Special Report

Spokane has state's lowest homeowners' premiums

Study claims rate here averages $831 annually

November 20, 2014

Spokane has the lowest average annual homeowners' insurance premiums of any city in the state-at $831, or 16 percent below the state average-says a just-released study published by ValuePenguin.com, a consumer-focused research website based in New Y

Spokane Public Schools floats $204.9 million project list

Capital funding measure, M&O levy set for Feb. 15

November 20, 2014

Mike McLean

Spokane Public Schools has finalized its list of projects to be included in a $145 million bond measure that will go before voters on Feb. 15, along with a $202.5 million maintenance-and-operations levy measure.

Big expectations for big expansion at the Spokane Convention Center

Development brings exhibit hall space to 100,000 square feet

November 20, 2014

Katie Ross

The first phase of the $50 million, 92,000-square-foot Spokane Convention Center expansion project should be completed by mid-December, says the Spokane Public Facilities District.

Home Depot breach cost credit unions $60 million

CUNA survey finds that it affected 7.2 million cards

November 6, 2014

Staff Report

The data security breach at Home Depot stores in September cost credit unions nearly $60 million to reissue cards, deal with fraud, and cover other costs, according to the results of a new survey of credit unions released last week by the Credit Union Nat

Protecting small businesses from online 'takeovers'

ABA offers suggestions for minimizing their risk

November 6, 2014

Staff Report

Cyber-attacks against small businesses are growing more sophisticated, says the American Bankers Association, which describes itself as 'the voiceâ€ for the nation's $15 trillion banking industry.

Investor optimism hits seven-year high, survey says

Positive outlook is more pervasive in nonretirees

November 6, 2014

Staff Report

The Wells Fargo/Gallup Investor and Retirement Optimism Index jumped to plus-46 in the third quarter, its highest level in seven years.

Trust management firm looks to expand regionally

Northwest Trustee reports strong revenue upswing

November 6, 2014

Katie Ross

Spokane professional trust and estate management firm Northwest Trustee & Management Services has seen its revenues climb 35 percent in the last two years, and it expects that strong growth rate to continue, says Greg Bowman, trust investment and develop

Number of unbanked households drops, study says

Volume of 'underbanked' consumers holds steady

November 6, 2014

Staff Report

The proportion of unbanked households declined to 7.7 percent last year, down from 8.2 percent in 2011, says the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. in its 2013 National Survey of Unbanked and Underbanked Households released last month.

Inland Northwest stock index declines 5.7 percent

Intermountain Community Bancorp was top performer

November 6, 2014

Judith Spitzer

Hart Capital Management Inc., a Spokane-based investment firm, says the combined stock value of 12 publicly traded Inland Northwest companies, as measured in an overall index it compiles, fell 5.7 percent in the third quarter, compared with the year-earli

Secured Investment Corp. runs afoul of state regulations

Meantime, Cd'A company closes its Spokane office

November 6, 2014

Mike McLean

The Washington state Department of Financial Institutions has issued a notice of violation against Secured Investment Corp., the Coeur d'Alene-based parent company of a private-money lender that had been doing business here as Cogo Capital Spokane LLC.