High Country Bancorp

What High Country Bancorp does

High Country Bancorp, Inc. is the publicly traded (OTC Pink: HCBC) parent holding company of High Country Bank, a Colorado state-chartered FDIC-insured commercial bank founded in 1886 as Chaffee County Bank — making it the oldest state-chartered financial institution in the state. The bank operates five physical branches across Colorado (Salida x2, Buena Vista, Cañon City, and Longmont) and employs approximately 100 people. It serves individual consumers and small-to-medium businesses in its communities, with a relationship-driven, local decision-making model that contrasts with centralized megabank lending.

The bank offers a full suite of personal and business banking products. Personal offerings include Basic Checking, Focus Fifty (50+), savings products (Statement, Save As You Spend, Club, Vacation, Money Market), CDs, IRAs, residential mortgages (purchase, refinance, construction, land, HELOC), and credit cards. Business offerings include Premier, Commercial, and Basic Commercial checking, business savings and CDs, commercial real estate loans, equipment financing, lines of credit, and the Rooted in Chaffee microloan program ($1,000–$10,000). The technology backbone is a CSI-built digital banking platform with iOS and Android mobile apps, mobile deposit, debit card controls, Zelle P2P payments, and remote deposit capture. Deposit and credit product extensions are delivered through partnerships: Elan Financial Services for credit cards, IntraFi for extended FDIC insurance (ICS and CDARS), Greenlight for youth debit, and Main Street for check reordering.

Revenue is generated primarily through net interest income on loans (commercial real estate, equipment, residential mortgages, home equity, lines of credit) and to a lesser extent through deposit account fees, merchant services revenue, and credit card interchange. GTM motion is community-led and relationship-based: local loan officers and branch staff drive sales through personalized outreach, community event sponsorship, and word-of-mouth. Pricing is subscription-style on deposit accounts (no monthly fees on basic checking; 0.10%–1.50% APY on Premier Business Checking) with interest-bearing and transaction-fee components. Specific revenue figures are not publicly disclosed.

Name

High Country Bancorp

Legal name

High Country Bancorp, Inc.

Website

https://highcountrybank.net

Company type

Public

Founded year

1886

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

High Country Bancorp is the publicly traded parent of High Country Bank, a Colorado state-chartered community bank founded in 1886 operating five branches serving local consumers and small-to-medium businesses with checking, savings, mortgages, and commercial lending.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Community Banking

NAICS

Depository Credit Intermediation (5221)

SIC

State Commercial Banks (6022)

akta.pro primary industry

Retail Lending (Personal Loans, Auto, Credit Lines) (FSABAAAB)

akta.pro secondary industry

Mass-Market Consumer Deposit Banking (Checking/Savings) (FSABAAAA)

Keywords

• Community banking
• Personal banking
• Business banking
• Commercial lending
• Mortgage lending

Headquarters

HQ city

Salida

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices5 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Interest Income: Primary revenue from interest earned on loans including commercial real estate, equipment financing, residential mortgages, home equity loans, and lines of credit. Interest rates vary by product type and borrower profile.
2. Deposit Account Fees: Fees from business and personal checking/savings accounts, including potential monthly service charges, transaction fees, and wire transfer fees
3. Credit Card Processing: Revenue from credit card products offered through Elan Financial Services partnership, including interchange fees and merchant services
4. Merchant Services: Payment processing services for business customers including credit/debit card transaction processing

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

High Country Bank is a Colorado community bank that provides personal and business deposit accounts (checking, savings, money market, CDs, IRAs), residential mortgages and home equity lending, commercial loans (commercial real estate, equipment financing, lines of credit, microloans), credit cards, and treasury/cash management services such as merchant services, wire/ACH transfers, and Remote Deposit Capture. Revenue is generated principally from interest income on the loan portfolio plus deposit account fees, transaction-based fees, and interchange from card and merchant services, distributed through five Colorado branches complemented by online and mobile banking.

