# Kevin Riley

> Kevin P. Riley is the former president and CEO of First Interstate BancSystem and First Interstate Bank. Based in the Greater Billings Area, he joined as CFO in 2013 and led the bank from 2015 to 2024 through expansion into the Pacific Northwest and the Great Western merger. His public record also includes Federal Advisory Council service, community philanthropy and a 2018 fundraising promise that put him on a Billings teller line.

- **Role:** Retired former President and Chief Executive Officer of First Interstate BancSystem and First Interstate Bank
- **Organizations:** First Interstate BancSystem, Inc., First Interstate Bank, Berkshire Hills Bancorp, KeyCorp, Ernst & Young, Federal Advisory Council, Pacific Bankers Management Institute, First Interstate BancSystem Foundation
- **Education:** Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration Accounting, Northeastern University
- **Known for:** Led First Interstate during growth from roughly $7 billion in assets and three states to more than $30 billion and fourteen states, as described in its June 2024 retirement announcement., Oversaw the Cascade acquisition and Great Western merger as CEO., Served as the Ninth District representative on the Federal Advisory Council from 2019 through 2021.

## Career timeline

- **1983** — Graduated from Northeastern University with an accounting-focused business administration degree.
- **1986** — Joined banking after his father recruited him from Ernst & Young to assist KeyBank with Oregon deals.
- **2007** — Became executive vice president and CFO of Berkshire Hills Bancorp.
- **2013** — Appointed First Interstate executive vice president and CFO, effective August 15.
- **2015** — Succeeded Edward Garding as president and CEO, effective September 23.
- **2017** — First Interstate completed the Cascade Bancorp acquisition on May 30.
- **2019–2021** — Represented the Federal Reserve’s Ninth District on the Federal Advisory Council; term concluded December 2021.
- **2022** — First Interstate completed its Great Western Bancorp merger on February 1.
- **2024** — Retirement announced June 14; James Reuter succeeded him in November.
- **2025** — Transition agreement provided for service as special adviser to the board chair through January 1.

## Achievements

- Led First Interstate during growth from roughly $7 billion in assets and three states to more than $30 billion and fourteen states, as described in its June 2024 retirement announcement.
- Oversaw the Cascade acquisition and Great Western merger as CEO.
- Served as the Ninth District representative on the Federal Advisory Council from 2019 through 2021.

## Latest updates

- **2024-06** — First Interstate announced Riley’s planned retirement and a search for his successor.
- **2024-10** — The company named James Reuter as the next president and CEO, with succession effective in November 2024.
- **2025-01** — His transition agreement specified a special adviser role through January 1, 2025.

## Links

- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/firstinterstateceo

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Profile page: https://yespress.io/kevin-riley
Published by YesPress — https://yespress.io
Last updated: 2026-10-23