Banner Bank to close Oakridge branch on Sept. 24

By DOUG BATES/Editor/The Herald — For the better part of a century, a bank has sat on the northwest corner of Cedar and East First streets in Oakridge. But that will come to an end on Sept. 24 when Banner Bank closes its branch in the community.

Matt Kowal, the bank’s retail division manager, confirmed the impending closure Monday. He said details of the closure could be discussed only by Banner’s public relations office, which has so far not responded to The Herald’s inquiries.

Although she was not at liberty to discuss the closure, branch manager Rustie Ackland of Oakridge said she would remain employed as manager of Banner’s Pleasant Hill branch, a position she has held, along with the Oakridge branch position, for the past two years. She said she has no plans to move from Oakridge.

It wasn’t immediately clear what will become of the building at 48257 E First St., which has been home to many different bank branches since at least the 1950s. Nor is it known yet whether Banner will keep its ATM machine at the Oakridge Dairy Queen at 47720 Highway 58.

Banner Bank is a Washington-chartered commercial bank headquartered in Walla Walla, Washington, with roots that date back to 1890. The bank has 173 branches, loan offices and ATM locations in Washington, Oregon, Idaho and California.

Closure of the Oakridge branch will leave First Tech Federal Credit Union as the only banking institution with offices in the community.