Product overview

High Country Bank operates as a community bank offering a comprehensive suite of banking products and services organized into personal and business categories. The personal banking line includes checking accounts (Basic Checking, Focus Fifty), savings accounts with multiple variants (Statement Savings, Save As You Spend, Club Savings, Vacation Club, Money Market, CDs, IRAs), home loans (purchase, refinance, construction, land, home equity, HELOC), and credit cards. Business offerings encompass checking (Premier, Commercial, Basic Commercial), savings and CDs, commercial loans (real estate, equipment, lines of credit, microloans), and business services (IntraFi deposits, wire/ACH transfers, mobile banking, merchant services). The bank provides digital banking access through online and mobile platforms with features including mobile deposits, bill payment, and debit card controls. Notable partnerships include IntraFi for extended FDIC coverage, Elan Financial Services for credit cards, Greenlight for youth debit cards, and Main Street for check ordering.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Personal Checking Personal checking accounts including Basic Checking (no monthly fees, $100 to open, free debit card, online and mobile banking with P2P, E-statements, mobile deposits) and Focus Fifty (an interest-earning account for customers 50+ with free bank checks and one free check box annually) for individual consumers in Colorado communities.
• Personal Savings and Money Market Suite of personal savings products: Statement Savings, Save As You Spend (round-up savings feature), Club Savings, Vacation Club, Money Market Savings (higher rates for higher balances), providing both transactional flexibility and goal-based savings for individual consumers.
• Certificates of Deposit (CDs) Certificates of Deposit available to both consumers and businesses with a $500 minimum balance and terms ranging from 6 months to 5 years, offering fixed-rate term deposits.
• Individual Retirement Accounts (IRAs) Traditional and Roth IRAs offered as personal retirement savings vehicles alongside the bank's broader deposit product set for Colorado consumers.
• Home Loans Residential mortgage and home equity lending for homebuyers and homeowners: purchase loans, refinance, construction loans, land loans, home equity loans, HELOCs, and second mortgages, available in conventional/fixed-rate, ARM, first-time homebuyer, and USDA program formats.
• Credit Cards Personal and business credit cards issued through partnership with Elan Financial Services (Visa and Mastercard), featuring zero fraud liability, mobile purchasing capabilities, 24/7 cardmember service, and options for low rates, cash back, or rewards.
• Business Checking Business checking accounts including Premier Business Checking (0.10% to 1.50% APY, no monthly fee, no minimum balance, free business debit card, E-statements), Commercial Checking (reduced monthly service charge with paperless statements and electronic services enrollment), and Basic Commercial Checking (25 free monthly transactions, $1,000 minimum balance, free business online banking).
• Business Loans Commercial lending for small and medium local businesses including commercial real estate loans, equipment financing, commercial lines of credit, and the Rooted in Chaffee Microloan program (in partnership with Central Mountain SBDC and Chaffee County Community Foundation; loans from $1,000 to $10,000 for entrepreneurs lacking traditional collateral).
• Business Services and Cash Management Business cash management services including business mobile banking, business debit cards with fraud protection, Remote Deposit Capture for electronic check deposit via desktop scanner, wire and ACH transfers, merchant services (credit/debit card transaction processing), and IntraFi Insured Cash Sweep (ICS) for extended FDIC coverage beyond standard limits.
• Mobile Banking Digital banking platform accessible via iPhone and Android apps (Google Play and Apple App Store), enabling balance checks, account activity viewing, mobile check deposits, fund transfers, Zelle P2P payments, debit card controls (lock/unlock, spending limits), and bill pay for consumer and business customers.
• Online Banking Web-based digital banking with account management, bill payment, money transfers, secure messaging, real-time alerts, and video guides for consumer and business users, built on a CSI digital banking infrastructure.

Quantifiable outcome

• Supporting 125+ families with childcare financing through community investment
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers12 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration6 records

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Main StreetminorOthers · 1 February 2025Partnership with Main Street for check reordering services, offering personal and business checks to customers through a dedicated portal.
• Central Mountain SBDCcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with Central Mountain Small Business Development Center for the Rooted in Chaffee Microloan program, providing business coaching and support alongside financing for local entrepreneurs.
• Chaffee County Community FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoint partnership for microloan program expanding access to capital for entrepreneurs who may not have traditional collateral. Foundation provides support to help expand borrowing opportunities.
• Colorado Banker's Association (CBA)minorOthersMembership in Colorado Banker's Association for industry networking and advocacy.
• Independent Community Bankers of Colorado (ICBA)minorOthersMembership in Independent Community Bankers of Colorado representing community banking interests.
• Bankers' Bank of the WestminorOthersPartnership with Bankers' Bank of the West for banking services and support.
• IntraFi (ICS & CDARS)coreTechnology or IntegrationExclusive partnership offering IntraFi Insured Cash Sweep (ICS) and CDARS services for extended FDIC coverage beyond standard $250,000 limits, enabling deposit insurance for large balances.
• Elan Financial ServicescoreTechnology or IntegrationPartnership with Elan Financial Services for credit card products, providing personal and business credit cards with zero fraud liability protection.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• ANB Bank: Colorado-headquartered community bank (part of Sturm Financial Group) offering personal and business banking across Colorado; similar product mix and community-bank value proposition, though operating at a slightly larger scale and broader geography.
• Collegiate Peaks Bank: Salida, CO-based community bank serving the Upper Arkansas River Valley with deposit and lending products; nearly identical geography, customer base, and community-banking model to High Country Bank, making it the most directly comparable peer.
• Alpine Banks of Colorado: Colorado's largest locally-owned community bank with branches in mountain and Western Slope communities; significant overlap in Colorado mountain-town customer base and local-decision-making model, though materially larger.
• First Western Financial: Publicly traded (NASDAQ: MYFW) Denver-based community bank holding company serving mountain and Western U.S. markets including Colorado; comparable target customer (affluent individuals, SMBs) and similar wealth-management-plus-banking business model in Colorado mountain towns.
• Bank of Colorado (FNBO-CS): Colorado-focused community bank (part of First National of Nebraska/Heartland Financial group) with branches across Colorado including mountain regions; directly competes for Colorado consumer and SMB deposits and loans with a broader branch footprint.

Broad incumbents

• Glacier Bancorp: Publicly traded (NYSE: GBCI) multi-state community bank holding company based in the Mountain West with operating banks across Western states; serves similar rural/small-metro community banking customers and is a natural acquirer archetype for HCB.
• Independent Bank Group: NASDAQ-listed Texas-based community bank holding company; comparable business model (small-town consumer/SMB banking, deposit-led funding) and similar acquisition-oriented growth strategy, though in a different geography.

Emerging players

• Elevations Credit Union: Colorado-based, member-owned credit union serving Boulder County and Front Range communities; competes for many of the same personal and small-business banking customers in the markets HCB serves (e.g., Longmont), but operates under a different cooperative structure.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/HighCountryBank
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/highcountrybankcolorado
• Instagraminstagram.com/highcountrybank1886

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles16 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about High Country Bancorp