Creating Her Own Way
Bonnie LeBeau reflects on 25 years of partnering with Four Bands and a lifetime of quilting. Although Bonnie LeBeau, a Navy veteran and member of the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe,
[VIDEO] What We Came Here For
April 10, 2025 From Hope to Home Tammy Granados used a loan from Four Bands to purchase her home. Learn more about her homeownership journey in this short video produced
Community Support Drives Business Growth
Tori Chasing Hawk achieves sweet success with side hustle. What started out as a way for Tori Chasing Hawk to make some extra cash has grown into a booming business
Alternative Ag Financing
Patient capital model enables Dean Dupris and Kristen Lawrence to achieve herd growth. Nearly a decade ago, Dean Dupris was introduced to Four Bands through our CREATE (Cheyenne River Entrepreneurial
More Dreams Come True
Kelsie Kay’s Coffee Depot graduates from incubator program and moves to new location. In 2018, when Kelsie Kay Haskell participated in our revamped credit builder program – called our Financial
Hometown Furniture Celebrates 10 Years
Hometown Furniture Celebrates 10 Years A decade ago, Dennis and Elaine Neigel were at an exciting, but uncertain point. Starting a business of their own was something the couple had
Hickory Street Kitchen & Cocktails Celebrates Five Years
Hickory Street Kitchen & Cocktails Celebrates Five Years July 7, 2021 As the COVID-19 pandemic winds down around the country, many restaurants are picking up the pieces and struggling to
COVID-19 Inspires Innovation
Troy Vrooman integrates digital technology into agricultural operation. November 19, 2020 As a lifelong rancher on Cheyenne River, Troy Vrooman has seen tremendous results from his new working relationship with
Home is Where Family Comes Together
Justin LaPlante and Julie Yardley Stay the Path to Homeownership Justin LaPlante and Julia Yardley’s blended family has been living in two separate households for several years, but not
Ubetcha Wateca Celebrates First Anniversary
Shari Ducheneaux Commits to Success Despite Pandemic-Induced Downturn June 9, 2020 In the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, Ubetcha Wateca celebrated one year at their new location in the Four
Building Credit and Creating a Bright Future
Stottin Newbrough Opens Doors of Opportunity by Increasing Credit Score The summer of 2010 was filled with milestones for Stottin Newbrough. By participating in Four Bands’ youth entrepreneur internship program,
Building Credit and Confidence
Karen Ducheneaux Improves Credit Score Karen Ducheneaux came to Four Bands, because despite being financially responsible and paying her bills on time, her credit score was lower than expected. “It
Traveling the Path to Home
Robbie Knight sets foundation for homeownership by participating in credit builder program. For Robbie Knight, her homeownership journey began with her desire to move out of her apartment. Although it
Supporting Youth Entrepreneurs in South Dakota
Kaiden White Bear uses business loan to grow his farrier business. Kaiden White Bear (Assiniboine and Sioux Tribes of Fort Peck) has been shoeing horses since he was 19 years
A Permanent Solution to the Revolving Debt Cycle
Kelsie Kay Haskell is one of the first to participate in the redesigned credit builder program. Four Bands Community Fund has been deploying credit builder loans for over 10 years,
Meeting Market Demand
Jeremy Ferguson’s new business brings essential services to Cheyenne River. Pumping septic tanks probably isn’t the dream job most people hope to land someday. For Jeremy Ferguson it’s not even
Seeking to Strengthen Local Markets
Next Generation of Agricultural Leaders Takes the Reins As Dace Harper and his partner, Mason Dietterle, wrap up their first month as new owners of the Faith Livestock Commission Company
Celebrating the First Year in Business
Native-Owned Restaurant on Lake Traverse Reservation Celebrates One Year One year ago, Nik (Sisseton Wahpeton Oyate) and Tracey Sing, were making a dream come true by opening the doors to
Risk Transformed to Reward
Walt Swan Finds Success by Trying Again According to Bloomberg, 8 out of 10 entrepreneurs who start businesses fail within 18 months. For entrepreneurs, failure is not only a very
Creating Her Own Destiny
Michelle Antone Leaves Career as Financial Professional to Become Entrepreneur Michelle Antone (Cheyenne River Sioux) is celebrating her first year as owner of Edible Arrangements, a shop that offers hand-cut
A Home They Will Always Call Their Own
Jennifer Aberle Saves Her Way to Homeownership Jennifer Aberle (Cheyenne River Sioux) of Timber Lake, South Dakota says participating in Four Bands’ Individual Development Account (IDA) Program was an “amazing,
Greening Cheyenne River One Home at a Time
Marcella Gilbert Uses Green Consumer Loan to Increase Energy Efficiency by Improving Home’s Water Systems For Marcella Gilbert, a loan from Four Bands dramatically changed her home environment. As a
Creating Her Own Opportunity
Morgan Lawrence Builds a Business in Her Hometown After graduating from Cheyenne Eagle Butte High School in 2010, Morgan Lawrence, a lifetime resident of the Cheyenne River Sioux Reservation, knew
Re-Discovering Life’s Simple Pleasures
Robi Miller Starts Local Bakery with Support from Four Bands Today’s society is a far cry from the lifestyle our grandparents – or even parents – led. These days
Starting a Trend Towards Higher Education
Jessie Carlson Grows Her College Fund This tax season Jesse Carlson, a 2013 graduate from Dupree High School, staffed the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) site hosted by Four Bands.
A Stepping Stone to Homeownership
Aaron Runs After Uses Credit Builder Loan to Improve Credit and Become Mortgage Ready The past year has been full of accomplishments for Aaron Runs After, a member of the
Bringing Opportunity Back to “The Rez”
Kali Hale Dreams of Using College Education to Help Cheyenne River Youth “I always knew I wanted to go to college, but I didn’t know how. I didn’t grow up
Gaining Confidence to Achieve Dreams
Megan Bagola Finds More Than Tuition as She Saves for a College Education Reflecting on her participation in the Four Bands Youth Entrepreneur Internship Program during her Senior year,