Banking & Finance

Ag loans remain gainful, expected to rise next year

Niche requires specialized knowledge among lenders

February 26, 2015

While commercial and other kinds of loans have taken a hit over the years since the economic recession, agricultural loans have remained more robust, some industry leaders here say. Northwest Farm Credit Services, the Spokane-based agricultural lending

SBA lenders encouraged by rebound in volume

Banks hope incentives will embolden more borrowers

February 26, 2015

Mike McLean

Some providers of U.S. Small Business Administration-backed loans here are anticipating a second consecutive year of loan growth after the dollar volume bounced upward in fiscal 2014 from a year-earlier decline. Last year, lenders in the SBA's Spokane

Refis bounce back

Mortgage rates down; FHA lowers insurance cost

February 26, 2015

Judith Spitzer

Some Spokane banks and credit unions are reporting a mini-boom in home mortgage refinance loans in recent months due to another dip in mortgage interest rates. In the Spokane area, 30-year, fixed-rate mortgage rates had fallen to between about 3.69 perce

Retirement needn't mean selling your business

Instead, follow roadmap used by '2 Percent Club'

February 26, 2015

Tom Griffiths

Does retirement always have to mean selling your small business? For many small business owners, their business provides great meaning in their life. It provides a sense of belonging, a sense of purpose, of community, social connections, identity, legacy,

Itron opts to buy back more of its own shares

Repurchase authorization starts as older plan ends

February 26, 2015

Staff Report

Itron Inc., the Liberty Lake-based maker of utility meter reading technology, says it plans to buy back up to $50 million worth of its own stock during a 12-month period that began Feb. 19. The company's board of directors approved the repurchase plan

Exit-plan consultants use trade acumen to aid others

Duo helps business owners to transition, sell, or merge

January 29, 2015

Katie Ross

Two longtime Spokane businessmen, Ned Rumpeltes and Ray Lawton, are entering their fifth year as Rumpeltes & Lawton LLC, a business transition consulting firm. Lawton and Rumpeltes, who both have significant business backgrounds here with Spokane-based

Benefits of lower oil prices outweigh any negatives

GDP-driving consumers have the most to gain

January 29, 2015

Michael Maehl

Reasonable people can disagree. I've learned that this truism is what, ultimately, drives markets. Otherwise, why would we have sellers and buyers? If they all thought one price was good for everything, I'd say my job would be right up there with wat

New high tech trading room aids collegiate investors

Whitworth student analysts' investments net good profit

January 29, 2015

Judith Spitzer

Every Thursday morning at 6:15 a.m., Whitworth University senior Ashley Sievers can be found on campus in a high tech trading room, discussing stock pitches and portfolio allocations with other members of the Whitworth Student Investment Group. The H.H.

North Idaho community bank regains momentum

22-year-old Idaho Independent Bank outlasts several rivals

January 29, 2015

Mike McLean

Idaho Independent Bank has maintained solid footing in a constantly changing banking landscape since it opened its first branch in Hayden in 1993, says Jack Gustavel, IIB's chairman, CEO, and founding member. He also claims that while many of the bankï

Banner Bank parent posts increase in earnings

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January 21, 2015

Staff Report

Banner Corp., the Walla Walla, Wash.-based holding company for Banner Bank that agreed to acquire Spokane-based AmericanWest Bank late last year, today reported fourth-quarter 2014 net income of $12.2 million, or 63 cents a diluted share, up from $11.6 mi