Peace Hills Trust a success story

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Peace Hills Trust has entered its second decade of service and is looking forward to the challenges of the 1990s.

As First Nations activity in the Canadian economy continues to grow at an unprecedented rate, Peace Hills Trust continues to generate steady progress as the financial institution of choice for Canada's First Nations.

The company has expanded its Branch Network with the recent opening of the Saskatoon Branch located in Veterans' Plaza on the McKnight Commercial Centre, a commercial facility on the Muskeg Lake First Nations Reserve.

Peace Hills Trust is also presently a member of Interac, Cirrus and Circuit A.T.M.. Systems and delivered banking cards to its customers in late 1993.

Being small, western-based and First Nation owned, the Samson Cree Nations' banking venture already had three strikes against it when the historical opening occurred on Nov. 19, 1990.

Once dubbed the "Samson Band's piggy bank," Peace Hills Trust has since firmly established itself as a truly national trust company. The year 1993 was another milestone for the company with record profits and growth. The company's total assets have grown to almost half a-billion dollars.

Peace Hills Trust has become a leader in Native economic development since the company began a concerted effort to increase its profile nationally. The company has been managing First Nations-owned trust funds for more than a decade. Funds belonging to Native bands, organizations and individuals account for a large share of the company's business, totalling more than $214 million at the end of 1993.

Peace Hills Trust's loan portfolio has also increased substantially over the years. Their conservative lending approach has put the company in the enviable position of avoiding resale properties for the last four consecutive years. The bulk of the company's loan portfolio is made up of reserve projects such as housing loans, arenas, schools, shopping centres and band administration offices.

The company's understanding of financing on-reserve projects and its ability to structure alternative types of debt servicing packages are its major strengths. Peace Hills sole ownership group, the Samson Cree Nation, continues to remain committed to the growth and success of the trust company. Instead of paying regular dividends to themselves as shareholders, the band commits all profits back into the company.

As the competition to satisfy the growing financial needs of Canada's First Nations intensifies, Peace Hills Trust relies on an overall effort from a strong support network, comprised of the executive body, the corporate and branch staff, in realizing these objectives. Emphasis is placed on the training and development of staff to increase their knowledge of the trust industry and constantly update operating procedures.

Peace Hills Trust is also proud to share a part of its success with those who have been instrumental in contributing to maintaining a positive community image by offering its continued support to a variety of deserving Native cultural and sporting events.