-backed securities		767,612		32,835		(1	)		800,446
Private mortgage-backed securities		1,168		13		(16	)		1,165

Total	$	1,654,322	$	38,121	$	(17	)	$	1,692,426


			Gross		Gross			Estimated
Held-to-Maturity	Amortized		Unrealized		Unrealized			Fair
September 30, 2010	Cost		Gains		Losses			Value
State, county and municipal securities	$	136,710	$	4,634	$	(89	)	$	141,255
Other securities		288		—		—			288

Total	$	136,998	$	4,634	$	(89	)	$	141,543

FIRST INTERSTATE BANCSYSTEM, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
Notes to Unaudited Consolidated Financial Statements
(In thousands, except share and per share data)


			Gross		Gross			Estimated
Available-for-Sale	Amortized		Unrealized		Unrealized			Fair
December 31, 2009	Cost		Gains		Losses			Value
Obligations of U.S. government agencies	$	568,705	$	4,207	$	(1,466	)	$	571,446
Residential mortgage-backed securities		721,555		23,212		(1,127	)		743,640
Private mortgage-backed securities		1,396		—		(53	)		1,343

Total	$	1,291,656	$	27,419	$	(2,646	)	$	1,316,429


			Gross		Gross			Estimated
Held-to-Maturity	Amortized		Unrealized		Unrealized			Fair
December 31, 2009	Cost		Gains		Losses			Value
State, county and municipal securities	$	129,381	$	1,439	$	(435	)	$	130,385
Other securities		470		—		—			470

Total	$	129,851	$	1,439	$	(435	)	$	130,855

		Gross gains of $69 and $74 were realized on the disposition of available-for-sale investment securities during the three months ended September 30, 2010 and 2009, respectively. Gross gains of $111 and $126 were realized on the disposition of available-for-sale investment securities during the nine months ended September 30, 2010 and 2009, respectively. Gross losses of $3 and $0 were realized on the disposition of available-for-sale investment securities during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2010 and 2009, respectively.

		The following table shows the gross unrealized losses and fair values of investment securities, aggregated by investment category, and the length of time individual investment securities have been in a continuous unrealized loss position, as of September 30, 2010 and December 31, 2009.


	Less than 12 Months					12 Months or More					Total
			Gross					Gross					Gross
	Fair		Unrealized			Fair		Unrealized			Fair		Unrealized
September 30, 2010	Value		Losses			Value		Losses			Value		Losses
Available-for-Sale
Residential mortgage-backed securities	$	4,200	$	(1	)	$	—	$	—		$	4,200	$	(1	)
Private mortgage-backed securities		—		—			253		(16	)		253		(16	)

Total	$	4,200	$	(1	)	$	253	$	(16	)	$	4,453	$	(17	)


	Less than 12 Months					12 Months or More					Total
			Gross					Gross					Gross
	Fair		Unrealized			Fair		Unrealized			Fair		Unrealized
September 30, 2010	Value		Losses			Value		Losses			Value		Losses
Held-to-Maturity
State, county and municipal securities	$	5,974	$	(86	)	$	409	$	(3	)	$	6,383	$	(89	)

FIRST INTERSTATE BANCSYSTEM, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
Notes to Unaudited Consolidated Financial Statements
(In thousands, except share and per share data)


	Less than 12 Months					12 Months or More					Total
			Gross					Gross					Gross
	Fair		Unrealized			Fair		Unrealized			Fair		Unrealized
December 31, 2009	Value		Losses			Value		Losses			Value		Losses
Available-for-Sale
Obligations of U.S. government agencies	$	185,376	$	(1,466	)	$	—	$	—		$	185,376	$	(1,466	)
Residential mortgage-backed securities		92,918		(1,127	)		10		—			92,928		(1,127	)
Private mortgage-backed securities		—		—			1,337		(53	)		1,337		(53	)

Total	$	278,294	$	(2,593	)	$	1,347	$	(53	)	$	279,641	$	(2,646	)


	Less than 12 Months					12 Months or More					Total
			Gross					Gross					Gross
	Fair		Unrealized			Fair		Unrealized			Fair		Unrealized
December 31, 2009	Value		Losses			Value		Losses			Value		Losses
Held-to-Maturity
State, county and municipal securities	$	16,641	$	(348	)	$	1,409	$	(87	)	$	18,050	$	(435	)

		The investment portfolio is evaluated quarterly for other-than-temporary declines in the market value of each individual investment security. Consideration is given to the length of time and the extent to which the fair value has been less than cost; the financial condition and near term prospects of the issuer; and, the intent and ability of the Company to retain its investment in the issuer for a period of time sufficient to allow for any anticipated recovery in fair value. As of September 30, 2010, the Company had 19 individual investment securities that were in an unrealized loss position. As of December 31, 2009, the Company had 75 individual investment securities that were in an unrealized loss position. Unrealized losses as of September 30, 2010 and December 31, 2009 related to fluctuations in the current interest rates. As of September 30, 2010, the Company had the intent and ability to hold these investment securities for a period of time sufficient to allow for an anticipated recovery. Furthermore, the Company does not have the intent to sell any of the available-for-sale securities in the above table and it is more likely than not that the Company will not have to sell any such securities before a recovery of cost. No impairment losses were recorded during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2010 and 2009.

		Maturities of investment securities at September 30, 2010 are shown below. Maturities of mortgage-backed securities have been adjusted to reflect shorter maturities based upon estimated prepayments of principal. All other investment securities maturities are shown at contractual maturity dates.


	Available-for-Sale				Held-to-Maturity
	Amortized		Estimated		Amortized		Estimated
September 30, 2010	Cost		Fair Value		Cost		Fair Value
Within one year	$	362,900	$	372,533	$	7,807	$	7,480
After one year but within five years		1,081,437		1,100,938		28,809		29,358
After five years but within ten years		82,235		85,748		49,873		52,143
After ten years		127,750		133,207		50,221		52,274

Total		1,654,322		1,692,426		136,710		141,255
Investments with no stated maturity		—		—		288		288

Total	$	1,654,322	$	1,692,426	$	136,998	$	141,543

As of September 30, 2010, the Company had investment securities callable within one year with amortized costs and estimated fair values of $349,818 and $350,930, respectively. These investment securities are primarily classified as available-for-sale and included in the after one year but within five years category in the table above.

FIRST INTERSTATE BANCSYSTEM, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
Notes to Unaudited Consolidated Financial Statements
(In thousands, except share and per share data)

(3)		Impaired Loans

		A loan is considered impaired when, based upon current information and events, it is probable that the Company will be unable to collect, on a timely basis, all amounts due according to the contractual terms of the loan’s original agreement. The Company considers impaired loans to be those non-consumer loans which are nonaccrual or have been renegotiated in a troubled debt restructuring. The following table sets forth information on impaired loans as of the dates indicated:


	September 30,		December 31,		September 30,
	2010		2009		2009
Impaired loans with no specific allocated allowance	$	91,548	$	61,529	$	63,075
Impaired loans with a specific allocated allowance		99,550		52,446		54,722

Recorded investment in impaired loans	$	191,098	$	113,975	$	117,797

Allowance for loan losses specifically allocated to impaired loans	$	33,670	$	20,182	$	18,870

(4)		Long-Term Debt

		As of December 31, 2009, the Company had $33,929 outstanding on variable rate term notes (“Term Notes”) issued pursuant to its credit agreement with four syndicated banks (“Credit Agreement”) and maturing on December 31, 2010. On March 29, 2010, the Company repaid the Term Notes and terminated the Credit Agreement. A loss of $306 on the early extinguishment of the debt, comprised of unamortized debt issuance costs, was included in other expenses in the Company’s consolidated statement of income for the nine months ended September 30, 2010.

(5)		Common Stock

		On March 5, 2010, the Company’s shareholders approved proposals to recapitalize the Company’s existing common stock. The recapitalization included a redesignation of existing common stock as Class B common stock with five votes per share, convertible into Class A common stock on a share for share basis; a four-for-one stock split of the Class B common stock; an increase in the authorized number of Class B common shares from 20,000,000 to 100,000,000; and, the creation of a new class of common stock designated as Class A common stock, with one vote per share, with 100,000,000 shares authorized.

		On March 29, 2010, the Company concluded its initial public offering of 10,000,000 shares of Class A common stock, and an additional 1,500,000 shares of Class A common stock pursuant to the full exercise of the underwriters’ option to purchase Class A common shares in the offering. The Company received net proceeds of $153,017 from the sale of the shares, after deducting the underwriting discount, commissions and other offering expenses.

		As of September 30, 2010, the Company had 15,308,712 shares of Class A common stock outstanding, including 10,000,000 shares issued in the initial public offering, 1,500,000 issued pursuant to the underwriter’s option, 6,503 issued under the Company’s stock compensation plans and 3,802,209 shares converted from Class B common stock.

		The Company had 27,489,328 and 31,349,588 shares of Class B common stock outstanding as of September 30, 2010 and December 31, 2009, respectively.

(6)		Earnings per Common Share

		Basic earnings per common share is calculated by dividing net income by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding during the period presented. Diluted earnings per common share is calculated by dividing net income by the weighted average number of common shares and potential common shares outstanding during the period.

FIRST INTERSTATE BANCSYSTEM, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
Notes to Unaudited Consolidated Financial Statements
(In thousands, except share and per share data)

The following table sets forth the computation of basic and diluted earnings per share for the three and nine month periods ended September 30, 2010 and 2009.


	Three Months Ended				Nine Months Ended
	September 30,				September 30,
	2010		2009		2010		2009
Net income	$	8,729	$	12,318	$	26,518	$	42,342
Less preferred stock dividends		862		862		2,559		2,559

Net income available to common stockholders, basic and diluted	$	7,867	$	11,456	$	23,959	$	39,783

Weighted average common shares outstanding		42,634,283		31,222,584		38,986,458		31,333,500
Weighted average common shares issuable upon exercise of stock options and non-vested stock awards		150,587		266,608		216,219		369,772

Weighted average common and common equivalent shares outstanding		42,784,870		31,489,192		39,202,677		31,703,272

Basic earnings per common share	$	0.18	$	0.37	$	0.61	$	1.27

Diluted earnings per common share	$	0.18	$	0.36	$	0.61	$	1.25

		The Company had outstanding options to purchase 2,725,188 and 2,315,166 shares of common stock for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2010, respectively, that were not included in the computation of diluted earnings per common share because their effect would be anti-dilutive. The Company had outstanding options to purchase 2,165,448 and 1,447,316 shares of common stock for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2009, respectively, that were not included in the computation of diluted earnings per common share because their effect would be anti-dilutive.

(7)		Regulatory Capital

		The Company is subject to the regulatory capital requirements administered by federal banking regulators and the Federal Reserve. Under capital adequacy guidelines and the regulatory framework for prompt corrective action, the Company must meet specific capital guidelines that involve quantitative measures of the Company’s assets, liabilities and certain off-balance sheet items as calculated under regulatory accounting practices. Quantitative measures established by regulation to ensure capital adequacy require the Company to maintain minimum amounts and ratios of total and tier 1 capital to risk-weighted assets, and of tier 1 capital to average assets, as defined in the regulations. As of September 30, 2010 and December 31, 2009, the Company exceeded all capital adequacy requirements to which it is subject. The Company’s September 30, 2010 capital ratios were positively impacted by the issuance of Class A common stock pursuant to the initial public offering concluded March 29, 2010.

