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The Best of Finance 2021

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Best Bank

FirstBank

Founded in 1963, FirstBank is now Colorado’s largest locally owned holding company, with more than 110 locations. The importance of how the company can positively impact communities and customers has been a hallmark of the FirstBank ethos and is largely what the company attributes its growth to.

Even with its large range of influence, FirstBank makes it a priority to give back to its community. Since FirstBank first helped in establishing the Colorado Gives Day initiative, more than $300 million has been raised for Colorado nonprofits.

Runners-up

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Best Insurance Company

State Farm

Athletes like Aaron Rodgers and Patrick Mahomes elevate the social status of State Farm, but the comprehensive insurance coverage the company provides more than speaks for itself.

Providing insurance options for life, home, vehicle and small businesses, State Farm has plenty of options for you to pick from. Unsure of what works best for you?

Use the company’s website to get in touch with one of State Farm’s 19,000 agents across the country and find what type of coverage fits you.

Runners-up

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Best Mortgage Broker

M2 Lending Solutions

Wanting to offer customers fair and customized home loans, Chris Murphy founded M2 Lending Solutions in 2002. Now with a team that has a combined 50 years of mortgage industry experience, Murphy has created a company that prioritizes customer education in an industry that is often geared to helping the banks and brokers instead of the prospective homeowners.

“It is each loan officer’s mission to both educate customers and meet their financial needs,” the company’s website states. “Every M2 Lending customer can rest assured that their sensitive financial information is handled with the utmost care and security.”

Runners-up

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Best Credit Union

Ent Credit Union

Ent, the largest Colorado-based credit union, has more than 400,000 members served by more than 40 service centers up and down the Front Range. It was named Forbes “Best in State” credit union for Colorado for three years running and has received numerous other “best credit union” awards in the communities it serves.

Ent focuses on supporting nonprofits that support child and family health and wellbeing, and higher education, primarily through Colorado-based university and community college scholarships. Ent’s YES grants, now in their 21st year, have awarded more than $1.5 million to date to more than 200 not-for-profit agencies that benefit youth throughout the state.

Runners-up

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Best Title Company

Land Title Guarantee Company

Started in 1967, Land Title Guarantee Company has become Colorado’s largest locally owned and operated title agency.

Customer service, employee satisfaction and a dedication to Colorado and its communities are the driving factors behind the ethos of Land Title. With more than 50 locations statewide, Land Title makes itself accessible to you wherever you live.

“With Land Title, you’ll partner with closing agents and title examiners who know Colorado real estate laws, customs and markets inside and out,” the company says..

Runners-up

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Best Wealth Manager/Financial Planner 

Alpine Bank Wealth Management

Specializing in investment management, financial lifestyle management, individual retirement accounts and many other services, Alpine Bank Wealth Management helps to create a financial portfolio that is customized to you and your lifestyle.

Their process is centered around in-depth consultations that allow their team of investment professionals to keep your best interests in mind while they navigate the markets so you don’t have to.

“With our shared vision of your financial objectives, we can respond to any changes to your circumstances or in the markets,” the company says.

Runners-up

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Colorado Enterprise Fund (CEF)

Best SBA Lender

Alpine Bank

Being a small business is tough, and Alpine Bank knows that. Aiming to relieve the stress that comes with financing your business, Alpine Bank can help navigate cash management, payment processing, remote deposit capture and lockbox services.

Alpine has been serving Colorado since 1973, and with over 35 locations, it can help you wherever your business is located.

Priding itself on long-term relationships with its customers, Alpine makes sure that the culture surrounding the bank and those that interact with it is reflected in its localized feel.

Runners-up

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This article is part of the 2021 Best of Colorado Business Choice Awards. Explore all the winners and finalists:
PROFESSIONAL SERVICES | TECHNOLOGY & ELECTRONICSTRANSPORTATION | FINANCE
FOOD & BEVERAGE | LODGING & ACCOMMODATIONS | MAINTENANCE| REAL ESTATE
HEALTH | PERSONAL FULFILLMENTLIFESTYLE | OFFICE | RECREATION

The Best of Finance 2020

Best Bank

Alpine Bank

When customers use their Alpine Bank Loyalty Debit Cards, Alpine Bank donates 10 cents to nonprofit organizations in their community. For 2019, those dimes added up to $1,635,120. Alpine Bank is employee-owned and locally operated, and has been a part of Colorado since 1973. With 40 locations statewide, Alpine Bank serves 140,000 customers. “While current times are testing us all, we deeply appreciate this recognition from our customers to whom we owe our success,” said Alpine Bank founder and chairman Bob Young. “We have always been and continue to be all in this together.”

