Banking & Finance

Umpqua's acquisition of Sterling Financial receives regulatory approval

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April 1, 2014

Umpqua Holdings Corp., of Portland, announced this morning that it has received all regulatory approvals for its proposed acquisition of Spokane-based Sterling Financial Corp., the parent company of Sterling Bank. The regulatory nod follows the previou

Intent, planning said keys to philanthropy strategies

Donors can 'do well while doing good,' experts say

March 13, 2014

Linn Parish

While the financial-planning sector is chock-full of rules of thumb and industry-accepted guidelines, developing a charitable-giving strategy is one area with too many variables for a legitimate broad-brushed approach to work, experts say. Veteran fina

Five errors to avoid when managing financial assets

Logic faults occur across investors' demographics

March 13, 2014

Michael Maehl

After more than four decades of helping investors around the country manage their financial assets, there are a few observations I've made over that time that apply across the whole spectrum of investors, without regard to age, income, education, or any

CFA Society dinner slated for tonight downtown

Investment group brings in industry veterans for keynote

March 13, 2014

Staff Report

The CFA Society of Spokane, an organization of financial analysts, portfolio managers, and other investment professionals, has slated two industry veterans to speak at its 20th annual Economic Forecast Dinner tonight at the Davenport Hotel. A reception

Inland Northwest Lighthouse nearly set to expand

Work wrapping up on addition to nonprofit's North Side plant

March 13, 2014

Treva Lind

Nonprofit Inland Northwest Lighthouse, which operates a manufacturing facility in North Spokane where it employs nearly 50 people, soon will start using a major expansion of its building there that it says will enable it to expand its workforce. Baker

Second Harvest expands facilities to fill big food need

Second Harvest expects Tri-Cities project to boost its capabilities

March 13, 2014

Katie Ross

Second Harvest Food Bank of the Inland Northwest is moving forward with several large projects this year, including a $2.5 million, 26,000-square-foot second-phase expansion of its Pasco, Wash., warehouse facility, says President and CEO Jason Luke Clark.

AmericanWest Bank grows loans, eyes more acquisitions

Bank extended $1 billion in credit in last two years

February 27, 2014

Katie Ross

Spokane-based financial institution AmericanWest Bank has experienced an organic loan growth rate of about 10 percent a year for the last two years, which is double the industry standard, claims CEO Scott Kisting. The bank also has extended a total of

Secured Investment Corp. to franchise Cogo Capital

Having tested concept here, company to expand

February 27, 2014

Linn Parish

Secured Investment Corp., the Coeur d'Alene-based private-money lender, plans to start franchising its young retail subsidiary, Cogo Capital LLC, in an effort to increase its loan volume more quickly. Not quite 1 1/2 years old, Cogo Capital has corp

Northwest Farm Credit Services posts jump in earnings

$58.1 million in refunds sent to shareholders

February 27, 2014

Treva Lind

Northwest Farm Credit Services, the Spokane-based agricultural lending cooperative, has reported net income of $237 million for 2013, an increase of 26 percent compared with income of $187.3 million the previous year. Meanwhile, the cooperative says itï

Banner's net declines for quarter, all of 2013

Bank reports increases in total assets, deposits

February 27, 2014

Lucas Thayer

Banner Corp., the Walla Walla, Wash.-based parent of Banner Bank and Islanders Bank, has reported fourth-quarter net income of $11.6 million, or 60 cents a diluted share, a decrease from $13.3 million, or 69 cents a share, in the year-earlier quarter.