Ward County, North Dakota, a core county of the Minot, ND market, holds $3.5B in deposits across 11 insured institutions and 20 branches. First Western Bank & Trust is the largest deposit holder at 33.9% share. The top three banks hold 58% of deposits, which places the county in the Moderate band. Deposits have grown 12.0% since 2021 while the branch count fell by 9.1%. It produced $4.0B of real gross domestic product in 2024, ranking #682 of the 1,523 ranked counties by economic output.
Ranks show where the county stands among the 1,523 ranked counties (those within a Combined or Metropolitan Statistical Area that have a branch). They describe relative position, not a rating of market quality or suitability.
Deposit trend
Branches: 22 in 2021 to 20 in 2026. Institutions: 11 to 11. Top-three share: 63% to 58%.
Institutions by deposits
| Institution | Deposits | Share | 5‑yr deposits |
|---|---|---|---|
| First Western Bank & Trust | $1.2B | 33.9% | +21% |
| First International Bank & Trust | $533M | 15.4% | +9% |
| Gate City Bank | $301M | 8.7% | +32% |
| Old National Bank | $293M | 8.5% | -40% |
| Bravera Bank | $253M | 7.3% | -1% |
| Wells Fargo Bank | $250M | 7.2% | -2% |
| State Bank & Trust of Kenmare | $183M | 5.3% | +42% |
| Peoples State Bank of Velva | $128M | 3.7% | +74% |
| Cornerstone Bank | $123M | 3.6% | no 2021 presence |
| U.S. Bank | $109M | 3.2% | -4% |
| Dacotah Bank | $108M | 3.1% | +27% |
The 11 insured institutions with a branch presence in this county, per the FDIC Summary of Deposits, June 30, 2026. Five-year change compares the same institution’s county deposits in 2021 and 2026. Institutions are tracked by FDIC certificate number, and where an institution acquired another bank, the acquired bank’s prior deposits are folded into the baseline so the change reflects the combined, continuing franchise rather than reading as new. “No 2021 presence” means neither the institution nor a bank it later absorbed reported deposits in this county that year. Deposit figures are nominal and are not adjusted for inflation.
Part of the Minot market
Ward County is one of 3 counties that make up the Minot, ND market, a Metropolitan Statistical Area (ranked #277 of 293 U.S. markets by economic output). It produces 91.3% of the market’s output and holds 93.4% of its deposits.
| Measure | Ward County | Share of parent market |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 GDP | $4.0B | 91.3% |
| Deposits | $3.5B | 93.4% |
| Population | 68,233 | 90.1% |
View the full Minot market profile →
Recruiting in Ward County
Deposits are split among a moderate number of institutions. Who holds the deposits, and how contested the market is, shapes both the runway for growth and the competition you would be recruiting against. We recruit commercial relationship managers, banking teams, and market leaders for banks building in markets like Ward County.
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