		Actual capital amounts and ratios and selected minimum regulatory thresholds for the Company and its bank subsidiary, First Interstate Bank (“FIB”), as of September 30, 2010 and December 31, 2009 are presented in the following table:


	Actual					Adequately Capitalized					Well Capitalized
	Amount		Ratio			Amount		Ratio			Amount		Ratio
As of September 30, 2010:
Total risk-based capital:
Consolidated	$	765,620		15.18	%	$	403,483		8.00	%	NA		NA
FIB		621,192		12.36			401,942		8.00		$	502,427		10.00	%
Tier 1 risk-based capital:
Consolidated		666,870		13.22			201,742		4.00		NA		NA
FIB		542,680		10.80			200,971		4.00		$	301,456		6.00	%
Leverage capital ratio:
Consolidated		666,870		9.38			284,248		4.00		NA		NA
FIB		542,680		7.66			283,421		4.00		$	354,276		5.00	%

FIRST INTERSTATE BANCSYSTEM, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
Notes to Unaudited Consolidated Financial Statements
(In thousands, except share and per share data)


	Actual					Adequately Capitalized					Well Capitalized
	Amount		Ratio			Amount		Ratio			Amount		Ratio
As of December 31, 2009:
Total risk-based capital:
Consolidated	$	599,458		11.68	%	$	410,635		8.00	%	NA		NA
FIB		597,873		11.69			408,991		8.00		$	511,238		10.00	%
Tier 1 risk-based capital:
Consolidated		499,816		9.74			205,317		4.00		NA		NA
FIB		518,485		10.14			204,495		4.00		$	306,743		6.00	%
Leverage capital ratio:
Consolidated		499,816		7.30			274,059		4.00		NA		NA
FIB		518,485		7.59			273,258		4.00		$	341,572		5.00	%

(8) Commitments and Contingencies

		In the normal course of business, the Company is involved in various claims and litigation. In the opinion of management, following consultation with legal counsel, the ultimate liability or disposition thereof is not expected to have a material adverse effect on the consolidated financial condition, results of operations, or liquidity of the Company.

		The Company had commitments under construction contracts of $433 as of September 30, 2010.

		The Company had commitments to purchase held-to-maturity municipal investment securities of $475 as of September 30, 2010.

(9) Financial Instruments with Off-Balance Sheet Risk

The Company is a party to financial instruments with off-balance sheet risk in the normal course of business to meet the financing needs of its customers. These financial instruments include commitments to extend credit and standby letters of credit. Commitments to extend credit are agreements to lend to a customer as long as there is no violation of any condition established in the commitment contract. Since many of the commitments are expected to expire without being drawn upon, the total commitment amounts do not necessarily represent future cash requirements. At September 30, 2010, commitments to extend credit to existing and new borrowers approximated $1,041,793, which includes $265,624 on unused credit card lines and $262,032 with commitment maturities beyond one year.

Standby letters of credit are conditional commitments issued by the Company to guarantee the performance of a customer to a third party. At September 30, 2010, the Company had outstanding standby letters of credit of $79,531. The estimated fair value of the obligation undertaken by the Company in issuing the standby letters of credit is included in other liabilities in the Company’s consolidated balance sheet.

(10) Supplemental Disclosures to Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows

The Company transferred loans of $17,203 and $35,956 to OREO during the nine months ended September 30, 2010 and 2009, respectively.

The Company transferred real property pending disposal of $1,513 to other assets during the nine months ended September 30, 2010. The Company transferred equipment pending disposal of $1,519 to other assets during the nine months ended September 30, 2009.

The Company transferred accrued liabilities of $59 to common stock in conjunction with the vesting of liability-classified non-vested stock awards during the nine months ended September 30, 2010.

The Company transferred internally originated mortgage servicing rights of $2,680 and $8,589 from loans to mortgage servicing assets during the nine months ended September 30, 2010 and 2009, respectively.

FIRST INTERSTATE BANCSYSTEM, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
Notes to Unaudited Consolidated Financial Statements
(In thousands, except share and per share data)

(11) Other Comprehensive Income

Total other comprehensive income for the nine months ended September 30, 2010 and 2009 is reported in the accompanying statements of changes in stockholders’ equity. Total other comprehensive income for the three months ended September 30, 2010 and 2009 was $10,385 and $19,029, respectively.

Information related to net other comprehensive income is as follows:


For the nine months ended September 30,	2010			2009
Other comprehensive income:
Investment securities available-for-sale:
Change in net unrealized gain during the period	$	13,017		$	15,020
Reclassification adjustment for gains included in income		(108	)		(126	)
Change in the net actuarial loss on defined benefit post-retirement benefit plans		72			(1,202	)

Total other comprehensive income		12,981			13,692
Deferred tax expense		5,108			5,388

Net other comprehensive income	$	7,873		$	8,304

The components of accumulated other comprehensive income, net of income taxes, are as follows:


	September 30,			December 31,
	2010			2009
Net unrealized gain on investment securities available-for-sale	$	23,901		$	16,072
Net actuarial loss on defined benefit post-retirement benefit plans		(953	)		(997	)

Net accumulated other comprehensive income	$	22,948		$	15,075

(12) Fair Value Measurements

Financial assets and financial liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis are as follows:


	Fair Value Measurements at Reporting Date Using
			Quoted Prices in		Significant Other		Significant
	Balance		Active Markets for		Observable		Unobservable
	as of		Identical Assets		Inputs		Inputs
	9/30/2010		(Level 1)		(Level 2)		(Level 3)
Investment securities available-for-sale:
Obligations of U.S. government agencies	$	890,815	$	—	$	890,815	$	—
Residential mortgage-backed securities		800,446		—		800,446		—
Private mortgage-backed securities		1,165		—		1,165		—
Mortgage servicing rights		14,978		—		14,978		—
Derivative liability contract		282		—		—		282

FIRST INTERSTATE BANCSYSTEM, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
Notes to Unaudited Consolidated Financial Statements
(In thousands, except share and per share data)


	Fair Value Measurements at Reporting Date Using
			Quoted Prices in		Significant Other		Significant
	Balance		Active Markets for		Observable		Unobservable
	as of		Identical Assets		Inputs		Inputs
	12/31/2009		(Level 1)		(Level 2)		(Level 3)
Investment securities available-for-sale:
Obligations of U.S. government agencies	$	571,446	$	—	$	571,446	$	—
Residential mortgage-backed securities		743,640		—		743,640		—
Private mortgage-backed securities		1,343		—		1,343		—
Mortgage servicing rights		17,746		—		17,746		—
Derivative liability contract		245		—		—		245

The following table reconciles the beginning and ending balances of the derivative liability contract measured at fair value on a recurring basis using significant unobservable (Level 3) inputs during the nine months ended September 30, 2010 and 2009:


For the Nine Months Ended September 30,	2010			2009
Balance, beginning of period	$	245		$	—
Additions during the period		155			245
Deletions during the period		(118	)		—

Balance, end of period	$	282		$	245

The following methods were used to estimate the fair value of each class of financial instrument above:

Investment Securities Available-for-Sale. The Company obtains fair value measurements for investment securities available-for-sale from an independent pricing service. The fair value measurements consider observable data that may include dealer quotes, market spreads, cash flows, the U.S. Treasury yield curve, live trading levels, trade execution data, market consensus prepayment speeds, credit information and the investment’s terms and conditions, among other things.

Mortgage Servicing Rights. Mortgage servicing rights are initially recorded at fair value based on comparable market quotes and are amortized in proportion to and over the period of estimated net servicing income. Mortgage servicing rights are evaluated quarterly for impairment using an independent valuation service. The valuation service utilizes discounted cash flow modeling techniques, which consider observable data that includes market consensus prepayment speeds and the predominant risk characteristics of the underlying loans including loan type, note rate and loan term. Management believes the significant inputs utilized in the valuation model are observable in the market.

Derivative Liability Contract. In conjunction with the sale of all of its Class B shares of Visa, Inc. (“Visa”) common stock in 2009, the Company entered into a derivative liability contract with the purchaser whereby the Company will make or receive cash payments based on subsequent changes in the conversion rate of the Class B shares into Class A shares of Visa. The conversion rate is dependent upon the resolution of certain litigation involving Visa U.S.A. Inc. card association or its affiliates. The value of the derivative liability contract is estimated based on the Company’s expectations regarding the ultimate resolution of that litigation, which involves a high degree of judgment and subjectivity. On May 28, 2010, Visa disclosed it had provided additional funding to its litigation escrow account thereby reducing the conversion rate of the Class B shares into Class A shares. In conjunction with the change in conversion rate, the Company made a cash payment to the purchaser of $118. On October 8, 2010, Visa disclosed it had provided additional funding to its litigation escrow account which further reduced the conversion rate. This funding, as well as a revision to the Company’s estimate of Visa’s future funding, resulted in an increase in the derivative contract liability of $155 to $282 as of September 30, 2010.

Additionally, from time to time, certain assets are measured at fair value on a non-recurring basis. Adjustments to fair value generally result from the application of lower-of-cost-or-market accounting or write-downs of individual assets due to impairment.

FIRST INTERSTATE BANCSYSTEM, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
Notes to Unaudited Consolidated Financial Statements
(In thousands, except share and per share data)

The following table presents information about the Company’s assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a non-recurring basis.


	Fair Value Measurements Using
			Quoted Prices in		Significant Other		Significant
	Balance		Active Markets for		Observable		Unobservable
	as of		Identical Assets		Inputs		Inputs
	9/30/2010		(Level 1)		(Level 2)		(Level 3)
Impaired loans	$	76,951	$	—	$	—	$	76,951
OREO		24,056		—		—		24,056
Long-lived assets to be disposed of by sale		1,513		—		—		1,513


	Fair Value Measurements Using
			Quoted Prices in		Significant Other		Significant
	Balance		Active Markets for		Observable		Unobservable
	as of		Identical Assets		Inputs		Inputs
	12/31/2009		(Level 1)		(Level 2)		(Level 3)
Impaired loans	$	41,343	$	—	$	—	$	41,343
OREO		14,515		—		—		14,515
Long-lived assets to be disposed of by sale		1,169		—		—		1,169

Impaired Loans. Certain impaired loans are reported at the fair value of the underlying collateral if repayment is expected solely from collateral. The impaired loans are reported at fair value through specific valuation allowance allocations. In addition, when it is determined that the fair value of an impaired loan is less than the recorded investment in the loan, the carrying value of the loan is adjusted to fair value through a charge to the allowance for loan losses. Collateral values are estimated using inputs based upon observable market data and customized discounting criteria.

OREO.The fair values of OREO are determined by independent appraisals or are estimated using observable market data and customized discounting criteria. Upon initial recognition, write-downs based on the foreclosed asset’s fair value at foreclosure are reported through charges to the allowance for loan losses. Periodically, the fair value of foreclosed assets is remeasured with any subsequent write-downs charged to OREO expense in the period in which they are identified.

Long-lived Assets to be Disposed of by Sale. Long-lived assets to be disposed of by sale are carried at the lower of carrying value or fair value less estimated costs to sell. The fair values of long-lived assets to be disposed of by sale are based upon observable market data and customized discounting criteria.

Mortgage Loans Held for Sale. Mortgage loans held for sale are required to be measured at the lower of cost or fair value. The fair value of mortgage loans held for sale is based upon binding contracts or quotes or bids from third party investors. As of September 30, 2010 and December 31, 2009, all mortgage loans held for sale were recorded at cost.

The Company is required to disclose the fair value of financial instruments for which it is practical to estimate fair value. The methodologies for estimating the fair value of financial instruments that are measured at fair value on a recurring or non-recurring basis are discussed above. The methodologies for estimating the fair value of other financial instruments are discussed below. For financial instruments bearing a variable interest rate where no credit risk exists, it is presumed that recorded book values are reasonable estimates of fair value.

Financial Assets. Carrying values of cash, cash equivalents and accrued interest receivable approximate fair values due to the liquid and/or short-term nature of these instruments. Fair values for investment securities held-to-maturity are obtained from an independent pricing service, which considers observable data that may include dealer quotes, market spreads, cash flows, the U.S. Treasury yield curve, live trading levels, trade execution data, market consensus prepayment speeds, credit information and the investment’s terms and conditions, among other things. Fair values of fixed rate loans and variable rate loans that reprice on an infrequent basis are estimated by discounting future cash flows using current interest rates at which similar loans with similar terms would be made to borrowers of similar credit quality. Carrying values of variable rate loans that reprice frequently, and with no change in credit risk, approximate the fair values of these instruments.

Financial Liabilities. The fair values of demand deposits, savings accounts, securities sold under repurchase agreements and accrued interest payable are the amount payable on demand at the reporting date. The fair values of fixed-maturity certificates of deposit are estimated using external market rates currently offered for deposits with similar remaining maturities. The carrying values of the interest bearing demand notes to the United States Treasury are deemed an

FIRST INTERSTATE BANCSYSTEM, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
Notes to Unaudited Consolidated Financial Statements
(In thousands, except share and per share data)

approximation of fair values due to the frequent repayment and repricing at market rates. The fair value of the derivative contract was estimated by discounting cash flows using assumptions regarding the expected outcome of related litigation. The floating rate term notes, floating rate subordinated debentures, floating rate subordinated term loan and unsecured demand notes bear interest at floating market rates and, as such, carrying amounts are deemed to approximate fair values. The fair values of notes payable to the FHLB, fixed rate subordinated term debt and capital lease obligation are estimated by discounting future cash flows using current rates for advances with similar characteristics.

