CONTRIBUTED CONTENT — After serving customers throughout the greater St. George area for over 40 years, Brigham Johnson, a senior credit administrator at Cache Valley Bank, is retiring. 

Inspired by the pioneers who laid the foundations of this great state, Cache Valley Bank has blazed new frontiers in the development of St. George, growing it into Utah’s most populous community outside the Wasatch Front. Throughout his career, Johnson has been instrumental in securing vital capital for entrepreneurs, builders, dreamers and doers to reach greater heights.

“Brigham has been a pillar in the banking community,” said Will Jones, president of Cache Valley Bank’s South Region. “You’d be hard-pressed to find a business or project that he hasn’t helped finance. His handprints are all over the development of Washington County.”

Johnson grew up in Moccasin, Arizona, a tiny community on the Kaibab Indian Reservation near the Utah border. He graduated from Southern Utah University in 1981 with a bachelor’s degree in business and was hired by First Security Corporation, a multi-state bank holding company headquartered in Salt Lake City.

Johnson remained with the company after it was acquired by Wells Fargo in 2000, spending a total of 39 years on the frontlines of business finance in St. George.

“Brigham’s one of the best bankers I’ve ever met,” said Jones, who worked with Johnson at Wells Fargo for over a decade before both relocated to Cache Valley Bank. “Generally, you have bankers who are really good with numbers and can understand the financial side and others who are stronger on the personal side, developing relationships and working with people. He’s one of those rare individuals who does both.”

Johnson joined Cache Valley Bank at the beginning of 2021 as a senior credit administrator. Being part of a “homegrown” financial institution with the ability to make local decisions after decades of working for a big bank was a welcome change, he said, adding that Cache Valley Bank truly cares about the people they employ as well as the communities they serve.

Reflecting on more than 40 years of helping customers build their businesses and solve financial challenges, Johnson said the greatest obstacles he has faced were brought on by technology. Banking wasn’t yet computer-based when he started his career, so evolving from file cabinets and ledgers to automated systems was a remarkable transformation.

“Also, trying to help customers but at the same time helping the bank be financially healthy, safe and strong,” he added. “It’s always been a balance.”

Johnson will bid farewell to Cache Valley Bank, and his decades-long career of helping finance Southern Utah’s future, at the end of this month. The bank is hosting a retirement party for him on Wednesday, Feb. 28, at noon at the Tabernacle branch. Everyone in the community is invited to stop by, enjoy a light lunch and share a memory or two.

In the near future, Johnson plans to spend time with his grandchildren and on his ranch, something he seldom had the opportunity to enjoy while working full-time. He’ll also serve a senior mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints alongside his wife Jeanne starting this summer.

Johnson said he’s looking forward to the next chapter of his life, but he’ll miss interacting with his coworkers as well as his customers, many of whom he’s known for 30 years or more.

“It’s definitely the people,” he added. “I work with some really good people that care about me and enjoy life and enjoy what they do.”

Cache Valley Bank is a member of the FDIC and an equal housing lender. They operate four offices in Southern Utah and 21 other locations across Utah and Idaho. For more information, visit CacheValleyBank.com or call 888-418-5333.

Written by ALEXA MORGAN for St. George News.

• S P O N S O R E D  C O N T E N T •

Resources

• Cache Valley Bank | Website.
• Locations:
  • Tabernacle | Address: 294 E. Tabernacle St., St. George | Telephone: 435-673-9610.
  • River Road | Address: 1224 S. River Road, St. George | Telephone: 435-627-1100.
  • Sunset | Address: 1091 N. Bluff St., Suite 200, St. George | Telephone: 435-652-8200.
  • Washington | Address: 710 W. Telegraph St., Washington City | Telephone: 435-656-5515

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