First Interstate BancSystem, Inc. filed a Form 8-K on August 21, 2026, disclosing the appointment of Jeff Lee as Executive Vice President and Chief Operations Officer of the company and its wholly owned subsidiary, First Interstate Bank, with a formal employment start date expected on September 14, 2026.

Key Highlights

  • New COO appointed: Jeff Lee, age 57, was named Executive Vice President and Chief Operations Officer, with a formal start date expected on September 14, 2026.
  • Base salary set at $480,000: Lee's initial annual base salary under the anticipated Employment Agreement has been set at $480,000.
  • RSU grant expected: The company expects to grant Lee time-based restricted stock units with an aggregate grant date value of $200,000, vesting in three equal annual installments beginning September 14, 2027.
  • Prior experience: Lee spent approximately a decade in multiple officer roles at Seacoast Banking Corporation of Florida (NASDAQ:SBCF), including Chief Marketing Officer, Chief Digital Officer, and Chief Operations and Technology Officer.
  • Employment Agreement term: The agreement is expected to have an initial one-year term with automatic renewal for successive one-year terms unless terminated or non-renewal notice is given at least 90 days in advance.

First Interstate BancSystem Appoints Jeff Lee as EVP and Chief Operations Officer

According to the filing, First Interstate BancSystem, Inc. (NASDAQ:FIBK) announced on August 21, 2026, that Jeff Lee will join as Executive Vice President and Chief Operations Officer of the registrant and First Interstate Bank. The company disclosed that Lee, who is 57 years old, brings "more than 20 years of banking leadership experience in operations, technology, digital banking, information security, marketing and business transformation."

The filing states that from May 2013 until January 2024, Lee served in several officer roles at Seacoast Banking Corporation of Florida, progressing from Chief Marketing Officer to Chief Digital Officer in May 2019, and then to Chief Operations and Technology Officer in March 2021. The filing also notes that from March 2025 to November 2025, Lee served as an independent strategic consultant to a publicly traded banking institution. Prior to Seacoast, he held senior marketing and digital leadership positions with American Express International, Bonnier Corporation, and BGT Partners. According to the filing, 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.

The registrant disclosed that a formal Employment Agreement is expected to be finalized by the Effective Date and filed with the company's periodic report covering the period during which it is executed. The filing noted that the agreement's terms are expected to be "substantially similar to the terms of the registrant's other executive officers who report to the registrant's Chief Executive Officer," with specific financial terms approved by the Compensation Committee. The company also stated that Lee was not appointed pursuant to any arrangement with any person and has no family relationships with any directors or executive officers of the registrant.

What Was Disclosed

First Interstate BancSystem disclosed the appointment of Jeff Lee as EVP and Chief Operations Officer effective September 14, 2026, including his anticipated base salary of $480,000, a $200,000 restricted stock unit grant, and the expected structure of his Employment Agreement.