Commitments to Extend Credit and Standby Letters of Credit. The fair value of commitments to extend credit and standby letters of credit, based on fees currently charged to enter into similar agreements, is not significant.

A summary of the estimated fair values of financial instruments follows:


	September 30,				December 31,
	2010				2009
	Carrying		Estimated		Carrying		Estimated
	Amount		Fair Value		Amount		Fair Value
Financial assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	$	542,355	$	542,355	$	623,482	$	623,482
Investment securities available-for-sale		1,692,426		1,692,426		1,316,429		1,316,429
Investment securities held-to-maturity		136,998		141,543		129,851		130,855
Net loans		4,332,151		4,349,012		4,424,974		4,422,288
Accrued interest receivable		37,251		37,251		37,123		37,123
Mortgage servicing rights, net		14,505		14,978		17,325		17,746

Total financial assets	$	6,755,686	$	6,777,565	$	6,549,184	$	6,547,923

Financial liabilities:
Total deposits, excluding time deposits	$	3,842,564	$	3,842,564	$	3,586,248	$	3,586,248
Time deposits		2,059,617		2,074,126		2,237,808		2,246,223
Securities sold under repurchase agreements		455,861		455,861		474,141		474,141
Derivative liability contract		282		282		245		245
Accrued interest payable		15,241		15,241		17,585		17,585
Other borrowed funds		5,674		5,674		5,423		5,423
Long-term debt		37,513		41,204		73,353		74,913
Subordinated debentures held by subsidiary trusts		123,715		130,767		123,715		128,802

Total financial liabilities	$	6,540,467	$	6,565,719	$	6,518,518	$	6,533,580

(13) Authoritative Accounting Guidance

FASB ASC Topic 310, “Receivables.” New authoritative accounting guidance under Accounting Standard Codification (“ASC”) Topic 310, “Receivables,” clarifies that modifications of loans that are accounted for within a pool under Subtopic 310-30 do not result in the removal of those loans from the pool even if the modification of those loans would otherwise be considered a troubled debt restructuring. An entity will continue to be required to consider whether the pool of assets in which the loan is included is impaired if expected cash flows for the pool change. This guidance became effective prospectively for modifications of loans accounted for within pools under Subtopic 310-30 occurring after June 30, 2010. The adoption of this new authoritative guidance under ASC Topic 310 did not impact the Company’s consolidated financial statements, results of operations or liquidity.

Additional new authoritative accounting guidance (Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) No. 2010-20) under ASC Topic 310, “Receivables,” requires significant new disclosures about the allowance for credit losses and the credit quality of financing receivables. The requirements are intended to enhance transparency regarding credit losses and the credit quality of loan and lease receivables. Under this statement, allowance for credit losses and fair value are to be disclosed by portfolio segment, while credit quality information, impaired financing receivables and non-accrual status are to be presented by class of financing receivable. Disclosure of the nature and extent, the financial impact and segment information of troubled debt restructurings will also be required. The disclosures are to be presented at the level of disaggregation that management uses when assessing and monitoring the portfolio’s risk and performance. This ASU is effective for interim and annual reporting periods after December 15, 2010. The Company will include these disclosures in the notes to the financial statements beginning December 31, 2010.

FIRST INTERSTATE BANCSYSTEM, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
Notes to Unaudited Consolidated Financial Statements
(In thousands, except share and per share data)

FASB ASC Topic 855, “Subsequent Events.” New authoritative accounting guidance under ASC Topic 855, “Subsequent Events,” amends prior guidance. Under this amended guidance, SEC filers are no longer required to disclose the date through which subsequent events have been evaluated in originally issued and revised financial statements. This guidance became effective immediately and the Company adopted these new requirements for the period ended March 31, 2010.

FASB ASC Topic 810, “Consolidation.” Authoritative accounting guidance under ASC Topic 810, “Consolidation,” amends prior guidance to change how a company determines when an entity that is insufficiently capitalized or is not controlled through voting (or similar rights) should be consolidated. The determination of whether a company is required to consolidate an entity is based on, among other things, an entity’s purpose and design and a company’s ability to direct the activities of the entity that most significantly impact the entity’s economic performance. The new authoritative accounting guidance requires additional disclosures about the reporting entity’s involvement with variable-interest entities and any significant changes in risk exposure due to that involvement as well as its affect on the entity’s financial statements. The new authoritative accounting guidance under ASC Topic 810 became effective for the Company’s financial statements for periods ending after January 1, 2010. The adoption of this authoritative guidance did not have a significant impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements, results of operations or liquidity.

FASB ASC Topic 820, “Fair Value Measurements and Disclosures.” New authoritative accounting guidance (ASU No. 2010-06) under ASC Topic 820 requires a reporting entity to disclose separately the amounts of significant transfers in and out of Level 1 and Level 2 fair value measurements and describe the reasons for the transfers; and, present separately information about purchases, sales, issuances and settlements in the reconciliation for fair value measurements using Level 3 inputs. In addition, ASU No. 2010-06 clarifies that reporting entities must use judgment in determining the appropriate classes of assets and liabilities for purposes of reporting fair value measurements and disclose valuation techniques and inputs used to measure both recurring and nonrecurring fair value measurements. ASU No. 2010-06 became effective for the Company on January 1, 2010, except for disclosures about purchases, sales, issuances and settlements in the reconciliation for fair value measurements using Level 3 inputs. Those disclosures are effective for fiscal years, and interim periods within those years, beginning after December 15, 2010. The adoption of this new authoritative guidance under ASC Topic 820 did not and is expected not to have a material impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements, results of operations or liquidity.

FASB ASC Topic 860, “Transfers and Servicing.” New authoritative accounting guidance (ASU No. 2009-16) under ASC Topic 860, “Transfers and Servicing,” amends prior accounting guidance to enhance reporting about transfers of financial assets, including securitizations, and where companies have continuing exposure to the risks related to transferred financial assets. The new authoritative accounting guidance eliminates the concept of a “qualifying special-purpose entity” and changes the requirements for derecognizing financial assets. The new authoritative accounting guidance also requires additional disclosures about all continuing involvements with transferred financial assets including information about gains and losses resulting from transfers during the period. The new authoritative accounting guidance under ASC Topic 860, which became effective for the Company on January 1, 2010, did not have a significant impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements, results of operations or liquidity.

(14)

Subsequent Events

Subsequent events have been evaluated for potential recognition and disclosure through the date financial statements were filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. No events requiring disclosure were identified.

Item 2.

MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF
FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

The following discussion should be read in conjunction with our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2009, including the audited financial statements contained therein, filed with the SEC.

When we refer to “we,” “our,” and “us” in this report, we mean First Interstate BancSystem, Inc. and our consolidated subsidiaries, unless the context indicates that we refer only to the parent company, First Interstate BancSystem, Inc.

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements and Factors that Could Affect Future Results

This report contains “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Rule 175 promulgated thereunder, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and Rule 3b-6 promulgated thereunder, that involve inherent risks and uncertainties. Any statements about our plans, objectives, expectations, strategies, beliefs, or future performance or events constitute forward-looking statements. Such statements are identified as those that include words or phrases such as “believes,” “expects,” “anticipates,” “plans,” “trend,” “objective,” “continue” or similar expressions or future or conditional verbs such as “will,” “would,” “should,” “could,” “might,” “may” or similar expressions. Forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties, assumptions, estimates and other important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from any results, performance or events expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. The following factors, among others, may cause actual results to differ materially from current expectations in the forward-looking statements, including those set forth in this report:

	•		credit losses;

	•		concentrations of real estate loans;

	•		economic and market developments, including inflation;

	•		commercial loan risk;

	•		adequacy of the allowance for loan losses;

	•		impairment of goodwill;

	•		changes in interest rates;

	•		access to low-cost funding sources;

	•		increases in deposit insurance premiums;

	•		inability to grow business;

	•		adverse economic conditions affecting Montana, Wyoming and western South Dakota;

	•		governmental regulation and changes in regulatory, tax and accounting rules and interpretations;

	•		changes in or noncompliance with governmental regulations;

	•		effects of recent legislative and regulatory efforts to stabilize financial markets;

	•		dependence on the Company’s management team;

	•		ability to attract and retain qualified employees;

	•		failure of technology;

	•		disruption of vital infrastructure and other business interruptions;

	•		illiquidity in the credit markets;

	•		inability to meet liquidity requirements;

	•		lack of acquisition candidates;

	•		failure to manage growth;

	•		competition;

	•		inability to manage risks in turbulent and dynamic market conditions;

	•		ineffective internal operational controls;

	•		environmental remediation and other costs;

	•		failure to effectively implement technology-driven products and services;

	•		litigation pertaining to fiduciary responsibilities;

	•		capital required to support the Company’s bank subsidiary;

	•		soundness of other financial institutions;

	•		impact of Basel II capital standards;

	•		inability of our bank subsidiary to pay dividends;

	•		change in dividend policy;

	•		lack of public market for our common stock;

	•		volatility of Class A common stock;

	•		voting control;

	•		decline in market price of Class A common stock;

	•		dilution as a result of future equity issuances;

	•		use of net proceeds;

	•		uninsured nature of any investment in Class A common stock;

	•		anti-takeover provisions;

	•		intent to qualify as a controlled company; and

	•		subordination of common stock to Company debt.

A more detailed discussion of each of the foregoing risks is included in our most recently filed prospectus dated March 23, 2010, filed March 24, 2010. These factors and the other risk factors described in our periodic and current reports filed with the SEC from time to time, however, are not necessarily all of the important factors that could cause our actual results, performance or achievements to differ materially from those expressed in or implied by any of our forward-looking statements. Other unknown or unpredictable factors also could harm our results. Investors and others are encouraged to read the more detailed discussion of our risks contained in our most recently filed prospectus, which discussion is incorporated herein by reference.

All forward-looking statements attributable to us or persons acting on our behalf are expressly qualified in their entirety by the cautionary statements set forth above. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date they are made and we do not undertake or assume any obligation to update publicly any of these statements to reflect actual results, new information or future events, changes in assumptions or changes in other factors affecting forward-looking statements, except to the extent required by applicable laws. If we update one or more forward-looking statements, no inference should be drawn that we will make additional updates with respect to those or other forward-looking statements.

Executive Overview

We are a financial and bank holding company headquartered in Billings, Montana. As of September 30, 2010, we had consolidated assets of $7,329 million, deposits of $5,902 million, loans of $4,452 million and total stockholders’ equity of $745 million. We currently operate 72 banking offices in 42 communities located in Montana, Wyoming and western South Dakota. Through our bank subsidiary, First Interstate Bank, or the Bank, we deliver a comprehensive range of banking products and services to individuals, businesses, municipalities and other entities throughout our market areas. Our customers participate in a wide variety of industries, including energy, healthcare and professional services, education and governmental services, construction, mining, agriculture, retail and wholesale trade and tourism.

Our principal business activity is lending to and accepting deposits from individuals, businesses, municipalities and other entities. We derive our income principally from interest charged on loans and, to a lesser extent, from interest and dividends earned on investments. We also derive income from non-interest sources such as fees received in connection with various lending and deposit services; trust, employee benefit, investment and insurance services; mortgage loan originations, sales and servicing; and, merchant and electronic banking services. Our principal expenses include interest expense on deposits and borrowings, operating expenses, provisions for loan losses and income tax expense.

Our loan portfolio consists of a mix of real estate, consumer, commercial, agricultural and other loans, including fixed and variable rate loans. Our real estate loans comprise commercial real estate, construction (including residential, commercial and land development loans), residential, agricultural and other real estate loans. Fluctuations in the loan portfolio are directly related to the economies of the communities we serve. While each loan originated generally must meet minimum underwriting standards established in our credit policies, lending officers are granted discretion within pre-approved limits in approving and pricing loans to assure that the banking offices are responsive to competitive issues and community needs in each market area. Loans exceeding the pre-approved lending limits of our lending officers are subject to additional review and approval by management and the board of directors of the Bank. We fund our loan portfolio primarily with the core deposits from our customers, generally without utilizing brokered deposits and with minimal reliance on wholesale funding sources.

