BancWest Corporation an-nounced on November 1 that it had completed the acquisition of Community First Bankshares, the company that owns Community First National Bank in Caledonia.

Community First president Michael Werner said in a press release to The Argus, ìWe are very excited about becoming Bank of the West. We are no longer a transactional bank but a full service bank focused on partnering with clients to proactively understand and fulfill their financial needs. Bank of the West will help us expand on the solutions we offer our clients.î

The staff at the bank will remain the same, he said. Clients accounts will convert to Bank of the West accounts at the close of the business day on December 3, 2004.

Customers will also be able to continue to use their current Community First checks and credit cards after the conversion.

Werner said anyone with questions can call the bank for more information.

BancWest, a subsidiary of BNP Paribas, is a bank holding company whose principal subsidiaries are Bank of the West and First Hawaiian Bank.

BancWest Corporation agreed to acquire Community First Bankshares, Inc., last March by paying $32.25 in cash for each share of Community First common stock. Nearly 97 percent of Community First shareholder votes cast on June 30 favored the $1.2-billion transaction.

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Caledonia Argus
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