Latest News

Consumer delinquencies declined in first quarter

Composite ratio dropped to lowest point since '07, below 15-year average

August 2, 2012

Consumer delinquencies fell during the first quarter in 10 of 11 categories tracked by the American Bankers Association, which last month released results from the quarterly 2012 Consumer Credit Delinquency Bulletin.The composite ratio, which in

Long-term outlook is essential when investing in market

Average annual return over 20 years is 8 percent, with plenty of ups, downs

August 2, 2012

Personal Investing

"We don't see things as they are; we see things as we are."-The TalmudWhen you say a colleague "can't see the forest for the trees," you're saying that he's so detailed oriented, present minded, and narrow in his perspective that he can't see a

M&As should rise post-election, Cascadia executive says

Q2 brought slower activity amid political uncertainty, Europe debt crisis impact

August 2, 2012

Treva Lind

The number of companies growing through mergers or acquisitions slowed beginning in the second quarter but should pick up after the election, says Michael Butler, chairman and CEO of the Seattle-based advisory firm Cascadia Capital LLC.Butler at

CPA firm focuses on health care clients, keeps growing

Spokane office of Wipfli offers consulting services aimed at rural providers

August 2, 2012

Jessica Valencia

Mike Bell has been steeped in the health care industry for years, but not because he's been taking temperatures or writing prescriptions.Rather, Bell, certified public accountant and partner at the Spokane office of Edina, Minn.-based firm LLP,

Axia Home Loans increases presence with Valley branch

Bellevue-based lender also nearing lease deal for Coeur d'Alene office

August 2, 2012

Mike McLean

Bellevue, Wash.-based Axia Financial LLC, which does business as Axia Home Loans and operates a small office in Liberty Lake, says it has opened a Spokane Valley office recently and is looking to open additional branches in the Inland Valley office

Columbia Bank expands wealth management office

Tacoma-based company is adding five people in all to Spokane department

August 2, 2012

Jessica Valencia

Columbia Bank plans to expand its wealth management office in downtown Spokane. The bank announced last month it has hired Randy Casto as senior vice president and Spokane private banking team leader. It plans on hiring up to four more people to

Sterling plans to open two new branches

Spokane-based institution also is working to consolidate Bellevue offices, services

August 2, 2012

Mike McLean

Spokane-based Sterling Bank says it plans to open new branches in Pullman and Portland, Ore., and to consolidate a branch with other services in Bellevue, Wash.The bank will open its Pullman branch in early 2013, says Marty Dickinson, Sterling's

HomeStreet Bank expands, triples lending capacity in Spokane market

Seattle bank triples its lending capacity here, moves offices to larger quarters

August 2, 2012

Mike McLean

Seattle-based HomeStreet Bank, which has had a small Spokane office for 20 years, is on a four-state growth tear after returning to good health through an infusion of cash earlier this year, following three years of regulatory intensive care.The

STCU restructures lending departments to position itself for future growth

Spokane Teachers Credit Union revamps departments, adds staff

August 2, 2012

Linn Parish

Spokane Teachers Credit Union is restructuring its lending departments, in part to pursue what it sees as an underserved market in the commercial sector and also to prepare for an anticipated shift in residential lending demand.The big Liberty is

Sterling Financial adds vice chairman

DePillo, company's chief credit officer, recognized for efforts in turnaround

August 2, 2012

Treva Lind

Spokane-based Sterling Financial Corp. has appointed David DePillo, Sterling's chief lending officer, to a newly created role of vice chairman of the corporation and its wholly owned subsidiary, Sterling Bank.DePillo, who gained extensive in as a