On March 5, 2010, our shareholders approved proposals to recapitalize our existing common stock. The recapitalization included a redesignation of existing common stock as Class B common stock with five votes per share, convertible into Class A common stock on a share for share basis; a four-for-one stock split of the Class B common stock; an increase in the authorized number of Class B common shares from 20,000,000 to 100,000,000; and the creation of a new class of common stock designated as Class A common stock, with one vote per share, with 100,000,000 shares authorized. The Class A common stock and Class B common stock are collectively referred to as “common stock” in this report. All share and per share information included in this report has been adjusted to give effect to the recapitalization of the common stock, including the four-for-one stock split of Class B common stock, as if the recapitalization had occurred on January 1, 2009, the earliest date presented.

On March 29, 2010, we concluded our initial public offering, or IPO, of 10,000,000 shares of Class A common stock, and an additional 1,500,000 shares of Class A common stock pursuant to the full exercise of the underwriters’ option to purchase Class A common shares in the offering. We received net proceeds of $153 million from the sale of the shares, after deducting the underwriting discount, commissions and other offering expenses.

Primary Factors Used in Evaluating Our Business

As a banking institution, we manage and evaluate various aspects of both our financial condition and our results of operations. We monitor our financial condition and performance on a monthly basis, at our holding company, at the Bank and at each banking office. We evaluate the levels and trends of the line items included in our balance sheet and statements of income, as well as various financial ratios that are commonly used in our industry. We analyze these

ratios and financial trends against both our own historical levels and the financial condition and performance of comparable banking institutions in our region and nationally.

Results of Operations

Principal factors used in managing and evaluating our results of operations include net interest income, non-interest income, non-interest expense and net income.

Net interest income. Net interest income, the largest source of our operating income, is derived from interest, dividends and fees received on interest earning assets, less interest expense incurred on interest bearing liabilities. Interest earning assets primarily include loans and investment securities. Interest bearing liabilities include deposits and various forms of indebtedness. Net interest income is affected by the level of interest rates, changes in interest rates and changes in the composition of interest earning assets and interest bearing liabilities. The most significant impact on our net interest income between periods is derived from the interaction of changes in the rates earned or paid on interest earning assets and interest bearing liabilities, which we refer to as interest rate spread. The volume of loans, investment securities and other interest earning assets, compared to the volume of interest bearing deposits and indebtedness, combined with the interest rate spread, produces changes in our net interest income between periods. Non-interest bearing sources of funds, such as demand deposits and stockholders’ equity, also support earning assets. The impact of free funding sources is captured in the net interest margin, which is calculated as net interest income divided by average earning assets. Given the interest free nature of free funding sources, the net interest margin is generally higher than the interest rate spread. We seek to increase our net interest income over time, and we evaluate our net interest income on factors that include the volumes of and yields on our loans and other earning assets, the costs of our deposits and other funding sources, the levels of our net interest spread and net interest margin and the provisions for loan losses required to maintain our allowance for loan losses at an adequate level.

Non-interest income. Our principal sources of non-interest income include (1) income from the origination and sale of loans, (2) other service charges, commissions and fees, (3) service charges on deposit accounts, (4) wealth management revenues and (5) other income. Income from the origination and sale of loans includes origination and processing fees on residential real estate loans held for sale and gains on residential real estate loans sold to third parties. Fluctuations in market interest rates have a significant impact on revenues generated from the origination and sale of loans. Higher interest rates can reduce the demand for home loans and loans to refinance existing mortgages. Conversely, lower interest rates generally stimulate refinancing and home loan origination. Other service charges, commissions and fees primarily include debit and credit card interchange income, mortgage servicing fees, insurance and other commissions and ATM service charge revenues. Wealth management revenues principally comprises fees earned for management of trust assets and investment services revenues. Other income primarily includes company-owned life insurance revenues, check printing income, agency stock dividends and gains on sales of miscellaneous assets. We seek to increase our non-interest income over time, and we evaluate our non-interest income relative to the trends of the individual types of non-interest income in view of prevailing market conditions.

Non-interest expense. Non-interest expenses include (1) salaries, wages and employee benefits expense, (2) occupancy expense, (3) furniture and equipment expense, (4) Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, or FDIC, insurance premiums, (5) outsourced technology services expense, (6) impairment of mortgage servicing rights, (7) other real estate owned, or OREO, expense, (8) core deposit intangibles and (9) other expenses, which primarily includes professional fees; advertising and public relations costs; office supply, postage, freight, telephone and travel expenses; donations expense; debit and credit card expenses; board of director fees; and other losses. OREO expense is recorded net of OREO income. Variations in net OREO expense between periods is primarily due to write-downs of the estimated fair value of OREO properties, fluctuations in gains and losses recorded on sales of OREO properties, fluctuations in the number of OREO properties held and the carrying costs and/or operating expenses associated with those properties. We seek to manage our non-interest expenses in consideration of the growth of our business and our community banking model that emphasizes customer service and responsiveness. We evaluate our non-interest expense on factors that include our non-interest expense relative to our average assets, our efficiency ratio and the trends of the individual categories of non-interest expense.

Net Income. We seek to increase our net income and provide favorable stockholder returns over time, and we evaluate our net income relative to the performance of other banks and bank holding companies on factors that include return on average assets, return on average equity and consistency and rates of growth in our earnings.

Financial Condition

Principal areas of focus in managing and evaluating our financial condition include liquidity, the diversification and quality of our loans, the adequacy of our allowance for loan losses, the diversification and terms of our deposits and other funding sources, the re-pricing characteristics and maturities of our assets and liabilities, including potential interest rate exposure and the adequacy of our capital levels. We seek to maintain sufficient levels of cash and investment securities to meet potential payment and funding obligations, and we evaluate our liquidity on factors that include the levels of cash and highly liquid assets relative to our liabilities, the quality and maturities of our investment securities, our ratio of loans to deposits and our reliance on brokered certificates of deposit or other wholesale funding sources.

We seek to maintain a diverse and high quality loan portfolio, and we evaluate our asset quality on factors that include the allocation of our loans among loan types, credit exposure to any single borrower or industry type, non-performing assets as a percentage of total loans and OREO, and loan charge-offs as a percentage of average loans. We seek to maintain our allowance for loan losses at a level adequate to absorb potential losses inherent in our loan portfolio at each balance sheet date, and we evaluate the level of our allowance for loan losses relative to our overall loan portfolio and the estimated loss exposure on non-performing loans.

We seek to fund our assets primarily using core customer deposits spread among various deposit categories, and we evaluate our deposit and funding mix on factors that include the allocation of our deposits among deposit types, the level of our non-interest bearing deposits, the ratio of our core deposits (i.e. excluding time deposits above $100,000) to our total deposits and our reliance on brokered deposits or other wholesale funding sources, such as borrowings from other banks or agencies. We seek to manage the mix, maturities and re-pricing characteristics of our assets and liabilities to maintain relative stability of our net interest rate margin in a changing interest rate environment, and we evaluate our asset-liability management using complex models to evaluate the changes to our net interest income under different interest rate scenarios.

Finally, we seek to maintain adequate capital levels to absorb unforeseen operating losses and to help support the growth of our balance sheet. We evaluate our capital adequacy using the regulatory and financial capital ratios including leverage capital ratio, tier 1 risk-based capital ratio, total risk-based capital ratio, tangible common equity to tangible assets and tier 1 common capital to total risk-weighted assets.

Trends and Developments

Our success is highly dependent on economic conditions and market interest rates. Because we operate in Montana, Wyoming and western South Dakota, the local economic conditions in each of these areas are particularly important. Most of our local economies have not been impacted as severely by the national economic and real estate downturn, sub-prime mortgage crisis and ongoing financial market turbulence as many areas of the United States. The continuing impact of the national recession and related real estate and financial market conditions is uncertain and could have a material negative effect on our cash flows, results of operations, financial condition and prospects.

Capital Resources

On March 29, 2010, we concluded our IPO of 10,000,000 shares of Class A common stock, and an additional 1,500,000 shares of Class A common stock pursuant to the full exercise of the underwriters’ option to purchase Class A common shares in the offering. We received net proceeds of $153 million from the offering, after deducting the underwriting discount, commissions and other offering expenses.

Asset Quality

Challenging economic conditions continue to have a negative impact on businesses and consumers in some of our market areas. General declines in the real estate and housing markets resulted in continued deterioration in the credit quality of our loan portfolio, which is reflected by increases in non-performing and internally risk classified loans. Our non-performing assets increased to $237 million, or 5.29% of total loans and OREO, as of September 30, 2010, from $163 million, or 3.57% of total loans and OREO, as of December 31, 2009. Loan charge-offs, net of recoveries, totaled $12.1 million and $32.2 million during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2010, respectively, compared to $7.1 million and $17.4 million during the same respective periods in 2009, with all major loan categories reflecting increases. Based on our assessment of the adequacy of our allowance for loan losses, we recorded provisions for loan losses of $18.0 million and $49.4 million during the three and nine months ended September, 30, 2010, respectively, compared to $10.5 million and $31.8 million during the same respective periods in 2009. Increased provisions for loan losses reflect our estimation of the effect of current economic conditions on our loan portfolio. During the first nine months of 2010, we have

continued to experience elevated provisions for loan losses and higher levels of non-performing assets, which will continue to affect our earnings. Given the current economic conditions and trends, management believes we will continue to experience higher levels of non-performing loans in future quarters, which will likely have an adverse impact on our business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects.

Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act

On July 21, 2010, the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act, or the Act, was signed into legislation. The Act dramatically rewrites the rules governing financial service providers and products, and implementation of the Act will require new mandatory and discretionary rulemakings by numerous Federal regulatory agencies over the next several years. In general, the Act:

	•		Creates a systemic-risk council of top regulators, the Financial Stability Oversight Council, whose purpose is to identify risks and respond to emerging threats to the financial stability of the U.S. arising from large, interconnected bank holding companies or nonbank financial companies.

	•		Centralizes the responsibility for consumer financial protection by creating a new agency, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, responsible for implementing, examining and enforcing compliance with federal consumer financial laws.

	•		Gives the FDIC authority to unwind large failing financial firms. Regulators would recoup any losses incurred from wind-downs by assessing fees on financial firms with more than $50 billion in assets.

	•		Directs the FDIC to base deposit insurance assessments on assets minus tangible capital instead of on domestic deposits and requires the FDIC to increase premium rates to raise the Deposit Insurance Fund’s (DIF) minimum reserve ratio from 1.15% to 1.35% by September 30, 2020. The Act also eliminates automatic dividends when the minimum reserve ratio exceeds 1.35%.

	•		Extends the FDIC’s TAG program through December 31, 2012. The extension applies only to non-interest bearing transaction accounts.

	•		Authorizes banks to pay interest on business checking accounts.

	•		Directs the Federal Reserve to set interchange fees for debit card transactions charged by banks with more than $10 billion in assets.

	•		Excludes proceeds of trust preferred securities from Tier 1 capital except for trust preferred securities issued before May 19, 2010 by bank holding companies, like us, with less than $15 billion in assets at December 31, 2010.

	•		Requires loan originators to retain 5% of any loan sold or securitized, unless it is a “qualified residential mortgage,” which includes standard 30 and 15 year fixed-rate loans.

	•		Adopts various mortgage lending and predatory lending provisions.

	•		Requires federal regulators to jointly prescribe regulations mandating financial institutions with more than $1 billion in assets to disclose their incentive compensation plans to permit the regulators to determine whether the plans provide executive officers, employees, directors or principal shareholders with excessive compensation, fees or benefits; or could lead to material financial loss to the institution.

	•		Imposes a number of requirements related to executive compensation that apply to all public companies, such as prohibition of broker discretionary voting in connection with a shareholder vote on executive compensation; mandatory shareholder “say on pay” every one to three years and “say on golden parachutes”; and claw-back of incentive compensation from current or former executive officers following any accounting restatement.

Many provisions of the Act are subject to rulemaking and will take effect over several years, making it difficult to anticipate the overall financial impact to us, our customers and the financial industry in general. Provisions of the Act that affect deposit insurance assessments, payment of interest on demand deposits and interchange fees could increase the costs associated with deposits as well as place limitations on certain revenues those deposits may generate. Provisions of the Act that revoke Tier 1 capital treatments of trust preferred securities and otherwise require revisions to capital requirements may cause us to seek other sources of capital in the future.

