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As controller and part owner of Hobson Fabricating, Tara Pichette helps manage a sheet metal contractor with more than 50 years of wide-ranging experience in Idaho and beyond. The Boise-based company focuses on HVAC systems, commercial roofing, and in-house metal fabrication—while also running a commercial service division for maintenance and installs.

About five years ago, Hobson made the switch to First Federal after outgrowing their previous banking relationship. “Our prior bank had some changes, and it just didn’t feel like they knew us as a company,” Tara explains. “It seemed very bland and cookie-cutter, whereas First Federal was much more intimate and valued the relationship more.”

That connection has been key for a company built on precision and reliability. “Payroll is very important—we pay weekly, so the number one priority is making sure our people are paid on time,” she says. “When something comes up and we’re hitting a deadline, I can call our local First Federal team and say, ‘I need this ASAP.’ They’re there immediately to help get it done.”

Hobson also partnered with First Fed to stay flexible on the financial side. “We were able to set up an equipment line of credit, so if we needed funds right away, we could access that immediately without going through the whole process of getting a loan and quotes and things like that.”

For Tara, the partnership works because the values line up. “We really strive to have a strong family culture here. We're a small, local business, and First Fed shares those same values,” she says. “They understand Idaho business and construction. And even on the personal side, I know I can walk into a branch and talk to someone directly—I don’t have to jump through all the hoops like with the big banks. They’re responsive, they care, and they follow through.”