Idaho Trust Reaches Agreement With F&M;

Idaho Trust Co. will provide trust services to Farmers and Merchants Bank customers as a result of a new alliance between the two companies.

Farmers and Merchants Chief Executive Officer Ric Odegard said the arrangement will enable the bank to expand its customer offerings without a major investment.

“I can’t afford a trust department,” he said.

Bank clients who want advice on estate planning and similar issues will be referred to Idaho Trust, Odegard said.

Private space for meetings will be made available in non-store branches, he said. Farmers and Merchants has 11 offices.

Idaho Trust, based in Sandpoint and Coeur d’Alene, was founded in 1994. The company manages $50 million in assets.

, DataTimes