Temporary Liquidity Guarantee Program

In April 2010, the FDIC approved an interim rule that extends the Transaction Account Guarantee (TAG) component of the Temporary Liquidity Guarantee Program. The TAG program provides full FDIC insurance coverage for non-interest bearing transaction deposit accounts, certain Negotiable Order of Withdrawal (NOW) accounts and Interest on

Lawyers Trust accounts. Participants in the TAG program had a one-time, irrevocable opportunity to opt out of the TAG extension by notifying the FDIC by April 30, 2010. We opted out of the TAG extension effective July 1, 2010. Management does not expect deposits will be adversely affected by discontinuation of the TAG program.

Basel III Capital Standards

On September 12, 2010, the international oversight body of the Basel Committee on Banking Supervision, or Basel Committee, announced they had agreed to new standards that will substantially strengthen existing capital requirements. United States federal banking agencies support the agreement, which calls for national jurisdictions to phase-in the new standards beginning January 1, 2013. If the standards, known as Basel III, are adopted by U.S. federal banking agencies as agreed upon by the oversight body of the Basel Committee, the minimum common equity requirements would increase from 2.0% to 4.5% of risk-weighted assets. In addition, banks would be required to hold a capital conservation buffer of 2.5% to withstand future periods of stress bringing the total common equity requirements to 7.0% of risk-weighted assets. In addition, Basel III would increase Tier 1 capital requirements from 4.0% to 6.0%. The new minimums would be phased in between January 1, 2013 and January 1, 2015, while the capital conservation buffer would be phased in between January 1, 2016 and December 31, 2018. Under Basel III, an additional capital buffer of up to 2.5% would also be imposed under certain circumstances. Basel III would also narrow the definition of capital, excluding instruments that no longer qualify as Tier 1 common equity as of January 1, 2013, and phasing out other instruments over several years. In addition, a new rule requiring banks to hold enough liquid capital to meet needs over a 30-day period would be introduced on January 1, 2015, and a longer-term liquidity rule, called the net stable funding ratio, would be applied starting January 1, 2018.

Small Business Jobs Act of 2010

On September 27, 2010, the Small Business Jobs Act of 2010, or the Jobs Act, was signed into legislation. The Jobs Act, among other things, creates a $30 billion fund, the Small Business Lending Fund, to provide capital for banks with assets under $10 billion to increase their small business lending. Management believes our current capital and liquidity is sufficient to fund loan demand in our market areas. As such, we do not anticipate we will participate in the Small Business Lending Fund program.

Critical Accounting Estimates and Significant Accounting Policies

Our consolidated financial statements are prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States and follow general practices within the industries in which we operate. Application of these principles requires management to make estimates, assumptions and judgments that affect the amounts reported in the consolidated financial statements and accompanying notes. The most significant accounting policies we follow are presented in Note 1 of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2009.

Our critical accounting estimates are summarized below. Management considers an accounting estimate to be critical if: (1) the accounting estimate requires management to make particularly difficult, subjective and/or complex judgments about matters that are inherently uncertain and (2) changes in the estimate that are reasonably likely to occur from period to period, or the use of different estimates that management could have reasonably used in the current period, would have a material impact on our consolidated financial statements, results of operations or liquidity.

Allowance for Loan Losses

The provision for loan losses creates an allowance for loan losses known and inherent in the loan portfolio at each balance sheet date. The allowance for loan losses represents management’s estimate of probable credit losses inherent in the loan portfolio.

We perform a quarterly assessment of the risks inherent in our loan portfolio, as well as a detailed review of each significant asset with identified weaknesses. Based on this analysis, we record a provision for loan losses in order to maintain the allowance for loan losses at appropriate levels. In determining the allowance for loan losses, we estimate losses on specific loans, or groups of loans, where the probable loss can be identified and reasonably determined. Determining the amount of the allowance for loan losses is considered a critical accounting estimate because it requires significant judgment and the use of subjective measurements, including management’s assessment of the internal risk classifications of loans, historical loan loss rates, changes in the nature of the loan portfolio, overall portfolio quality, industry concentrations, delinquency trends and the impact of current local, regional and national economic factors on the quality of the loan portfolio. Changes in these estimates and assumptions are possible and may have a material impact on our allowance, and therefore our consolidated financial statements, liquidity or results of operations. The allowance for loan losses is maintained at an amount we believe is sufficient to provide for estimated losses inherent in our loan portfolio at each balance sheet date, and fluctuations in the provision for loan losses result from management’s assessment of the adequacy of the allowance for loan losses. Management monitors qualitative and quantitative trends in the loan portfolio, including changes in the levels of past due, internally classified and non-performing loans. Note 1 of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2009 describes the methodology used to determine the allowance for loan losses. A discussion of the factors driving changes in the amount of the allowance for loan losses is included herein under the heading “Asset Quality.”

Goodwill

The excess purchase price over the fair value of net assets from acquisitions, or goodwill, is evaluated for impairment at least annually and on an interim basis if an event or circumstance indicates that it is likely an impairment has occurred. In testing for impairment, the fair value of net assets is estimated based on an analysis of our market value. Determining the fair value of goodwill is considered a critical accounting estimate because of its sensitivity to market-based trading of our Class A common stock. In addition, any allocation of the fair value of goodwill to assets and liabilities requires significant management judgment and the use of subjective measurements. Variability in the market and changes in assumptions or subjective measurements used to allocate fair value are reasonably possible and may have a material impact on our consolidated financial statements, liquidity or results of operations. Note 1 of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2009 describes our accounting policy with regard to goodwill.

Valuation of Mortgage Servicing Rights

We recognize as assets the rights to service mortgage loans for others, whether acquired or internally originated. Mortgage servicing rights are carried on the consolidated balance sheet at the lower of amortized cost or fair value. We utilize the expertise of a third-party consultant to estimate the fair value of our mortgage servicing rights quarterly. In evaluating the mortgage servicing rights, the consultant uses discounted cash flow modeling techniques, which require estimates regarding the amount and timing of expected future cash flows, including assumptions about loan repayment rates based on current industry expectations, costs to service, predominant risk characteristics of the underlying loans as well as interest rate assumptions that contemplate the risk involved. During a period of declining interest rates, the fair value of mortgage servicing rights is expected to decline due to anticipated prepayments within the portfolio. Alternatively, during a period of rising interest rates, the fair value of mortgage servicing rights is expected to increase because prepayments of the underlying loans would be anticipated to decline. Impairment adjustments are recorded through a valuation allowance. The valuation allowance is adjusted for changes in impairment through a charge to current period earnings. Management believes the valuation techniques and assumptions used by the consultant are reasonable.

Determining the fair value of mortgage servicing rights is considered a critical accounting estimate because of the assets’ sensitivity to changes in estimates and assumptions used, particularly loan prepayment speeds and discount rates. Changes in these estimates and assumptions are reasonably possible and may have a material impact on our consolidated financial statements, liquidity or results of operations. Notes 1 and 8 of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2009 describe the methodology we use to determine fair value of mortgage servicing rights.

OREO

Real estate acquired in satisfaction of loans is initially carried at current fair value less estimated selling costs. At the time of transfer, the value of the underlying loan is written down to the fair value of the real estate acquired by charge to the allowance for loan losses, if necessary. Subsequent declines in fair value less estimated selling costs are included in OREO expense. Subsequent increases in fair value less estimated selling costs are recorded as a reduction in OREO expense to the extent of recognized losses. Carrying costs, operating expenses, net of related income, and gains or losses on sales are included in OREO expense. Note 1 of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2009 describes our accounting policy with regard to OREO.

Results of Operations

The following discussion and analysis is intended to provide greater details of the results of our operations and financial condition.

Net Interest Income. Deposit growth combined with corresponding increases in interest earning assets resulted in increases in net interest income, on a fully taxable equivalent, or FTE basis. Our FTE net interest income increased $2.3 million, or 3.7%, to $64.8 million for the three months ended September 30, 2010, as compared to $62.5 million for the same period in 2009, and increased $8.7 million, or 4.7%, to $192.0 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2010, as compared to $183.3 million for the same period in 2009.

Despite increases in our FTE net interest income, we experienced lower interest rate spreads and compression of our net FTE interest margin ratio. Our FTE net interest margin ratio decreased 11 basis points to 3.89% for the three months ended September 30, 2010, from 4.00% during the same period in the prior year, and decreased 10 basis points to 3.95% for the nine months ended September 30, 2010, from 4.05% during the same period in the prior year. Higher levels of loans on nonaccrual status and the resulting charge-off of interest on nonaccrual loans accounted for 5 basis points and 2 basis points of the reduction in FTE net interest margin during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2010, respectively, as compared to the same periods in 2009. In addition, deposit growth coupled with low demand for loans resulted in a shift in the mix of interest earning assets from higher-yielding loans to lower-yielding investment securities, which further compressed our FTE net interest margin ratio. Proceeds of $153 million from the Company’s March 2010 IPO were invested in interest bearing deposits in banks which yielded 25 basis points during the second and third quarters of 2010.

The following table presents, for the periods indicated, condensed average balance sheet information, together with interest income and yields earned on average interest earning assets and interest expense and rates paid on average interest bearing liabilities.

Average Balance Sheets, Yields and Rates


	Three Months Ended September 30,
	2010								2009
	Average					Average			Average					Average
(Dollars in thousands)	Balance		Interest			Rate			Balance		Interest			Rate
Interest earning assets:
Loans (1)(2)	$	4,504,657	$	67,473			5.94	%	$	4,623,749	$	70,787			6.07	%
Investment securities (2)		1,720,925		12,333			2.84			1,171,740		12,487			4.23
Interest bearing deposits in banks		392,149		252			0.25			311,853		200			0.25
Federal funds sold		2,299		3			0.52			89,688		56			0.25

Total interest earning assets		6,620,030		80,061			4.80	%		6,197,030		83,530			5.35	%
Non earning assets		658,680								696,814

Total assets	$	7,278,710							$	6,893,844


Interest bearing liabilities:
Demand deposits	$	1,127,006	$	842			0.30	%	$	1,076,513	$	971			0.36	%
Savings deposits		1,555,510		2,199			0.56			1,359,909		2,508			0.73
Time deposits		2,119,083		9,931			1.86			2,174,301		14,727			2.69
Repurchase agreements		464,655		209			0.18			401,998		179			0.18
Borrowings (3)		5,256		1			0.08			72,863		379			2.06
Long-term debt		37,658		512			5.39			79,383		760			3.80
Subordinated debentures held by subsidiary trusts		123,715		1,526			4.89			123,715		1,502			4.82

Total interest bearing liabilities		5,432,883		15,220			1.11	%		5,288,682		21,026			1.58	%

Non-interest bearing deposits		1,046,112								982,301
Other non-interest bearing liabilities		59,515								66,877
Stockholders’ equity		740,200								555,984


Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity	$	7,278,710							$	6,893,844

Net FTE interest income			$	64,841							$	62,504
Less FTE adjustments (2)				(1,097	)							(1,205	)

Net interest income from consolidated statements of income			$	63,744							$	61,299

Interest rate spread							3.69	%							3.77	%

Net FTE interest margin (4)							3.89	%							4.00	%


(1)		Average loan balances include non-accrual loans. Interest income on loans includes amortization of deferred loan fees net of deferred loan costs, which is not material.

(2)		Interest income and average rates for tax exempt loans and securities are presented on a FTE basis.

(3)		Includes interest on federal funds purchased and other borrowed funds. Excludes long-term debt.

(4)		Net FTE interest margin during the period equals (i) the difference between interest income on interest earning assets and the interest expense on interest bearing liabilities, divided by (ii) average interest earning assets for the period.

