Banking & Finance

Extender act, election lull lend certainty to tax filers

Preparers this year don't have to wait on Congress

October 20, 2016

Permanent tax breaks enacted last December, coupled with an election-year lull in new tax laws, are enabling tax preparers and their clients here to implement strategies with more time and certainty than they've had in recent years, some tax planners he

Annual health plan enrollment brings familiar stress

Insurance decisions often involve increasing costs

October 20, 2016

Guest Commentary

Besides colder weather and pumpkin carving, October also brings the beginning of the employee benefits open enrollment season. Nearly 40 percent of Washington state employers renew their employee benefit plans on Jan. 1, causing an intense surge in huma

Spokane office of BDO USA locks in growth mode

Accounting firm looks to add 10 CPAs in next year

October 20, 2016

Linn Parish

The Spokane office of BDO USA LLP plans to hire about 10 more people in the next 12 months, says Paul Bridge, the office's managing partner. The office here, one of 60 operated by the Chicago-based international public accounting firm, has had some big

Inland Northwest Community Foundation shoots for a quarter of a billion in assets

CEO is optimistic that organization will hit that mark one day

October 20, 2016

With a recent bequest of $3 million pushing its philanthropic assets above $100 million, Inland Northwest Community Foundation President and CEO Mark Hurtubise says the foundation now has its sights set on reaching $250 million. In the last 30 months, th

Washington Trust Bank leads Spokane County in deposits once again

Bank of America, U.S. Bank also in top three

October 6, 2016

Washington Trust Bank remains Spokane County's leader in bank deposits, according to an annual market share report released recently by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. The Spokane-based institution's $1.88 billion in local deposits as of June 30

Metropolitan, Summit trusts make distributions

$10.4 million disbursed in latest in payout series

October 6, 2016

Kim Crompton

Investors have recouped a small, but welcome additional portion of the many millions of dollars they had tied up in Metropolitan Securities Co. and Summit Securities Inc. before those affiliated companies here shut down 12 years ago. The Metropolitan Cre

Spokane County saw median household income dip last year

Gain within Spokane fails to offset declines elsewhere

October 6, 2016

LeAnn Bjerken

In contrast to state and national trends, household median income in Spokane County fell last year, says online data compiled by the Community Indicators of Spokane Initiative. Whether the decrease is statistically significant remains to be seen, says Pa

Figuring out a few things early in retirement planning

Determining total cost of post-work life is first step

September 22, 2016

Michael Maehl

Before getting too deeply into your retirement planning, you need to have a few things figured out. You should have some good idea as to how you want to live, where you want to live, and what activities will be part of your life. Knowing these, you may n

Umpqua Bank to move its downtown branch

Remodel is underway in nearby Crescent Building

September 22, 2016

Mike McLean

Portland-based Umpqua Bank plans to move its downtown Spokane branch to a main-floor storefront in the nearby Crescent Building, at 707 W. Main, according to building permit information on file with the city of Spokane. An Umpqua spokeswoman confirmed th

Washington Trust Bank parent posts increase in earnings

Company's workforce nears 900 employees

September 22, 2016

Washington Financial Corp., the Spokane-based parent of Washington Trust Bank, has reported net income of $26 million through the first half of 2016, up from $21.5 million through the year-earlier period. As of June 30 this year, Washington Trust had tot