Runners-up

Best Insurance Provider

State Farm

State Farm provides insurance, and also offers useful information on its website. Last year it reported that U.S. drivers have a one in 116 chance of colliding with an animal, and in Colorado drivers have a one in 186 chance. That’s compared to a one in 175 chance of being audited by the IRS, one in 215 chance of dating a millionaire, and one in 220 chance of writing a New York Times bestseller. In Colorado, State Farm supports Earth Force, a nonprofit focused on educating teachers on how to build environmental community projects with their students.

Runners-up

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Best Credit Union

ENT Credit Union

Ent Credit Union was established in 1957 to serve the Ent Air Force Base in Colorado Springs. Ent now has 370,000 member-owners in 12 counties. In 2019 Ent donated $2 million to area nonprofits. The credit union provides Ent Youth Endowment Series (YES) grants to not-for-profit agencies that benefit youth, and not-for-profits in the Pikes Peak, Pueblo and Denver areas can apply for a YES grant. Ent focuses on supporting nonprofits that support child and family health and wellbeing, and higher education, primarily Colorado-based university and community college scholarships.

Runners-up

Best Of Mortgage American Financing

Best Mortgage Broker

American Financing

In recent years, Peyton Manning has drawn a lot of attention to American Financing, the family-owned mortgage company founded by Damian and Gabie Maldonado in 2001. American financing is known for its dedicated mortgage consultants, custom loan programs and faster-than-industry average closings.  American Financing has grown into a national mortgage banker, from 15 employees in 2001 to 329 employees in 2017.

The company aligns small teams of mortgage consultants and processors to create unity and understanding and provide customers with direct contact with two people, rather than requiring follow-up with multiple contacts.

“The best way to sustain growth and provide the best service is through a strong foundation, strategic leadership and experienced employees,” Damian Maldonado said.

Runners-up

Best Title Company

Best Title Company

Empire Title

Empire Title provides sound, basic title services that protect property owners by insuring against defects in titles that have already occurred but have not yet been discovered. The company specializes in solving title problems and maximizing opportunities for transactions to close. The company offers classes such as The Basics of Title Commitment; The Basics of Business Planning and Marketing; The Basics of HUD; and Advanced Foreclosure. It also provides marketing services, including flyers and postcards; labels and lists; and property profile books.

Runners-up

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Best Wealth Manager/Financial Planner

Obermeyer Wood Investment Counsel

Obermeyer Wood Investment Counsel is an independent registered investment adviser and financial planning firm with offices in Aspen and Denver. Like most investment advisers, Obermeyer Wood offers services such as portfolio evaluation, securities selection, plans for future financial events and risk assessment. But Obermeyer Wood is different in that its advisers seek to understand clients’ goals and unique financial picture.

“That way, we can coordinate with your other advisers, such as your CPA and estate attorney, to come up with an investment plan that gives you and your family financial peace of mind well into the future,” the company explains.

Runners-up

Best SBA Lender

Alpine Bank

Alpine Bank has 40 locations from Durango to Denver, including Front Range branches in Denver’s Union Station, Cherry Creek and Denver Tech Center neighborhoods and Boulder. Alpine Bank serves 140,000 customers with personal, business, wealth management, mortgage and electronic banking services.

Amid the COVID-19 outbreak, Alpine Bank devoted the section about SBA loans on its website to keeping businesses informed of available resources such as the SBA’s Paycheck Protection Program and how to apply for the program through the bank. The Paycheck Protection Program authorizes up to $349 billion in forgivable loans to small businesses to pay their employees during the COVID-19 crisis.

Runners-up


This article is part of the 2020 Best of Colorado Business Choice Awards. Explore all the winners and finalists:
PROFESSIONAL SERVICESTECHNOLOGY & ELECTRONICSTRANSPORTATION
FOOD& BEVERAGELODGING & ACCOMMODATIONSMAINTENANCE| REAL ESTATE
HEALTH| PERSONAL FULFILLMENTLIFESTYLE | OFFICE | RECREATION