Average Balance Sheets, Yields and Rates


	Nine Months Ended September 30,
	2010								2009
	Average					Average			Average					Average
(Dollars in thousands)	Balance		Interest			Rate			Balance		Interest			Rate
Interest earning assets:
Loans (1)(2)	$	4,509,206	$	202,797			6.01	%	$	4,693,173	$	211,472			6.02	%
Investment securities (2)		1,600,451		38,155			3.19			1,078,694		37,095			4.60
Interest bearing deposits in banks		384,964		733			0.25			146,430		292			0.27
Federal funds sold		7,933		21			0.35			126,276		220			0.23

Total interest earning assets		6,502,554		241,706			4.97	%		6,044,573		249,079			5.51	%
Non earning assets		675,244								683,472

Total assets	$	7,177,798							$	6,728,045


Interest bearing liabilities:
Demand deposits	$	1,118,951	$	2,551			0.30	%	$	1,076,374	$	3,313			0.41	%
Savings deposits		1,481,547		6,842			0.62			1,295,387		7,646			0.79
Time deposits		2,195,029		33,353			2.03			2,098,180		45,680			2.91
Repurchase agreements		461,652		632			0.18			410,608		597			0.19
Borrowings (3)		5,760		3			0.07			74,001		1,365			2.47
Long-term debt		48,895		1,940			5.30			81,037		2,399			3.96
Subordinated debentures held by subsidiary trusts		123,715		4,420			4.78			123,715		4,804			5.19

Total interest bearing liabilities		5,435,549		49,741			1.22	%		5,159,302		65,804			1.71	%


Non-interest bearing deposits		996,290								952,238
Other non-interest bearing liabilities		61,138								67,480
Stockholders’ equity		684,821								549,025


Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity	$	7,177,798							$	6,728,045

Net FTE interest income			$	191,965							$	183,275
Less FTE adjustments (2)				(3,376	)							(3,723	)

Net interest income from consolidated statements of income			$	188,589							$	179,552

Interest rate spread							3.75	%							3.80	%

Net FTE interest margin (4)							3.95	%							4.05	%


(1)		Average loan balances include non-accrual loans. Interest income on loans includes amortization of deferred loan fees net of deferred loan costs, which is not material.

(2)		Interest income and average rates for tax exempt loans and securities are presented on a FTE basis.

(3)		Includes interest on federal funds purchased and other borrowed funds. Excludes long-term debt.

(4)		Net FTE interest margin during the period equals (i) the difference between interest income on interest earning assets and the interest expense on interest bearing liabilities, divided by (ii) average interest earning assets for the period.

The table below sets forth, for the periods indicated, a summary of the changes in interest income and interest expense resulting from estimated changes in average asset and liability balances (volume) and estimated changes in average interest rates (rate). Changes which are not due solely to volume or rate have been allocated to these categories based on the respective percent changes in average volume and average rate as they compare to each other.

Analysis of Interest Changes Due To Volume and Rates


	Three Months Ended September 30,									Nine Months Ended September 30,
	2010 Compared with 2009									2010 Compared with 2009
(Dollars in thousands)		Volume		Rate			Net			Volume			Rate			Net
Interest earning assets:
Loans (1)	$	(1,823	)	$	(1,491	)	$	(3,314	)	$	(8,289	)	$	(386	)	$	(8,675	)
Investment securities (1)		5,853			(6,007	)		(154	)		17,943			(16,883	)		1,060
Interest bearing deposits in banks		51			1			52			476			(35	)		441
Federal funds sold		(55	)		2			(53	)		(206	)		7			(199	)

Total change		4,026			(7,495	)		(3,469	)		9,924			(17,297	)		(7,373	)

Interest bearing liabilities:
Demand deposits		46			(175	)		(129	)		131			(893	)		(762	)
Savings deposits		361			(670	)		(309	)		1,099			(1,903	)		(804	)
Time deposits		(374	)		(4,422	)		(4,796	)		2,109			(14,436	)		(12,327	)
Repurchase agreements		28			2			30			74			(39	)		35
Borrowings (2)		(352	)		(26	)		(378	)		(1,259	)		(103	)		(1,362	)
Long-term debt		(399	)		151			(248	)		(952	)		493			(459	)
Subordinated debentures		—			24			24			—			(384	)		(384	)

Total change		(690	)		(5,116	)		(5,806	)		1,202			(17,265	)		(16,063	)

Increase in FTE net interest income	$	4,716		$	(2,379	)	$	2,337		$	8,722		$	(32	)	$	8,690


(1)		Interest income for tax exempt loans and securities are presented on a FTE basis.

(2)		Includes interest on Federal funds purchased and other borrowed funds. Excludes long-term debt.

Provision for Loan Losses. The provision for loan losses was $18.0 million during third quarter 2010, as compared to $19.5 million during second quarter 2010 and $10.5 million during third quarter 2009. The provision for loan losses increased $17.6 million, or 55.3%, to $49.4 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2010, compared to $31.8 million for the same period in 2009. Fluctuations in provisions for loan losses reflect management’s estimate of the effects of current economic conditions on our loan portfolio. Ongoing stress from weakening economic conditions continues to negatively impact the performance of many of our real estate loans. For information regarding our non-performing loans, see “Non-Performing Assets” included herein.

Non-interest Income. Our principal sources of non-interest income include other service charges, commissions and fees; service charges on deposit accounts; income from the origination and sale of loans; and, revenues from wealth management. Non-interest income decreased $145 thousand, or 0.6%, to $24.9 million for the three months ended September 30, 2010, as compared to $25.0 million for the same period in 2009. Non-interest income decreased $13.1 million, or 16.7%, to $65.4 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2010, as compared to $78.5 million for the same period in 2009. Significant components of these decreases are discussed below.

Service charges on deposit accounts decreased $939 thousand, or 17.3%, to $4.5 million during the three months ended September 30, 2010, as compared to $5.4 million during the same period in 2009, and decreased $1.4 million, or 9.4%, to $13.9 million during the nine months ended September 30, 2010, as compared to $15.3 million during the same period in 2009, primarily due to decreases in overdraft fees. Management attributes the decline in overdraft fees to changes in consumer behavior. Additionally, the Federal Reserve Board issued a final rule that became effective on July 1, 2010 prohibiting financial institutions from charging consumers fees for paying overdrafts on automated teller machine and debit card transactions, unless the consumer consents, or opts in, to the overdraft service for those types of transactions. Management does not expect this rule will have a significant impact because we generally did not assess overdraft fees on automated teller machine and one-time debit card transactions.

Income from the origination and sale of loans includes origination and processing fees on residential real estate loans held for sale and gains on residential real estate loans sold to third parties. Income from the origination and sale of loans increased $2.3 million, or 44.5%, to $7.4 million for the three months ended September 30, 2010, as compared to $5.1 million for the same period in 2009. Refinancing activity accounted for approximately 69% of the Company’s residential real estate loan originations during third quarter 2010, as compared to 45% during third quarter 2009. Increases in refinancing activity were partially offset by fewer originations of loans to purchase homes, which decreased 15% during third quarter 2010, as compared to third quarter 2009, in part due to the expiration of the federal first-time home buyers tax credit.

Income from the origination and sale of loans decreased $10.8 million, or 42.2%, to $14.8 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2010, as compared to $25.7 million for the same period in 2009, due to a substantial decline in refinancing activity from early 2009.

Wealth management revenues are comprised principally of fees earned for management of trust assets and investment services revenues. Fees earned for management of trust assets are generally based on the market value of assets managed. Wealth management revenues increased $350 thousand, or 12.8%, to $3.1 million for the three months ended September 30, 2010, as compared to $2.7 million for the same period in 2009, and increased $1.4 million, or 17.4%, to $9.3 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2010, as compared to $7.9 million for the same period in 2009. These increases were principally due to higher trust management fees resulting from the introduction of revised fee schedules in April 2009, the addition of new trust customers and increases in the market values of new and existing assets under trust management.

Other income decreased $1.6 million, or 43.8%, to $2.0 million for the three months ended September 30, 2010, compared to $3.6 million for the same period in 2009, and decreased $2.6 million, or 33.4%, to $5.2 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2010, compared to $7.8 million for the same period in 2009. These decreases are primarily due to the recognition of a $2.1 million one-time gain on the sale of Visa Class B common shares during third quarter 2009. Decreases in other income were partially offset by a $249 thousand one-time gain on the sale of our student loan portfolio recognized during third quarter 2010.

Non-interest Expense. Non-interest expense increased $634 thousand, or 1.1%, to $58.0 million for the three months ended September 30, 2010, as compared to $57.4 million for the same period in 2009. Non-interest expense increased $3.6 million, or 2.2%, to $166.2 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2010, as compared to $162.6 million for the same period in 2009. Significant components of the increase are discussed below.

Furniture and equipment expense increased $418 thousand, or 14.0%, to $3.4 million for the three months ended September 30, 2010, as compared to $3.0 million for the same period in 2009, and increased $1.1 million, or 12.1%, to $10.1 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2010, as compared to $9.0 million for the same period in 2009. These increases are primarily due to higher depreciation and maintenance expenses resulting from the addition of a new operations building and branch banking office placed in service during fourth quarter 2009.

FDIC insurance premiums decreased $40 thousand, or 1.7%, to $2.3 million for the three months ended September 30, 2010, as compared to $2.4 million for the same period in 2009 and decreased $2.3 million, or 23.4%, to $7.5 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2010, compared to $9.7 million for the same period in 2009. These decreases are primarily due to a special FDIC insurance assessment levied during second quarter 2009, which was applicable to all insured depository institutions, and resulted in additional FDIC insurance expense of $3.1 million. In addition, effective July 1, 2010, we opted out of participation in the Transaction Account Guarantee component of the Temporary Liquidity Guaranty Program, which provided full FDIC insurance coverage for certain transaction deposit accounts, which reduced our FDIC insurance premiums during third quarter 2010.

Outsourced technology services expense increased $68 thousand, or 2.9%, to $2.4 million for the three months ended September 30, 2010, compared to $2.3 million for the same period in 2009, and decreased $1.2 million, or 14.3%, to $7.1 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2010, compared to $8.3 million for the same period in 2009. On December 31, 2008, we sold our technology services subsidiary and entered into a service contract with the purchaser to receive technology services. First and second quarter 2009 outsourced technology services expense accruals were estimated resulting in an over-accrual of expense during these periods, which was adjusted during third quarter 2009.

OREO expense, net of income, decreased $2.6 million, or 49.5%, to $2.6 million for the three months ended September 30, 2010, compared to $5.2 million for the same period in 2009, and increased $50 thousand, or 0.8%, to $6.1 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2010, as compared to the same period in 2009. Variations in net OREO expense between periods were primarily due to fluctuations in write-downs of the estimated fair value of OREO properties. We wrote down the fair value of OREO properties by $2.4 million and $5.6 million during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2010, respectively, compared to $4.8 million and $5.5 million during the same respective periods in 2009.

Mortgage servicing rights amortization decreased $56 thousand, or 4.4%, to $1.2 million for the three months ended September 30, 2010, as compared to $1.3 million for the same period in 2009, and decreased $2.9 million, or 45.3%, to $3.5 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2010, as compared to $6.3 million for the same period in 2009. Mortgage servicing rights are amortized in proportion to and over the period of estimated net servicing income. The period of estimated net servicing income is significantly influenced by market interest rates and anticipated refinancing activity.

Mortgage servicing rights are evaluated quarterly for impairment based on the fair value of the mortgage servicing rights. The fair value of mortgage servicing rights is estimated by discounting the expected future cash flows, taking into consideration the estimated level of prepayments based on current industry expectations and the predominant risk characteristics of the underlying loans. Impairment adjustments are recorded through a valuation allowance. The valuation allowance is adjusted for changes in impairment through a charge to current period earnings. Fluctuations in the fair value of mortgage servicing rights are primarily due to changes in assumptions regarding prepayments of the underlying mortgage loans, which typically correspond with changes in market interest rates. During third quarter 2010, we recorded impairment of $2.0 million, as compared to impairment of $296 thousand during third quarter 2009. During the nine months ended September 30, 2010, we recorded impairment of $2.2 million, as compared to a reversal of previously recorded impairment of $7.0 million during the same period in 2009.

Income Tax Expense. Our effective federal income tax rate was 26.7% for the nine months ended September 30, 2010 and 29.3% for the nine months ended September 30, 2009. State income tax applies primarily to pretax earnings generated within Montana and South Dakota. Our effective state tax rate was 4.3% for the nine months ended September 30, 2010, and 4.2% for the nine months ended September 30, 2009. Changes in effective federal and state income tax rates are primarily due to fluctuations in tax exempt interest income as a percentage of total income.

Financial Condition

Total assets increased $192 million, or 2.7%, to $7,329 million as of September 30, 2010, from $7,138 million as of December 31, 2009.

Loans. Our loan portfolio consists of a mix of real estate, consumer, commercial, agricultural and other loans, including fixed and variable rate loans. Fluctuations in the loan portfolio are directly related to the economies of the communities we serve. Total loans decreased $76 million, or 1.7%, to $4,452 million as of September 30, 2010 from $4,528 million as of December 31, 2009, with the most significant decrease occurring in construction loans and other consumer loans.

