Banner Bank
A Washington-chartered regional commercial bank serving consumers, businesses, property developers, farmers, and communities in the Pacific Northwest and parts of California.
Last updated August 22, 2026
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Overview
Banner Bank is a Washington-chartered commercial bank headquartered in Walla Walla, Washington. Its institutional roots extend to 1890, when the National Building Loan & Trust Association was established in Walla Walla. Over time, the institution expanded through organic growth, rebranding, and acquisitions, developing from a locally rooted savings and lending organization into a regional banking franchise. The bank operates as a wholly owned subsidiary of Banner Corporation, whose common stock trades on the Nasdaq Global Market under the symbol BANR. Banner Bank provides community-banking services through branches and loan offices in Washington, Oregon, Idaho, and California. Its deposit activities include checking, savings, money-market accounts, individual retirement accounts, and certificates of deposit. Consumer lending includes personal loans and lines of credit, automobile and recreational-vehicle financing, home-equity loans, and home-equity lines of credit. Residential mortgage lending is an important part of the bank's business. Banner originates home loans directly rather than operating solely as a broker, with offerings that include fixed-rate and adjustable-rate mortgages, Veterans Affairs loans, and programs for first-time homebuyers. Customers can also begin mortgage applications through the bank's website. Banner's commercial and business franchise serves companies of different sizes and includes conventional commercial loans and lines of credit, commercial real-estate financing, construction and builder lending, agricultural loans, income-property loans, multifamily financing, and merger-and-acquisition financing. Its QuickStep program is designed to streamline small-business borrowing by providing an expedited application process and, typically, credit decisions within several days after a complete application is received. The institution's geographic profile has been shaped substantially by acquisitions. It purchased Islanders Bank in San Juan County in 2006, F&M Bank of Spokane Valley and NCW Community Bank in 2007, Siuslaw Bank in Oregon in 2015, AmericanWest Bank later in 2015, Skagit Bank in 2018, and AltaPacific Bank in 2019. It also exited Utah retail banking in 2017 by selling its seven Utah branches. Earlier, in October 2000, the corporation adopted the Banner name and announced that its branches would operate under the Banner Bank brand, replacing a number of separate legacy names in Washington and Idaho. Banner Bank is a member of the Federal Home Loan Bank System, and its deposits are insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation. Its positioning combines the balance-sheet capabilities of a regional commercial lender with a branch-based community-bank model, emphasizing deposits, relationship lending, real estate finance, agricultural finance, and services for local and small businesses.
History
Banner Bank traces its institutional history to 1890, when the National Building Loan & Trust Association was founded in Walla Walla, Washington. The organization developed over the following century through local banking activity and the accumulation of regional branch operations. Before the Banner name was adopted, branches in Washington and Idaho operated under several different identities, including First Savings Bank, Whatcom State Bank, Seaport Citizens Bank, and Towne Bank. A major branding and corporate transition occurred in October 2000. Banner Corporation announced that its 38 branches would operate under the single Banner Bank name. The change created a more unified customer-facing identity while retaining the institution's Washington and Idaho roots. The bank subsequently pursued a combination of organic growth and acquisitions as its principal expansion methods. In December 2006, Banner Bank acquired Islanders Bank of San Juan County. In 2007, it completed two further Washington transactions: the acquisition of F&M Bank of Spokane Valley, which brought 14 branches, and the acquisition of NCW Community Bank of Wenatchee. These deals increased the bank's presence in several Washington communities and added local deposit and lending relationships. The bank expanded beyond Washington in 2015. In March, it acquired Siuslaw Bank of Florence, Oregon, adding ten branches and increasing its Oregon footprint. Later that year, in October, Banner acquired AmericanWest Bank of Spokane. That transaction was substantially larger and involved 105 branches, including operations in Washington, Idaho, Utah, and California. The AmericanWest deal materially broadened Banner's geographic reach and helped establish the multi-state network associated with the modern bank. Banner later adjusted the footprint created by that expansion. In October 2017, it sold all seven of its Utah branches to Bank of American Fork, an institution subsequently known as Altabank. The divestiture reduced Banner's presence in Utah while leaving its broader Pacific Northwest and California strategy intact. In November 2018, Banner acquired Skagit Bank of Burlington, adding another Washington banking franchise. In the fourth quarter of 2019, it acquired AltaPacific Bank of Santa Rosa, extending its California activities. The bank's business model centers on community banking supported by a diversified lending platform. It accepts retail and business deposits, provides consumer and residential mortgages, and lends to commercial borrowers, property owners, builders, agricultural enterprises, and other businesses. Its commercial capabilities include income-property lending, large-scale multifamily financing, construction and builder finance, agricultural loans, and merger-and-acquisition financing. The QuickStep program provides a more streamlined route for qualifying small-business borrowers. Banner Bank is a wholly owned subsidiary of Banner Corporation. Banner Corporation's common stock is publicly traded on the Nasdaq Global Market under the ticker BANR. Banner Bank is a Washington-chartered commercial bank, a member of the Federal Home Loan Bank System, and an FDIC-insured deposit institution. The available reference material does not establish a current chief executive, current branch count, or current financial results; those details are therefore not stated here.
