Banking & Finance

FSC Financial Group to rebrand at start of 2015

Firm added third partner at beginning of the year

December 4, 2014

FSC Financial Group, an independent financial advising and wealth management firm founded here by Fred S. Cox III and Steve Gray in 1991 and that added a third adviser early this year, says it plans to change its name on Jan. 1 to Premier Partners Wealth

A wealth of growth in Washington Trust unit

Bank's wealth management department handles trusts, investments for its clients

December 4, 2014

Katie Ross

The wealth management and advisory services department of Spokane-based Washington Trust Bank has been experiencing asset and revenue growth of close to 10 percent a year for the last ten years, says Rob Blume, managing director and senior vice president

Purcell Systems co-founder Pete Chase launches financing startup

Ousted city planning head Chesney hired by venture

December 4, 2014

Linn Parish

Veteran Spokane entrepreneur Pete Chase has started a new venture through which he plans to connect foreign investors with multimillion-dollar developments in the U.S., specifically in Washington state. As one of his first moves in starting Columbia Inte

Paying off burdensome debt before you retire

Number of retirees with financial obligations soars

December 4, 2014

Judith Spitzer

Spokane-area financial experts say a vast majority of retirees and pre-retirees are increasingly facing retirement with sizable amounts of debt-even student loan debt.

Northwest Farm Credit Services reports rise in earnings year to date

Net interest income, total capital also have increased

November 20, 2014

Katie Ross

Northwest Farm Credit Services, the Spokane-based agricultural lender, has posted earnings of $173 million for the nine months ended Sept. 30, a $2.2 million increase compared with the year-earlier period. In a press release, Northwest FCS President and

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

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.

Young Ten Capital Investment Advisors grows

Separately, firm, INB develop strategic partnership

November 6, 2014

Linn Parish

Ten Capital Investment Advisors LLC, a young independent financial advisory company co-founded by a longtime veteran of the industry, has grown substantially this year in terms of assets under management.

Waiting for Apple Pay Day

Spokane credit unions to be among first 500 institutions to use platform

November 6, 2014

Judith Spitzer

Two credit unions here, Numerica Credit Union and Spokane Teachers Credit Union, will be among the first wave of financial institutions to partner with technology giant Apple Inc. and offer Apple Pay, a new payment platform launched Oct. 20.

Banner Bank, AmericanWest Bank to merge

Transaction valued at $702 million

November 5, 2014

Staff Report

Banner Corp., the publicly-traded, Walla Walla-based holding company for Banner Bank and Islanders Bank, announced this afternoon that it has agreed to merge into its operations privately-held, Spokane-based AmericanWest Bank in a $702 million transaction