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Our History Denali State Bank was founded by a local leader, Gary Roth, who sought to create a bank that excelled in customer service. Despite the tumultuous times of the mid-1980s when many banks were shutting down, several bankers believed in Gary’s vision. These bankers left their present jobs and teamed together to start a bank with the mission of ALWAYS putting the customer first.
Nearly 50 investors pooled their financial resources together to found Denali State Bank. All of the stockholders were from the Interior and understood the Fairbanks community.
The vacant St. Joseph’s Hospital building, centrally located downtown on the Chena River, was selected as the Main Office. During renovations, office furniture and equipment were purchased and temporarily stored in Gary’s garage.
In February 1986, the FDIC certificate was received via messenger at 9:30 a.m., and Denali State Bank opened its doors for business for the first time at 10:00 a.m.
Jyotsna "Jo" Heckman succeeded Gary upon his retirement in 2003 as the Bank president. As the first female bank president in Alaska's history, Jo was profiled in Alaska Business Monthly magazine in November 2003, six months after assuming her new role as president. She described her role simply, “Our staff and management are extremely qualified and my role is to build our Bank’s success by leveraging those talents, so we are all working toward the same mission: the success of the Bank.”
Jo maintains an open door policy in her office which is located in the lobby of our Main Office.
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Jyotsna "Jo" Heckman
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