- 2019
Acquisition of AltaPacific Bank
[1]Banner acquired AltaPacific Bank of Santa Rosa in the fourth quarter, expanding its California presence.
- 2018
Acquisition of Skagit Bank
[1]Banner acquired Skagit Bank of Burlington, Washington.
- 2017
Utah branch divestiture
[1]Banner sold its seven Utah branches to Bank of American Fork, now Altabank.
- 2015
Expansion into Oregon and a larger multi-state network
[1]Banner acquired Siuslaw Bank in Oregon and AmericanWest Bank, substantially broadening its branch and lending footprint.
- 2007
Expansion through two Washington acquisitions
[1]Banner acquired F&M Bank of Spokane Valley and NCW Community Bank of Wenatchee.
- 2006
Acquisition of Islanders Bank
[1]Banner Bank acquired Islanders Bank of San Juan County.
- 2000
Branches unified under the Banner Bank name
[1]Banner Corporation announced that its 38 branches would operate under the Banner Bank brand, replacing several legacy names.
- 1890
Institutional roots established in Walla Walla
[1]The National Building Loan & Trust Association was founded in Walla Walla, Washington, providing the historical roots of Banner Bank.
Products and positioning
A relationship-oriented regional bank combining community banking, residential lending, commercial real-estate finance, agricultural lending, and business banking across the Pacific Northwest and selected California markets.
Retail banking
Personal deposit accounts
Banner Bank's consumer deposit range includes checking, savings, money-market accounts, individual retirement accounts, and certificates of deposit. These products support everyday payments, savings, liquidity management, and longer-term deposits for households. The offerings form the core funding and relationship base of the bank's branch-centered community-banking model.
Consumer finance
Consumer lending
Consumer borrowers can access personal loans and lines of credit, automobile and recreational-vehicle financing, home-equity loans, and home-equity lines of credit. The category is designed to cover household borrowing needs ranging from vehicle purchases and personal expenses to credit secured by residential property.
Mortgage banking
Residential mortgage lending
Banner Bank originates residential mortgages directly rather than functioning only as a broker. Its home-lending menu includes fixed-rate and adjustable-rate mortgages, Veterans Affairs loans, and first-time-homebuyer programs. Customers can initiate applications online, while the bank's broader branch and lending network supports relationship-based mortgage service.
Commercial banking
Commercial and business banking
Business clients can use traditional commercial loans and revolving lines of credit, together with financing for income-producing property, acquisitions, agriculture, construction, and other operating needs. Banner serves businesses across asset sizes and combines deposit services with lending teams focused on commercial relationships.
Real-estate finance
Commercial real-estate and construction finance
The bank maintains specialized lending capabilities for commercial real estate, builder and construction projects, income properties, and large multifamily developments. This line positions Banner as more than a retail branch bank, with underwriting and relationship coverage for developers, property owners, and investors in its regional markets.
Small-business banking
QuickStep small-business lending
QuickStep is Banner Bank's small-business loan program. It is intended to make the application process faster and more straightforward, with the bank stating that credit decisions are typically delivered within several days after it receives a completed application. The program complements Banner's broader commercial lending platform.
Brand decisions
2019
Acquire AltaPacific BankM&ABackground
Banner continued extending its presence into California after acquiring AmericanWest Bank.
Action taken
Banner acquired AltaPacific Bank of Santa Rosa in the fourth quarter.
Aftermath
The acquisition reinforced Banner's multi-state operating footprint, including California.
2018
Acquire Skagit BankM&ABackground
Banner continued to build density in Washington after its larger 2015 expansion.
Action taken
Banner acquired Skagit Bank of Burlington in November.
Aftermath
The deal expanded Banner's Washington banking franchise.
2017
Exit Utah branch bankingStrategyBackground
Banner's earlier AmericanWest expansion had included Utah branches.
Action taken
Banner sold all seven Utah branches to Bank of American Fork, later known as Altabank.
Aftermath
The transaction reduced Banner's Utah retail footprint while the bank continued operating in its other regional markets.
2015
Expand through Siuslaw Bank and AmericanWest Bank acquisitionsM&ABackground
Banner sought to broaden its regional banking footprint beyond its established Washington base.
Action taken
It acquired Siuslaw Bank in Oregon in March and AmericanWest Bank in October.
Aftermath
The transactions added Oregon branches and a much larger multi-state network spanning Washington, Idaho, Utah, and California.
2000
Consolidate branch identities under Banner BankStrategyBackground
The institution's Washington and Idaho branches had operated under several separate legacy brands.
Action taken
Banner Corporation announced that all 38 branches would operate under the Banner Bank name.
Aftermath
The move established a unified customer-facing identity for the expanding regional bank.
Sources2 sources
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