Bankers here say they're more interested in relationships.They aren't talking about their feelings, but the word "relationship" does have special meaning to them, especially during a financial sector crisis that has sent them scrambling to get a

Intermountain Community Bancorp, the Sandpoint-based parent of Panhandle State Bank and other banking subsidiaries, has reported a net loss for the third quarter, but says loan losses and provisions for them are improving and deposits are growing.

Banner Corp., the Walla Walla-based parent of Banner Bank, has reported a sharply higher net loss for the third quarter, citing continued need for additional loan-loss provisions and write-offs because of the difficult economy.The company, which

AmericanWest Bancorp., the Spokane-based parent of AmericanWest Bank, reported a sizable third-quarter loss, but said improved liquidity, lower net charge-offs, and its smallest loan loss provision in two years demonstrate its continuing progress a

Former employee starts own business doing excavation Larry Miller says he has started his own company, Larry Miller Excavating, which so far has done mostly residential sewer hookups, thanks to help from Worksource and Community of

If the movement toward hybrid gas-electric and all-electric cars becomes truly mainstream, as appears to be on the verge of happening within a few years, it will be due partly to the proselytizing fervor of people like Roger Imes, who along with &

The Ann Arbor, Mich-based owner of the Waldenbooks chain says its store at Spokane Valley Mall is among 200 it plans to close in January.The owner, Borders Group Inc., says that nationally about 1,500 positions—mostly part-time—will be

Rita Santillanes, co-owner of four hotels, including two in the Spokane area, has been named to a new term on the Spokane Public Facilities District board.Santillanes represents the Spokane Hotel-Motel Association on the five-member board. She