First National Bank of Anchorage.

• Author: BARBOUR, TRACY
• Position: Brief Article - Statistical Data Included

2001 Top 49er Ranking: 9

Position Last Year: 10

2000 Revenue: $142.1 million

Number of Employees: 750

If you call First National Bank Chairman and President D.H. Cuddy, you'll never get a recorded message. Instead, you'll be greeted by Cuddy himself. Or his secretary when he's away from his desk.

In fact, Cuddy doesn't even have voicemail on his direct line-though it's a common feature on other phones throughout the bank. "I don't like to talk to voicemail, so why should my customers have to?" he explained.

Cuddy, 82, has devoted the past 50 years of his life to making First National a "friendly, helpful" bank. A bank that's "interested in people."

That approach has served the bank well over the years. First National is now the largest Alaskan-owned and operated bank. Its offerings include consumer and corporate accounts and mortgage loans, as well as trust, cash management, credit card, lock box and wire transfer services. With 27 branches and ATMs in 16 communities from Barrow to Sitka, the bank has some 750 employees and $1.6 billion in assets.

These accomplishments have once again landed First National on Alaska Business Monthly's annual Top 49er list, which recognizes the leading Alaskanowned companies in the state. The bank has made the list every year since the Top 49ers' inception in 1985.

Cuddy attributes First National's longevity as an Alaska business leader and Top 49er to simply this: "We run a good bank .... We look after the depositors' money and don't take any unreasonable chances."

That attitude embodies the essence of a mission statement crafted by Warren Cuddy back in the late 1940s. Explaining the standards that were set by his father, Cuddy said: "Our first responsibility is to our depositors. Our next responsibility is to serve the communities in which we are located. And thirdly, we look after the employees of the bank ... pay them reasonable salaries and provide reasonable working conditions. If you don't have happy employees, your bank will not be successful."

People are among First National's greatest assets, said Vice Chair and Chief Operating Officer Betsy Lawer. Financial institutions increasingly are offering the same services, making good leadership and employees essential elements for success, she said.

"We need the leadership and staff expertise to determine the direction of our business, to manage our balance sheet and to provide the best services we can," said Lawer, 52.

CAPITALIZING ON STRENGTHS

In an...