How First Utah Bank is “Redefining Possible”
If you’ve been to any one of our branches or visited First Utah Bank online, you might have noticed a common, repeated phrase: “Redefining Possible.” This isn’t just some catchy marketing tagline—it’s our motto for everything we do.
But what does it mean?
Every bank talks about supporting the community. But for us here at First Utah Bank, that support shows up in the way we work with our customers and business owners and how we invest in the community in which we live and work.
We talked with Roger Shumway, Senior VP and Business Banking Officer, and Amy Foulks, President and CEO, to understand more about how this concept is woven into the fabric of how we do business and show up in our community.
Embracing Potential
A Redefining Possible moment requires starting with an open mind. Let’s say your business doesn’t align with a classic lending profile. Maybe your business model is unconventional, you’re in a new industry or you’re growing fast, and the numbers from last year don’t tell the whole story.
This is where we start a lot of conversations—not with easy approvals that any bank would make, but with businesses that don’t fit the typical model. When your loan doesn’t match with the standard template, you need lenders who can think differently about structure—whether that means accepting different collateral or writing loan terms that match your actual business cycle.
“We make decisions locally, which allows us to be a little bit more creative,” Shumway explains. “There are ways to structure a loan that can help you with what you need.”
First Utah Bank is a community bank first and foremost, which means our credit team is based here in Salt Lake City. They know the local market and understand what Utah businesses are dealing with, and they have the authority to make decisions without routing everything through distant headquarters in another state.
And when you work with First Utah Bank, you get to meet the people who are making credit decisions on your loan. You can sit down with them, explain your business model, and walk them through your growth plans. Need to speak to the bank president? No problem. We want to ask questions, understand your specific situation, and make decisions from there.
Sharing Your Vision
Most lenders tend to focus primarily on your current position, relying on historical data like last year’s revenue, current assets, and credit history. At First Utah Bank, we take that data into consideration—but we also take the opportunity to consider the trajectory of your business.
“Many times, lenders will look at a single transaction or just look at the numbers,” says Shumway. “We care more about the business model. The terms of the transaction matter, but where you’re going matters, too.”
This offers a real shift in perspective that you won’t find at most other banks. Where is your business headed over the next five years? What obstacles might you face? What opportunities are you positioning yourself to capture? How does this financing fit into your larger strategy? We’re interested in finding out where you’re headed, not just where you’ve been.
Simplifying the Complex
When you’re trying to understand your loan terms, you shouldn’t need a banking degree to decode what you’re signing.
“There’s a lot of bank talk that can be confusing,” Shumway says. At First Utah Bank, we take a different approach. “Our job is to make everything easy to understand, so that you know exactly what you’re getting into with your loan.”
You can’t make good decisions about your business financing if you don’t actually understand what you’re agreeing to. Cutting through complicated banking jargon isn’t about being friendly; it’s about making sure you have the information you need to move forward confidently.
Beyond Individual Loans: Investing in the Local Economy
Redefining Possible at First Utah Bank isn’t limited to individual lending decisions. According to Foulks, it also influences how the bank supports the entire community. In 2025 alone, First Utah Bank gave nearly $800,000 to local charities focused on women, children and food insecurity.
“When we give, that encourages even more giving from other companies,” says Foulks. “Supporting families and addressing food insecurity uplifts the entire community—and that in turn strengthens local businesses.”
In a local economy, everyone is connected. When families have more stability, everyone benefits. Here at First Utah Bank, we’re your neighbors, and we’re just as invested in seeing our friends and loved ones succeed as you are.
This kind of community support also uplifts First Utah Bank’s inner workplace culture. “When you walk through the halls of each branch, you can see how much our employees take pride in working for a bank that gives back in meaningful ways.”
Playing the Long Game
First Utah Bank isn’t structured around one-time transactions. We’re looking for multi-year banking relationships that nurture and grow our local community and economy. This is what Redefining Possible means to us.
It’s having real conversations about where your business is headed, and giving you explanations in plain language when you have questions. It means having a banking partner who’s thinking about your business in terms of years—not just this quarter or this loan.
“Your goals are our goals,” says Shumway. “We succeed when you succeed.”
Redefining Possible at First Utah Bank comes down to the kind of relationship we establish with each one of our customers and our local community, and creating solutions that contribute toward a thriving economy.
To us, your business is much more than just a credit score or a data point. We’re here to invest the time to understand your story and help you reach your goals, celebrating with you every step of the way.
Together, let’s discover what Redefining Possible means for you.