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First Interstate names Jeff Lee COO with $480K salary

FIRST INTERSTATE BANCSYSTEM INC (FIBK) reported the appointment of Jeff Lee as Executive Vice President and Chief Operations Officer of the company and its wholly owned subsidiary, First Interstate Bank.

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(Neutral)
Form Type
8-K

Rhea-AI Filing Summary

FIRST INTERSTATE BANCSYSTEM INC (FIBK) reported the appointment of Jeff Lee as Executive Vice President and Chief Operations Officer of the company and its wholly owned subsidiary, First Interstate Bank. His employment is expected to begin formally on September 14, 2026.

Under an Employment Agreement expected to be finalized by the Effective Date, Mr. Lee’s initial annual base salary is set at $480,000, with participation in incentive, bonus, and long-term incentive plans available to similarly situated executives. He is also expected to receive time-based restricted stock units with a grant date value of $200,000, vesting in three equal annual installments beginning on September 14, 2027, subject to continued employment. The Employment Agreement is expected to have an initial one-year term with automatic one-year renewals unless terminated or non-renewed with at least 90 days’ notice.

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Item 5.02 Departure of Directors or Certain Officers; Election of Directors; Appointment of Certain Officers Governance
Key personnel changes including departures, elections, or appointments of directors and executive officers.
Item 9.01 Financial Statements and Exhibits Exhibits
Financial statements, pro forma financial information, or exhibit attachments filed with this report.
Initial annual base salary $480,000 Compensation for Jeff Lee under expected Employment Agreement
Restricted stock units grant date value $200,000 Time-based RSU award in connection with Jeff Lee’s appointment
Effective Date of employment September 14, 2026 Expected start date for Jeff Lee as EVP and COO
RSU vesting start date September 14, 2027 First vesting date for time-based RSUs granted to Jeff Lee
Initial Employment Agreement term One year Initial term of Jeff Lee’s Employment Agreement before automatic renewals
Non-renewal notice period 90 days Minimum notice required before the end of a term to prevent automatic renewal
time-based restricted stock units financial
"a long-term incentive award in the form of time-based restricted stock units"
Time-based restricted stock units are a form of employee compensation where individuals are granted company shares that are earned over a set period, often as a reward for staying with the company. These shares typically become fully owned and transferable only after passing specific time milestones, encouraging long-term commitment. For investors, they highlight a company's focus on employee retention and can influence future stock supply and company stability.
Employment Agreement regulatory
"expected to enter into a formal Employment Agreement with Mr. Lee"
forward-looking statements regulatory
"Statements contained in this report constitute “forward-looking statements”"
Forward-looking statements are predictions or plans that companies share about what they expect to happen in the future, like estimating sales or profits. They matter because they help investors understand a company's outlook, but since they are based on guesses and assumptions, they can sometimes be wrong.

FAQ

What executive leadership change did FIRST INTERSTATE BANCSYSTEM INC (FIBK) announce?

FIBK announced that Jeff Lee will become Executive Vice President and Chief Operations Officer of the company and its wholly owned subsidiary, First Interstate Bank, with his employment expected to formally begin on September 14, 2026.

What is Jeff Lee’s base salary at FIRST INTERSTATE BANCSYSTEM INC (FIBK)?

Under the expected Employment Agreement, Jeff Lee’s initial annual base salary is $480,000. He is also expected to participate equitably in incentive compensation, bonus programs, and long-term incentive opportunities available to executives who report to the Chief Executive Officer.

What equity award will Jeff Lee receive from FIBK and how does it vest?

Jeff Lee is expected to receive a long-term incentive award of time-based restricted stock units with an aggregate grant date value of $200,000. These restricted stock units are expected to vest in three equal annual installments starting on September 14, 2027, subject to his continued employment.

How long is Jeff Lee’s Employment Agreement with FIRST INTERSTATE BANCSYSTEM INC (FIBK)?

The Employment Agreement is expected to have an initial term of one year and will automatically renew for successive one-year terms unless terminated or non-renewal notice is given at least 90 days before the end of the applicable term.

Will FIBK provide more details on Jeff Lee’s Employment Agreement?

FIBK expects to finalize and file the Employment Agreement with its periodic report for the period in which it is executed. Investors are encouraged to read the full agreement when available, as it will include important terms not summarized in this report.

AI-generated analysis. How Rhea-AI works. Not financial advice.

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Learn about SEC filing dates
false000086041300008604132026-08-212026-08-21

UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington D.C. 20549
 ------------------------------ 
FORM 8-K
------------------------------ 
CURRENT REPORT
Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934
Date of report (date of earliest event reported): August 21, 2026
 ------------------------------ 
FIRST INTERSTATE BANCSYSTEM, INC.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
 ------------------------------ 
Delaware001-3465381-0331430
(State or other jurisdiction of
incorporation or organization)
(Commission
File No.)
(IRS Employer
Identification No.)
401 North 31st Street
Billings,
MT
59101
(Address of principal executive offices)(zip code)

(406)255-5311
(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)
Not Applicable
(Former name or former address, if changed since last report)

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions (see General Instruction A.2. below):
 Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)
Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a- 12)
Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))
Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))

