The Diversity of Our Branches

Yes, all of the Dakota West branches offer personal service to our members (and future members) and yes, all of our communities are nestled in western North Dakota, but if you zoom in, you’ll notice what makes each of our branches unique and special in each of our communities.

Grenora, one of the oldest branches in the Dakota West organization is the only financial institution within 30 miles of the community.  Originally built around the Great Northern Railroad (GreNoRa), This community is as valuable to the region as Dakota West is to its northwestern members.

With a membership radius of fifty miles, Bowman’s community reaches beyond the edges of North Dakota.  Unlike any other branch, our Bowman location serves members in Baker, Montana and Buffalo, South Dakota, and into Hettinger, North Dakota making it our only three-state location.

Serving our members of the MHA Nation at our New Town branch, our Member Service Representatives are learning traditional Hidatsa greetings to welcome elders who visit our branch on the Fort Berthold Reservation.  We thank our members for the sense of family this shared communication brings to us.

Watford City is Dakota West’s home base, but it’s also the center of a county that includes a national park, two major rivers, two time zones, and blends both the history of agriculture and the modern advancements of the energy industry.

Located just twenty miles from Theodore Roosevelt Regional Airport, our New England branch plays a vital role for the smaller communities of Hettinger County.  The constancy of a credit union benefits the residents in the less-populated regions of North Dakota, and for half a century, this location has served as a valuable resource.

Each summer our Washburn branch provides account support to number of seasonal residents who come from the west coast of the United States and even from South Africa who return each year to lend a hand to our agricultural community.  We welcome back our summer members who are helping to continue the traditions of farming and honey production in our McLean County  community.

It’s the small ways our Mohall branch impacts our northeast region.  When the north winds blow, it certainly is a benefit to be the only financial institution in town with drive-through service so our members can remain warm and toasty in their vehicles.  In the summer, it’s also on the way to Lake Metigoshe for travelers needing to take advantage of our shared branch services.

In existence since 1940, our Turtle Lake branch is just down the street from Rusty the Turtle, the namesake placed to celebrate the 90th anniversary of the town in eastern McLean County.

We invite you to explore any of our branches when you are travelling throughout the Dakota West region.  You may meet new faces, but you’ll always receive the same quality service.  See you here soon!

Scholarship Profiles - Taylalyn Kaczmar, Clayton Ledahl, & Gracey Russell

Let us introduce three more Dakota West Annual Scholarship recipients from three different Dakota West branches.  Taylalyn Kaczmar of Watford City will be starting at North Dakota State University this month working towards her goal of becoming a physician’s assistant.  Her thoughts on the importance of communication relate directly to her future plans.

“Once in the medical field, discussion with providers and patients will be critical for the best and efficient care to be provided.  I recognize that having effective communication in the workplace can determine and impact how well my relationships with my superiors, coworkers, and patients will be.  I have been practicing good communication skills, and I will continue to improve these skills.  I strive to be the best I can for those around me, and I feel that communication will make that difference.”

Also pursuing a career in the medical profession, Gracey Russell of Washburn recognizes the impact of both current global circumstances and the importance of communication now more than ever.

“With the current situation throughout the world, scientists, doctors, and government officials need to communicate so that there is a cure coming, the proper precautions are taken, and that people need to stay away from others and certain things, such as indoor dining need to be closed.”  Gracey resumes her studies this month at Bismarck State College where she will be studying Nursing.

Clayton Ledahl of Grenora will be studying Business Management in his home county at Williston State College and is already planning for life after college and how Communication will play a role in his success.

“After I graduate college I plan to open and run my own business.  If I do open up my own business, I would have to do interviews with potential workers.  In order to do this I’d be communicating with the people I’m interviewing.  After I hire workers, I would have to talk with them every day, as well, beings they work for me.”

We wish Clayton, Gracey, and Tayla an exciting and productive school year as they reach towards their long-term goals.  They certainly represent what we hope for and partner with our members to provide every day.  Good luck to all our scholarship recipients!

Scholarship Profiles - Hannah Johnson & Morgan Reiser

Dakota West applauds two more of our scholarship recipients: Hannah Johnson of Grenora and Morgan Reiser of Turtle Lake, both of whom are heading into their second year of college.  These women rely heavily on Communication and shared their experiences on their applications.

Morgan studies Nursing at Dakota College at Bottineau but found herself in an unusual situation midway through her second semester.  “I had left campus for spring break without my books, only carrying my laptop to check up on my classes.  Soon, it was communicated across the state that students could not return to campus.  I started to panic, as I had no books and now, I had to continue my education through online learning.  If not for communication with the school, I would have had to navigate classes without my book.  Thankfully, I was able to rush back to campus and grab my books and more clothes.”

Hannah, a two-time Dakota West Scholarship recipient, is making a career out of Communication at the University of North Dakota.  “Currently, communication in the world has adapted from face-to-face interactions to other forms, due to the coronavirus pandemic.  Regardless of being in a time of adapting to different circumstances or not, we should try to communicate effectively so the illusion that communication took place, is not a problem.”  Hannah is also seeking a double major in Marketing.

We proudly recognize these young women as they continue their education here in North Dakota and thank them for being outstanding members of Dakota West Credit Union.

Watch for more individual profiles of these outstanding young members throughout the summer.

2020 Dakota West Credit Union Scholarships Awarded

(WATFORD CITY, ND, 15 May 2020) – Breaking from its tradition, Dakota West awarded $500 to every student who submitted an application for its 2020 Dakota West Credit Union Annual Scholarships.  Originally planning to award four scholarships, current high school seniors and enrolled college and trade school students submitted essays focusing on the Dakota West value of Communication.

“The unconventional circumstances for most students right now made the final months of this school year an exercise in self-discipline.  Any students who made the effort to speak to their viewpoint on the importance of Communication in this time of social-distancing deserves to be recognized for his or her dedication,” Juliet Jones, Marketing Coordinator for Dakota West, explained of the change in the number of recipients.

These seven students received news of their receipt of these scholarships on Dakota West’s Facebook page on Friday, May 15.

Dakota West expresses its congratulations and gratitude to the all the student members who belong to the non-profit credit union headquartered in Watford City, North Dakota.  Established in 1941, each of its branches and its members and employees help grow the Dakota West family with exceptional commitment to building relationships and strengthening communities.

Dedicated to exhibiting its values of Responsibility, Positive Attitude, Respectfulness, and Communication throughout west and central North Dakota, Dakota West Credit Union is instilling its young members with skills to maintain personal financial responsibility throughout their education.  Dakota West supports all its members grow with comprehensive, competitive financial products partnered with personal, professional service.  To learn more about its services and communities, visit our Member Service page.

Watch for individual profiles of these outstanding young members on our News & Events page throughout the summer.

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