Banking & Finance

STCU names Eckhardt as its new president, CEO

Veteran bank executive to replace retiring Tom Johnson

October 16, 2017

STCU, the Liberty Lake-based credit union, announced this afternoon that it has selected veteran bank executive Ezra Eckhardt to become its new president and CEO. He will start in that position Jan. 1. Eckhardt will replace Tom Johnson, who announced p

Median household income increase in Spokane County outpaces U.S., state

Analyst says gain is due to increase in jobs, not wages

October 12, 2017

LeAnn Bjerken

Household income in Spokane County has increased at a faster pace than statewide and national incomes, data compiled by the Community Indicators of Spokane Initiative show. Countywide annual median household income rose 9.3 percent last year, according t

Cover all essential bases when retirement planning

Prep for income needs, health care expenses

September 28, 2017

Michael Maehl

Whether you're considering an upcoming retirement or already have made your transition and want to cover your proverbial bases, a few ideas will help you make plans and decisions. First, have a will in place. If you haven't reviewed yours in the last

Banner Bank closes its branch near NorthTown

Spokeswoman cites lack of customer traffic

September 14, 2017

LeAnn Bjerken

Banner Corp., the Walla Walla-based parent of Banner Bank, has closed its branch in the Northtown Office Building, at 4407 N. Division, just south of NorthTown Mall. Kelly McPhee, Spokane-based vice president of communications and public relations for Ba

Stay Alfred to provide stock options to employees

CEO says move will serve as an incentive for workers

September 14, 2017

LeAnn Bjerken

Stay Alfred, the nationwide urban vacation rental company based here, says its full-time employees will receive stock options in the 6-year-old company. In an August 31 press release, the company said the offerings are expected to create 'future owners

Spokane-Coeur d'Alene area's decline in public-company headquarters proves steep

Metro area has lost more than similar sized MSAs

September 14, 2017

LeAnn Bjerken

The Spokane-Coeur d'Alene area has lost publicly-traded company headquarters at a greater rate than similar sized metropolitan areas, according to an analysis completed earlier this month by Spokane-based Hart Capital Management Inc. Nine publicly trad

WTB Financial's earnings rise in second quarter

Second-quarter loans were up 7 percent year over year

August 31, 2017

Fueled by continued strong loan growth, WTB Financial Corp., the Spokane-based parent of Washington Trust Bank, says its second quarter net income rose by just more than $1 million from the end of the 2016 second quarter. Larry Sorenson, Washington Trust

Suzanne Weathers: Consider tax implications early in business startups

Compliance analysis should occur before incorporation

August 17, 2017

Guest Writer

There are so many things to consider when starting a business that it can boggle the mind. Having started out in private practice myself just over a year ago-walking away from a position after 10 years-I understand the vacillation between both exci

Richards, Merrill & Peterson targets client diversity

Firm oversees $800 million in assets for 3,300 people

August 17, 2017

The operators of the Spokane-based private investment firm Richards, Merrill & Peterson say they take great pride and pleasure not in the amount of assets it oversees, but in the diversity and size of its client base. The firm oversees more than $800 mil

Kavadias Hall PLLC: Accounting for expansion

Small firm adds more staff this year

August 17, 2017

Mike McLean

While the namesakes at the Spokane accounting and business consulting firm Kavadias Hall PLLC prefer the small-firm environment, prolonged strong growth has forced them to double their accounting staff so they can manage the workload. Jeff Kavadias, the