Banking & Finance

Private equity group buys big interest in Family Home Care

Liberty Lake company eyes expansions, more hiring

September 24, 2020

An East Coast private equity group has acquired a 70% ownership interest in Liberty Lake-based Family Resource Home Care. Jeff Wiberg, CEO of Geras LLC, which does business as Family Resource Home Care, says an investment partnership with

Advance directive demand

More clients seek end-of-life plan guidance during pandemic, Spokane attorneys say

September 24, 2020

Virginia Thomas

As COVID-19 has swept through the U.S., some attorneys here say they've seen an uptick in clients who want to complete their estate plans, including documents that guide health care providers should the clients become unable to make their own health car

1,400-plus organizations seek share of $10 million in CARES Act funds

GSI, Innovia expect to make decisions on CARES funding recipients soon

August 27, 2020

Natasha Nellis

More than 1,400 small businesses and nonprofits have sought a sliver of $10 million in federal funds made available in Spokane County. Those organizations, which have applied for nonprofit grants through the county's OpenTogether Small Business

Financial software company adds Spokane client

Valley-based ESP to handle services for Avista CU now

August 13, 2020

Virginia Thomas

A Spokane Valley software company that caters to credit unions is returning to its roots with the addition of a Spokane client, after almost two decades without a customer in its home market. Shaun Murray, president and CEO of Enhanced Software Products

Low rates drive surge in mortgage, refinance activity in Spokane

INW banks, credit unions report higher volumes of activity this year

August 13, 2020

Kevin Blocker

Veteran Spokane bankers report strong mortgage growth largely in part due to existing homeowners refinancing in order to take advantage of record-low interest rates.

Spokane homeowners leave money in bank for now

Observers say far more people tapped equity in Great Recession

August 13, 2020

Natasha Nellis

Despite layoffs and wage reductions, industry observers say homeowners are avoiding using the equity in their homes during this challenging financial time. The mortgage data company Black Knight Inc. says Americans had $6.2 trillion in

A. The Journal's View: Collaboration encouraging in affordable housing issue

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July 30, 2020

Staff Report

It's encouraging that landlord and tenant representatives here are working together during the coronavirus crisis by seeking rental assistance to keep tenants in their homes during this time of widespread loss of employment and income.

Life insurance policy can be 'the last love letterâ€

Sufficient coverage can provide security for those left behind

July 30, 2020

Donald Morgan

Jim Lusk remembers going to the wake of one of his clients who had died after being hit by a truck. The client's widow pulled him aside and asked if she and her kids were going to be financially OK. 'I told her, 'We're going to pay off your

Public companies rebound with market

Composite value higher than year-earlier quarter

July 30, 2020

Virginia Thomas

The seven publicly traded companies in the Spokane area rebounded from earlier volatility in the second quarter, according to an analysis by Spokane-based Hart Capital Management Inc. The overall composite value of the seven companies increased

Refugee Connection Spokane pivots services

Nonprofit receives $800K in grants to be disbursed during next five years

July 30, 2020

Natasha Nellis

Refugee Connections Spokane's flexible setup left it well-positioned to pivot its services when the COVID-19 outbreak spread here, says Marijke Fakasiieiki, the nonprofit's executive director. Over the past year, the organization, which was created