* * * * *
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:
Title of each classTrading Symbol(s)Name of exchange on which registered
Common stock, $0.00001 par valueFIBKNASDAQ
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933 (§230.405 of this chapter) or Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (§240.12b-2 of this chapter).
    Emerging growth company
If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act.
* * * * *



Item 5.02 Departure of Directors or Certain Officers; Election of Directors; Appointment of Certain Officers; Compensatory Arrangements of Certain Officers.
Appointment of Chief Operations Officer
On August 21, 2026, the registrant announced the appointment of Mr. Jeff Lee to become Executive Vice President and Chief Operations Officer of the registrant and its wholly owned subsidiary, First Interstate Bank (the “Bank”), with Mr. Lee’s employment starting date expected to begin formally on September 14, 2026 (the “Effective Date”). Mr. Lee, who is 57 years old, has more than 20 years of banking leadership experience in operations, technology, digital banking, information security, marketing and business transformation. From May 2013 until January 2024, Mr. Lee served in several officer roles within Seacoast Banking Corporation of Florida, a financial holding company listed on the Nasdaq Global Select Market (NASDAQ: SBCF), beginning as Chief Marketing Officer until his transition to Chief Digital Officer in May 2019 and subsequent transition to Chief Operations and Technology Officer in March 2021. Since leaving Seacoast Banking Corporation of Florida, from March 2025 to November 2025, Mr. Lee served as an independent strategic consultant to a publicly traded banking institution. Before joining Seacoast Banking Corporation of Florida, Mr. Lee held senior marketing and digital leadership positions with American Express International, Bonnier Corporation, and BGT Partners. Mr. Lee holds a Bachelor of Business Administration degree from the University of Memphis and a Master of Business Administration degree from the University of Florida - Warrington College of Business.

In connection with his appointment, the registrant and the Bank are expected to enter into a formal Employment Agreement with Mr. Lee (the “Employment Agreement”) that is expected to be effective as of the Effective Date and be on terms substantially similar to the terms of the registrant’s other executive officers who report to the registrant’s Chief Executive Officer, except as otherwise described herein with respect to the financial terms approved by the Compensation Committee of the registrant’s Board of Directors for Mr. Lee’s employment. Under the Employment Agreement, Mr. Lee’s initial annual base salary has been set at $480,000, and he will be expected to be entitled to equitable participation in incentive compensation, bonuses and long-term incentive opportunities in any plan or arrangement in which he is eligible to participate. In addition, in connection with his appointment, the registrant expects to grant to Mr. Lee a long-term incentive award in the form of time-based restricted stock units with an aggregate grant date value of $200,000. The restricted stock units are expected to vest in three equal annual installments beginning on September 14, 2027, subject to Mr. Lee’s continued employment through each applicable vesting date. The Employment Agreement is expected to have an initial term of one year and contain a provision for automatic renewal for successive one-year terms unless terminated or notice of non-renewal is provided at least 90 days prior to the end of the applicable term. The registrant expects to finalize the terms of the Employment Agreement with Mr. Lee by the Effective Date and to file the agreement with the registrant’s periodic report covering the period during which the Employment Agreement is executed by all parties. Investors and other interested parties are encouraged to read the full text of the Employment Agreement when it becomes available because it will contain important terms not included in the summary above.
Mr. Lee was not appointed pursuant to any arrangement or understanding with any person, and Mr. Lee does not have any family relationships with any directors or executive officers of the registrant. Neither Mr. Lee nor any of his immediate family has been a party to any transactions with the registrant during the registrant’s last two fiscal years, nor is any such transaction currently proposed, that would be reportable as a related party transaction under Item 404(a) of Regulation S-K.
Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements
Statements contained in this report constitute “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements are predictive in nature and are identified by the use of the terms “expected,” “will,” “look forward to,” “aim,” and similar words or phrases indicating possible future expectations, events or actions. Statements about the registrant’s expectations concerning continued and future service arrangements with Mr. Lee are forward-looking statements. Such forward-looking statements are based on current expectations, assumptions and projections about our business and the registrant, and are not guarantees of our future performance or outcomes. These statements are subject to a number of known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors, many of which are beyond our ability to control or predict, which may cause actual events to be materially different from those expressed or implied herein. The registrant has provided additional information about the risks facing its business in its most recent annual report on Form 10-K, and any subsequent periodic and current reports on Forms 10-Q and 8-K, filed by it with the Securities and Exchange Commission. You are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date the statement was made and are expressly qualified in their entirety by the cautionary statements set forth herein and in the filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission identified above, which you should read in their entirety before making any investment or other decision with respect to our securities. We undertake no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements contained in this report, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as otherwise required by applicable law.



Item 9.01 Financial Statements and Exhibits.
(d) Exhibits.
Exhibit No.Exhibit Description
104Cover Page Interactive Data File (embedded within Inline XBRL document).



SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.
Date: August 21, 2026
 
FIRST INTERSTATE BANCSYSTEM, INC.
By:/s/ JAMES A. REUTER
James A. Reuter
President and Chief Executive Officer


Filing Exhibits & Attachments

3 documents