Wheatland Bank, of Spokane, has taken initial steps to enter the Yakima, Wash., market as part of its expansion in Central Washington, where it already has branches in Quincy, Moses Lake, and, as of Dec. 10, Wenatchee.


The bank has hired a team of experienced bankers from Yakima to lead its efforts there and will open an office in a 2,300-square-foot space in the newly renovated Park Square development downtown on Yakima Avenue by Feb. 1, says Sue Horton, the banks chairwoman, president, and CEO. It planned to wrap up last week its application for regulatory approval to operate a full-service branch there.


The banks employees already are working by phone and from their homes to build Wheatlands customer base in the Yakima area, Horton says.


They all were at a larger bank, she says. They actually approached us, as a group. They were ready for change.


At times, Wheatland has expanded into new markets because bankers from a community became available to join the Spokane bank, Horton says.


Location isnt No. 1 with us. People are, she says.


The bank opened its Quincy branch in 1999 and its Moses Lake branch in 2001. Its expansion into additional areas in Central Washington diversifies Wheatland both geographically and in terms of getting the longtime agricultural lender into different kinds of agriculture, including irrigated-crop and tree-fruit operations, in addition to its historic involvement with dry-land farmers, Horton says.


Wheatland also has wanted for some time to open additional locations in the Spokane area, where it has three banks now, and has been interested in expanding on the South Hill, Horton says.


We had discussions on two other sites recently, she says. We want to continue our Spokane expansion, but 2008 is probably not the year.


She adds, We have been continuing to talk with a couple of owners of properties, but unless an unusually attractive piece of property becomes available, and the bank could staff a new branch with capable bankers, its doubtful it would expansion further in Spokane soon, Horton says.


Right now, she adds, our plate is fairly full.


Contact Richard Ripley at (509) 344-1261 or via e-mail at editor@spokanejournal.com.