Stutsman County mortgage customers donate $29,000 during Giving Hearts Day

Mortgage customers at Gate City Bank helped channel more than $29,000 to local charities through the bank’s charity gift program for homebuyers, an effort timed to support nonprofits ahead of Giving Hearts Day. The bank says just over 200 nonprofits received donations this year, and checks were issued early so organizations could meet match goals and fundraising targets.

Under the program, homebuyers who close a mortgage with Gate City Bank may select a qualifying charity to receive a $50 donation from the bank. Customers can choose from one of more than 600 eligible charities, and the program’s scope this year ranged from animal rescues to human services organizations. Since the program launched in 2022, Gate City Bank reports it has contributed more than $114,000 to local nonprofits.

Animal welfare groups were among the most visible beneficiaries. Fargo-based 4 Luv of Dog Rescue was the single most common customer pick and raised $1,700 through mortgage-customer selections. Cat’s Cradle Shelter, which rescues cats and kittens, also received a donation, and Gate City Bank published images of staff handing checks and volunteering with those groups.

Amanda Torok, Gate City Bank senior vice president of culture, framed the program as customer-driven. “Our mission is to make a difference in the communities we serve,” Torok said. “We’re thrilled to give people the opportunity to support the causes they care about with these gifts.” In another statement she added, “What a better way to give back than to ask our own customers who they’d like to see us give to. And so now it gives the customers also a feeling of helping their local charities in their communities as well.”

Gate City Bank is also running a Giving Hearts Day nomination contest that will award one lucky charity a $25,000 gift. The bank’s release and accompanying local coverage reference both the mortgage program donations and the $25,000 contest gift; one bank statement described the mortgage donations as “more than doubling the $25,000 gift.” That phrasing is numerically inconsistent, since $29,000 is not more than twice $25,000. The bank has said checks were distributed now to help nonprofits with matches, and further clarity on totals, charity lists and contest deadlines would help local organizations plan.

For Stutsman County residents, the program’s immediate benefit is support for area nonprofit capacity ahead of Giving Hearts Day match periods and campaign pushes. The combination of many modest $50 gifts and the larger nomination prize illustrates how institutional giving programs and customer choices can move both general support and spotlight funding to specific causes. Gate City Bank is also hosting a multi-community food drive running through Feb. 12 with drop-offs at bank locations.

What comes next for readers is transparency: watchdogs, nonprofit leaders and local officials will want confirmation of the full charity roster, the final dollar tallies and the nomination contest timeline so community groups in Stutsman County can make the best use of donated funds and match opportunities.