ANCHORAGE – First National Bank Alaska welcomes ENSTAR Natural Gas Company President John Sims as the latest addition to the bank’s Board of Directors. Sims joins Board Chair and CEO/President Betsy Lawer, Vice Chair Lucy Mahan, Adm. Tom Barrett, John Binkley, Perry Eaton, Darren Franz, Cheri Gillian, Jane Klopfer, Pat Pitney, Kim Reitmeier, Lukas Stutzer, Tom Tougas and Janet Weiss on the board.
“Sims’ deep understanding of Alaska’s vibrant communities, combined with his track record of strategic leadership in the energy sector, makes him an exceptional choice for our Board,” said Lawer. “His insights will be invaluable to serving and shaping a brighter tomorrow for all Alaskans.”
As president of ENSTAR Natural Gas Company and through his active collaboration with utilities, tourism, and Alaska Native corporations, Sims is committed to driving meaningful infrastructure improvements to enhance the quality of life for Alaskans. A recipient of the Alaska Journal of Commerce Top Forty Under 40 Award, he also serves on the boards of Junior Achievement of Alaska, the Chugiak Eagle River Foundation and Alaska Communications. Sims is currently the Board Chair for the Western Energy Institute, a leading nonprofit trade association serving the energy sector.
Alaska’s community bank since 1922, First National Bank Alaska proudly meets the financial needs of Alaskans with ATMs and 28 locations in 19 communities throughout the state, and by providing banking services to meet their needs across the nation and around the world.
For more than a century, the bank has been committed to supporting the communities it serves. In 2024, for the eighth consecutive reporting period, over a span of twenty-four years, First National received an Outstanding Community Reinvestment Act performance rating from the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency.
In 2025, Alaska Business readers voted First National “Best of Alaska Business” in the Best Place to Work category for the 10th year in a row, Best Bank/Credit Union for the fifth time, and Best Customer Service for the second year in a row. Forbes also selected First National as the sixth best bank on their America’s Best Banks list and one of the top two Banks in the State, and Newsweek recognized the bank as one of the nation’s Best Regional Banks and Credit Unions. In 2025, American Banker recognized First National as a “Best Bank to Work For” for the eighth year in a row. The bank was also voted “Best of Alaska” in the Anchorage Daily News awards, ranking as one of the top three in the Bank/Financial category for the seventh consecutive year. First National Bank Alaska is a Member FDIC, Equal Housing Lender, and is recognized as a Minority Depository Institution by the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency, as it is majority-owned by women.