Construction loans of $564 million as of September 30, 2010, decreased $73 million, or 11.4%, from $637 million as of December 31, 2009. This decrease occurred primarily in residential and land acquisition and development loans, and, to a lesser extent, commercial construction loans. Management attributes these decreases to general declines in demand for housing, particularly in three of our markets dependent upon resort and second home communities, and the movement of lower quality loans out of the loan portfolio through charge-off, pay-off or foreclosure.

Other consumer loans of $166 million as of September 30, 2010 decreased $30 million, or 15.2%, from $195 million as of December 31, 2009, primarily due to the third quarter 2010 sale of student loans totaling $25 million.

Management attributes the remaining decrease in total loans to the continuing impact of the uncertain economic conditions on loan demand in the Company’s market areas, and to a lesser extent, the movement of lower quality loans out of the loan portfolio through loan charge-off or foreclosure.

The following table presents the composition of our loan portfolio as of the dates indicated:

Loans Outstanding


	September 30,		December 31,
(Dollars in thousands)	2010		2009
Real estate loans:
Commercial	$	1,565,525	$	1,556,273
Construction:
Land acquisition & development		360,890		403,866
Residential		111,545		134,970
Commercial		91,713		98,056

Total construction loans		564,148		636,892

Residential		544,952		539,098
Agriculture		189,895		195,045
Mortgage loans originated for sale		53,722		36,430

Total real estate loans		2,918,242		2,963,738

Consumer:
Indirect consumer loans		432,869		423,104
Other consumer loans		165,725		195,331
Credit card loans		59,222		59,113

Total consumer loans		657,816		677,548

Commercial		739,151		750,647
Agriculture		134,689		134,470
Other loans, including overdrafts		2,489		1,601

Total loans	$	4,452,387	$	4,528,004

Non-performing Assets. Non-performing assets include loans past due 90 days or more and still accruing interest, non-accrual loans, loans renegotiated in troubled debt restructurings and OREO.

Non-performing assets increased $74 million, or 45.5%, to $237 million, or 5.29% of total loans and OREO, as of September 30, 2010, from $163 million, or 3.57% of total loans and OREO, as of December 31, 2009. Difficult economic conditions continued to negatively impact businesses and consumers in our market areas, especially in three market areas with economies dependent upon resort and second home communities. These market areas include the Flathead area around Kalispell, Montana, the Gallatin Valley area around Bozeman, Montana and the Jackson, Wyoming market area. Residential and second home subdivisions in these market areas were overbuilt and these markets are now experiencing severely depressed real estate values and limited sales activity. The Flathead, Gallatin Valley and Jackson market areas accounted for approximately 55% of our non-performing assets as of September 30, 2010 versus only 21% of our total loans as of the same date. The continuing impact of current economic conditions is expected to result in further increases in non-performing assets in future quarters.

The following table sets forth information regarding non-performing assets as of the dates indicated:

Non-Performing Assets


	September 30,			June 30,			March 31,			December 31,			September 30,
(Dollars in thousands)	2010			2010			2010			2009			2009
Non-performing loans:
Non-accrual loans	$	174,249			139,975		$	122,341		$	115,030		$	120,026
Accruing loans past due 90 days or more		1,129			7,550			3,041			4,965			4,069
Restructured loans		26,630			10,588			7,660			4,683			988

Total non-performing loans		202,008			158,113			133,042			124,678			125,083
OREO		35,296			42,338			43,980			38,400			31,875

Total non-performing assets	$	237,304			200,451		$	177,022		$	163,078		$	156,958

Non-performing loans to total loans		4.54	%		3.47	%		2.97	%		2.75	%		2.72	%
Non-performing assets to total loans and OREO		5.29	%		4.35	%		3.91	%		3.57	%		3.38	%
Non-performing assets to total assets		3.24	%		2.77	%		2.45	%		2.28	%		2.27	%

Total non-performing loans increased $77 million, or 62.0%, to $202 million as of September 30, 2010, from $125

million as of December 31, 2009, primarily due to increases in non-accrual and restructured loans. Non-performing loans in the Flathead, Gallatin Valley and Jackson market areas increased to approximately 55% of total non-performing loans as of September 30, 2010, as compared to approximately 35% as of December 31, 2009.

Non-accrual loans of $174 million increased $59 million, or 51.5%, from $115 million as of December 31, 2009. Approximately 85% of loans with balances exceeding $1 million that were placed on non-accrual during the nine months ended September 30, 2010, were located in the Flathead, Gallatin Valley and Jackson market areas and were comprised primarily of commercial real estate and commercial construction loans.

Restructured loans increased to $27 million as of September 30, 2010, from $5 million as of December 31, 2009, primarily due to the loans of one commercial and five commercial real estate borrowers. Approximately 29% of the increase in restructured loans as of September 30, 2010, compared to December 31, 2009, occurred in the Flathead, Gallatin Valley and Jackson markets. As of September 30, 2010, 87% of the Company’s restructured loans were performing in accordance with their modified terms.

The following table sets forth the allocation of our non-performing loans among our various loan categories as of the dates indicated:

Non-Performing Loans by Loan Type


	September 30,		Percent			December 31,		Percent
(Dollars in thousands)	2010		of Total			2009		of Total
Real estate:
Commerical	$	74,580		36.9	%	$	28,514		22.9	%
Construction:
Land acquisition and development		48,014		23.9	%		42,195		33.8	%
Residential		17,010		8.4	%		15,489		12.4	%
Commercial		14,945		7.4	%		4,460		3.6	%

Total construction		79,969		39.7	%		62,144		49.8	%

Residential		16,019		7.9	%		10,308		8.3	%
Agriculture		2,455		1.2	%		785		0.6	%

Total real estate		173,023		85.7	%		101,751		81.6	%

Consumer		2,926		1.4	%		2,265		1.8	%
Commercial		25,112		12.4	%		19,774		15.9	%
Agriculture		943		0.5	%		888		0.7	%
Other		4		0.0	%		—		0.0	%

Total non-performing loans	$	202,008		100.0	%	$	124,678		100.0	%

In addition to the non-performing loans included in the non-performing loans table above, as of September 30, 2010 and December 31, 2009, we had potential problem loans of $279 million and $221 million, respectively. Potential problem loans consist of performing loans that have been internally risk classified due to uncertainties regarding the borrowers’ ability to continue to comply with the contractual repayment terms of the loans. Although these loans have been identified as potential non-performing loans, they may never become delinquent, non-performing or impaired. These loans are generally secured by commercial real estate or other assets, thus reducing the potential for loss should they become non-performing. Potential problem loans are considered in the determination of our allowance for loan losses. As of September 30, 2010, $8 million, or 3%, of our potential problem loans were more than 60 days past due, as compared to $2 million, or 1%, as of December 31, 2009.

OREO consists of real property acquired through foreclosure on the related collateral underlying defaulted loans. We record OREO at the lower of carrying value or fair value less estimated costs to sell. Estimated losses that result from the ongoing periodic valuation of these properties are charged to earnings in the period in which they are identified. OREO decreased $3 million, or 8.1%, to $35 million as of September 30, 2010, from $38 million as of December 31, 2009. As of September 30, 2010, approximately 64% of our OREO was located in the Flathead, Gallatin Valley and Jackson market areas. During the nine months ended September 30, 2010, we had additions to OREO of $17 million, wrote down the fair value of OREO properties by $5 million and sold OREO properties with a carrying value of $15 million. Approximately 68% of the OREO properties sold were located in the Flathead, Gallatin Valley and Jackson market areas. We recognized net gains of $179 thousand on sales of OREO during the nine months ended September 30, 2010.

Allowance for Loan Losses. In determining the allowance for loan losses, we estimate losses on specific loans, or groups of loans, where the probable loss can be identified and reasonably determined. The balance of the allowance for loan losses is based on internally assigned risk classifications of loans, historical loan loss rates, changes in the nature of the loan portfolio, overall portfolio quality, industry concentrations, delinquency trends, current economic factors and the estimated impact of current economic conditions on certain historical loan loss rates.

The following table sets forth information regarding our allowance for loan losses as of and for the periods indicated.

Allowance for Loan Losses


	Three Months Ended
	September 30,			June 30,			March 31,			December 31,			September 30,
(Dollars in thousands)	2010			2010			2010			2009			2009
Balance at beginning of period	$	114,328			106,349			103,030			101,748			98,395
Provision charged to operating expense		18,000			19,500			11,900			13,500			10,500
Less loans charged off		(12,789	)		(12,107	)		(9,398	)		(12,793	)		(7,641	)
Add back recoveries of loans previously charged off		697			586			817			575			494

Net loans charged-off		(12,092	)		(11,521	)		(8,581	)		(12,218	)		(7,147	)

Balance at end of period	$	120,236			114,328			106,349			103,030			101,748

Period end loans	$	4,452,387			4,562,288			4,481,019			4,528,004			4,606,454
Average loans		4,504,657			4,520,119			4,502,713			4,561,237			4,623,749
Annualized net loans charged off to average loans		1.06	%		1.02	%		0.77	%		1.06	%		0.61	%
Allowance to period end loans		2.70	%		2.51	%		2.37	%		2.28	%		2.21	%

Although we believe that we have established our allowance for loan losses in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States and that the allowance for loan losses was adequate to provide for known and inherent losses in the portfolio at all times, future provisions will be subject to on-going evaluations of the risks in the loan portfolio. If the economy declines or asset quality deteriorates, material additional provisions could be required.

Investment Securities. We manage our investment portfolio to obtain the highest yield possible, while meeting our risk tolerance and liquidity guidelines and satisfying the pledging requirements for deposits of state and political subdivisions and securities sold under repurchase agreements. Investment securities increased $383 million, or 26.5%, to $1,829 million, or 25.0% of total assets, as of September 30, 2010 from $1,446 million, or 20.3% of total assets, as of December 31, 2009. Liquidity resulting from deposit growth combined with weak loan demand was primarily invested into securities. With lower market interest rates and the purchase of relatively short-term securities, the estimated duration of our investment securities portfolio decreased to 1.7 years as of September 30, 2010, from 2.2 years as of September 30, 2009.

We evaluate our investment portfolio quarterly for other-than-temporary declines in the market value of individual investment securities. This evaluation includes monitoring credit ratings; market, industry and corporate news; volatility in market prices; and, determining whether the market value of a security has been below its cost for an extended period of time. As of September 30, 2010, we had investment securities with fair values of $1 million that had been in a continuous loss position more than twelve months. Gross unrealized losses on these securities totaled $19 thousand as of September 30, 2010, and were primarily attributable to changes in interest rates. No impairment losses were recorded during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2010 and 2009.

Cash and Cash Equivalents. Cash and cash equivalents include cash on hand, amounts due from banks, federal funds sold for one day periods and interest bearing deposits in banks with original maturities of less than three months. IPO proceeds of $119 million, net of IPO costs and after the repayment of our variable rate term notes, were included in interest bearing deposits in banks as of September 30, 2010. Cash and cash equivalents decreased $81 million, or 13.0%, to $542 million as of September 30, 2010, from $623 million as of December 31, 2009. Increases in interest bearing deposits in banks due to IPO proceeds were offset by decreases in cash on hand and federal funds sold, as excess liquidity was invested in higher yielding investment securities.

Deposits. Our deposits consist of non-interest bearing and interest bearing demand, savings, individual retirement and time deposit accounts. Total deposits increased $78 million, or 1.3%, to $5,902 million as of September 30, 2010, from $5,824 million as of December 31, 2009. During the first nine months of 2010, there has been a slight shift in the mix of deposits from higher costing time deposits to lower costing savings and non-interest bearing deposits.

The following table summarizes our deposits as of the dates indicated:

Deposits


	September 30,		December 31,
(Dollars in thousands)	2010		2009
Non-interest bearing demand	$	1,098,375	$	1,026,584

Interest bearing:
Demand		1,144,415		1,197,254
Savings		1,599,774		1,362,410
Time, $100 and over		981,941		996,839
Time, other (1)		1,077,676		1,240,969

Total interest bearing		4,803,806		4,797,472

Total deposits	$	5,902,181	$	5,824,056


(1)		Included in Time, other are Certificate of Deposit Account Registry Service, or CDAR, deposits of $166 million as of September 30, 2010 and $253 million as of December 31, 2009.

Long-Term Debt. Long-term debt decreased $36 million, or 48.9%, to $38 million as of September 30, 2010, from $73 million as of December 31, 2009 due to the early repayment of $34 million of variable rate term notes and, to a lesser extent, scheduled repayments of long-term Federal Home Loan Bank borrowings.

