Melanie Hall, commissioner of the Division of Banking and Financial Institutions (Department of Administration), briefed the Senate Business, Labor and Economic Affairs Committee on the division’s role supervising state‑chartered banks and credit unions, recent industry consolidation, and outreach to tribal communities.

Hall said Montana currently has 34 state‑chartered banks and nine state‑chartered credit unions; supervised assets have grown from about $25 billion when she began in 2011 to roughly $80 billion today, in part because some Montana banks have expanded regionally. She described a wide range of institution sizes, from small community banks with tens of millions in assets to large regional banks that rank among the nation’s 100 largest.

The division licenses roughly 5,000 individuals and issues more than 800 corporate licenses annually. Hall emphasized the office’s funding model: the division is funded entirely through fees and assessments paid by regulated entities and receives no general‑fund dollars. She said the division completed a red‑tape package last session that reduced administrative rules and cut some fees.

Hall offered to meet with tribal governments and the State‑Tribal Relations interim committee to discuss credit unions or other community financing options. The division supervises Eagle Bank, which Hall identified as a bank chartered under section 17 of the Indian Reorganization Act and owned by the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes.

Committee members asked about technical assistance for tribe‑based credit unions and about the regulatory differences between state and federal charters; Hall said the division can provide information and work with tribes and federal partners. She also offered follow‑up materials and additional meetings.

Hall said the Division of Banking has no bills this session and will continue red‑tape relief, cybersecurity work, and monitoring of financial service legislation introduced by other actors.