Energy leaders from 20 Dutch companies and institutions met in Spokane in October to tackle grid management challenges and digital energy solutions alongside regional leaders from Avista, Itron, WSU, and the city of Spokane.

Artificial intelligence is accelerating cybersecurity threats against businesses and government agencies, allowing criminals to potentially impersonate employees, steal sensitive information, and compromise corporate networks faster than organizations can respond, warn some cybersecurity experts.

Two years after developing its Small Business Administration lending department, RiverBank Holding Co., the parent company of Spokane-based RiverBank, has become the county’s top SBA lender. The increase in SBA lending comes as the community bank establishes a director of fintech position, reinforcing its founding principles of relationship banking and technology.