Capital Resources and Liquidity Management

Capital Resources. On March 5, 2010, our shareholders approved proposals to recapitalize our existing common stock. The recapitalization included a redesignation of existing common stock as Class B common stock with five votes per share, convertible into Class A common stock on a share for share basis; a four-for-one stock split of the Class B common stock; an increase in the authorized number of Class B common shares from 20,000,000 to 100,000,000; and the creation of a new class of common stock designated as Class A common stock, with one vote per share, with 100,000,000 shares authorized.

Stockholders’ equity is influenced primarily by earnings, dividends, sales of common stock and changes in the unrealized holding gains or losses, net of taxes, on available-for-sale investment securities. Stockholders’ equity increased $170 million, or 29.6%, to $745 million as of September 30, 2010, from $574 million as of December 31, 2009, primarily due to the completion of our IPO of Class A common stock, which closed on March 29, 2010 and included the issuance of 11,500,000 Class A common stock shares at a price of $14.50 per share. We received net proceeds of $153 million from the offering, after deducting underwriting discounts, commissions and other offering expenses of $14 million. The remaining increase in stockholders’ equity was largely attributable to other comprehensive income, primarily unrealized gains and losses on available-for-sale investment securities.

On September 24, 2010, we declared a quarterly dividend to common stockholders of $0.1125 per share that was paid on October 15, 2010 to shareholders of record as of October 4, 2010. During the first nine months of 2010, we paid aggregate cash dividends of $13.1 million, or $0.3375 per share, to common stockholders and $2.6 million to preferred stockholders, as compared to aggregate cash dividends of $12.2 million, or $0.3875 per share, to common stockholders and $2.6 million to preferred stockholders during the same period in 2009.

Pursuant to the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation Improvement Act, the Federal Reserve and FDIC have adopted regulations setting forth a five-tier system for measuring the capital adequacy of the financial institutions they supervise. At September 30, 2010 and December 31, 2009, the Bank had capital levels that, in all cases, exceeded the well-capitalized guidelines. As of September 30, 2010, we had consolidated leverage, tier 1 and total risk-based capital ratios of 9.38%, 13.22% and 15.18%, respectively, as compared to 7.30%, 9.74% and 11.68%, respectively, as of December 31, 2009. The significant increases in our capital ratios reflect the impact of additional capital raised from our IPO in March 2010.

Liquidity. Liquidity measures our ability to meet current and future cash flow needs on a timely basis and at a reasonable cost. We manage our liquidity position to meet the daily cash flow needs of customers, while maintaining an appropriate balance between assets and liabilities to meet the return on investment objectives of our shareholders. Our liquidity position is supported by management of liquid assets and liabilities and access to alternative sources of funds. Liquid assets include cash, interest bearing deposits in banks, federal funds sold, available-for-sale investment securities and maturing or prepaying balances in our held-to-maturity investment and loan portfolios. Liquid liabilities include core deposits, federal funds purchased, securities sold under repurchase agreements and borrowings. Other sources of liquidity include the sale of loans, the ability to acquire additional national market, non-core deposits, the issuance of additional collateralized borrowings such as FHLB advances, the issuance of debt securities, additional borrowings through the Federal Reserve’s discount window and the issuance of preferred or common securities.

Our short-term and long-term liquidity requirements are primarily to fund on-going operations,including payment of

interest on deposits and debt, extensions of credit to borrowers, capital expenditures and shareholder dividends. These liquidity requirements are met primarily through cash flow from operations, redeployment of prepaying and maturing balances in our loan and investment portfolios, debt financing and increases in customer deposits.

As a holding company, we are a corporation separate and apart from the Bank and, therefore, we provide for our own liquidity. Our main sources of funding include management fees and dividends declared and paid by the Bank and access to capital markets. There are statutory and regulatory limitations that affect the ability of our subsidiary bank to pay dividends to us. Management believes that such limitations will not impact our ability to meet our ongoing short-term cash obligations.

Asset Liability Management

The goal of asset liability management is the prudent control of market risk, liquidity and capital. Asset liability management is governed by policies, goals and objectives adopted and reviewed by the Bank’s board of directors. The Bank board delegates its responsibility for development of asset liability management strategies to achieve these goals and objectives to the Asset Liability Committee, or ALCO, which is comprised of members of senior management, including four Bank board members.

We target a mix of interest earning assets and interest bearing liabilities such that no more than 5.0% of the net interest margin will be at risk over a one-year period should short-term interest rates shift up or down 2%. As of September 30, 2010, our income simulation model predicted net interest income would decrease $3.1 million, or 1.2%, assuming a 2% increase in short-term and long-term interest rates over a twelve-month period. This scenario predicts that our funding sources will reprice faster than our interest earning assets. During 2009, we began to implement interest rate floors on certain variable rate loans. Interest rate floors mitigate benefits obtained in a rising interest rate environment until such time as market interest rates exceed the interest rate floors established. We do not engage in derivatives or hedging activities to manage our interest rate risk.

We did not simulate a decrease in interest rates due to the extremely low rate environment as of September 30, 2010. Prime rate has historically been set at a rate of 300 basis points over the targeted federal funds rate, which is currently set between 0 and 25 basis points. Our income simulation model has an assumption that prime will continue to be set at a rate of 300 basis points over the targeted federal funds rate. Additionally, rates that are currently below 2% are modeled not to fall below 0% with an overall decrease of 2% in interest rates. In a declining rate environment, our income simulation model predicts our net interest income and net interest rate spread will decrease and our net interest margin will compress because interest expense will not decrease in direct proportion to a simulated downward shift in interest rates.

Recent Accounting Pronouncements

See “Note 13 — Authoritative Accounting Guidance” in the accompanying “Notes to Unaudited Consolidated Financial Statements” included in this report for details of recently issued accounting pronouncements and their expected impact on our financial statements.

Item 3.

QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES
ABOUT MARKET RISK

As of September 30, 2010, there have been no material changes in the quantitative and qualitative information about market risk provided pursuant to Item 305 of Regulation S-K as presented in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2009.

Item 4T.

CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES

Disclosure Controls and Procedures

Our management is responsible for establishing and maintaining effective disclosure controls and procedures, as defined under Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) of the Exchange Act. As of September 30, 2010, an evaluation was performed, under the supervision and with the participation of management, including the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, of the effectiveness of the design and operation of our disclosure controls and procedures. Based on that evaluation, the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer concluded that our disclosure controls and procedures as of September 30, 2010, were effective in ensuring that information required to be disclosed in our reports filed or submitted under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized, and reported within the time periods required by the SEC’s rules and forms, and is accumulated and communicated to our management, including our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, as appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure.

Changes in Internal Control Over Financial Reporting

There were no changes in our internal control over financial reporting for the quarter ended September 30, 2010, that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, such control.

Limitations on Controls and Procedures

The effectiveness of our disclosure controls and procedures and our internal control over financial reporting is subject to various inherent limitations, including cost limitations, judgments used in decision making, assumptions about the likelihood of future events, the soundness of our systems, the possibility of human error, and the risk of fraud. Moreover, projections of any evaluation of effectiveness to future periods are subject to the risk that controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions and the risk that the degree of compliance with policies or procedures may deteriorate over time. Because of these limitations, any system of disclosure controls and procedures or internal control over financial reporting may not be successful in preventing all errors or fraud or in making all material information known in a timely manner to the appropriate levels of management.

PART II.

OTHER INFORMATION

Item 1. Legal Proceedings

There have been no material changes in legal proceedings as described in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2009.

Item 1A. Risk Factors

Risk factors described in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2009, were updated and are included in our most recently filed prospectus dated March 23, 2010, as filed with the SEC on March 24, 2010. There have been no material changes in risk factors as described in such prospectus.

Item 2. Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds

(a) There were no unregistered sales of equity securities during the three months ended September 30, 2010.

(b) Not applicable.

(c) There were no purchases made by or on behalf of us or any “affiliated purchases” (as defined in Rule 10b-18(a)(3) under the Exchange Act), of our common stock during the three months ended September 30, 2010.

Item 3. Defaults upon Senior Securities

None.

Item 4. (Removed and Reserved)

Item 5. Other Information

Not applicable or required.

Item 6. Exhibits


2.1		Stock Purchase Agreement dated as of September 18, 2007, by and between First Interstate BancSystem, Inc. and First Western Bancorp, Inc. (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 2.1 of the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on September 19, 2007)

2.2		First Amendment to Stock Purchase Agreement dated as of January 10, 2008, between First Interstate BancSystem, Inc. and Christen Group, Inc. formerly known as First Western Bancorp, Inc. (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.20 of the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on January 16, 2008)

3.1		Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation dated March 5, 2010 (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 3.1 of the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K/A filed on March 10, 2010)

3.2		Amended and Restated Bylaws dated January 28, 2010 (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 3.8 of the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on February 2, 2010)

4.1		Specimen of Series A preferred stock certificate of First Interstate BancSystem, Inc. (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 4.2 of the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2007)

4.2		First Interstate Stockholders’ Agreement with Scott family members dated January 11, 1999 (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 4.19 of the Company’s Registration Statement on Form S-8, No. 333-76825, filed on April 22, 1999)

10.1		Credit Agreement Re: Subordinated Term Note dated as of January 10, 2008, between First Interstate BancSystem, Inc. and First Midwest Bank (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.24 of the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on January 16, 2008)

10.2		Lease Agreement between Billings 401 Joint Venture and First Interstate Bank Montana dated September 20, 1985 and addendum thereto (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.4 of the Company’s Post-Effective Amendment No. 3 to Registration Statement on Form S-1, No. 033-84540, filed on September 29, 1994)

10.3†		First Interstate BancSystem’s Deferred Compensation Plan dated December 1, 2006 (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.9 of the Company’s Pre-Effective Amendment No. 3 to Registration Statement on Form S-1, No. 333-164380, filed on March 23, 2010)

10.4†		First Amendment to the First Interstate BancSystem’s Deferred Compensation Plan dated October 24, 2008 (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.10 of the Company’s Pre-Effective Amendment No. 3 to Registration Statement on Form S-1, No. 333-164380, filed on March 23, 2010)

10.5†		2001 Stock Option Plan, as amended (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 4.12 of the Company’s Registration Statement on Form S-8, No. 333-106495, filed on June 25, 2003)

10.6*†		Second Amendment to 2001 Stock Option Plan

10.7†		First Interstate BancSystem, Inc. 2006 Equity Compensation Plan (incorporated herein by reference to Appendix A of the Company’s 2006 Definitive Proxy Statement on Schedule 14A)

10.8†		Amendment to the First Interstate BancSystem, Inc. 2006 Equity Compensation Plan (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.1 of the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on March 22, 2010)

10.9*†		Second Amendment to the First Interstate BancSystem, Inc. 2006 Equity Compensation Plan

10.10†		Form of First Interstate BancSystem, Inc. 2006 Equity Compensation Plan Restricted Stock Agreement (Time) for Certain Executive Officers (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.13 of the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2008, No. 000-49733)

10.11†		Form of First Interstate BancSystem, Inc. 2006 Equity Compensation Plan Restricted Stock Agreement (Performance) for Certain Executive Officers (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.14 of the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2008, No. 000-49733)

10.12†		First Interstate BancSystem, Inc. 2006 Equity Compensation Plan Restricted Stock Agreement (Performance) for Lyle R. Knight (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.15 of the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2008, No. 000-49733)


10.13†		First Interstate BancSystem, Inc. 2006 Equity Compensation Plan Restricted Stock Agreement for Lyle R. Knight (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.16 of the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2008, No. 000-49733)

10.14		Trademark License Agreements between Wells Fargo & Company and First Interstate BancSystem, Inc. (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.11 of the Company’s Registration Statement on Form S-1, No. 333-25633 filed on April 22, 1997)

31.1*		Certification of Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 by Chief Executive Officer

31.2*		Certification of Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 by Chief Financial Officer

32*		Certification of Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002


*		Filed herewith.

†		Management contract or compensatory plan or arrangement.

SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.

FIRST INTERSTATE BANCSYSTEM, INC.



Date November 4, 2010	/s/ LYLE R. KNIGHT
	Lyle R. Knight
	President and Chief Executive Officer


Date November 4, 2010	/s/ TERRILL R. MOORE
	Terrill R. Moore
	Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

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