In Brief: Ex-Great Western CEO Plans New Utah Thrift

Great Western Financial's former chairman, James F. Montgomery, wants to open a new thrift in Park City-the Utah ski resort town where he has vacationed for many years.

In an application submitted last week to the Office of Thrift Supervision, he cited the need for a locally based bank. "Personal banking service in the area has declined," the application noted, with the area's large banks being based outside the region.

Among Mr. Montgomery's competitors in Park City would be Washington Mutual Inc., the Seattle thrift that bought Great Western in July.

The thrift would be named Bank of the West. Its primary business would be home loans, and it is expected to open next April with capital of about $5 million. The loans will be made in the high-priced Park City area and around Salt Lake City, where homes are lower-priced.

Mr. Montgomery, 62, is teaming up with former Great Western executive vice president Curtis J. Crivelli and Washington lawyer Raymond J. Gustini, who lobbied for Great Western in Washington for several years.

Mr. Gustini said the bank's capital will be raised in a private placement with 10 to 15 investors. The application to the OTS says the Bank of the West expects to achieve a 15% return on average equity by the fifth year, and have assets of $100 million by the sixth year.

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