New Mattawa bank coming

MATTAWA - The community of Mattawa will not be without a bank for long. Sterling Savings Bank plans to take over the of Bank of Whitman building.

Mattawa was left without a bank on Aug. 5 when Columbia Bank bought the Bank of Whitman and closed the branches in Mattawa and Royal City.

Whitman was the lone bank in Mattawa. Royal City continues to have a US Bank branch.

"We have filed an application with the FDIC to assume the Bank of Whitman branch at Mattawa," said SSB Public Affairs Officer Andrea Worley.

There is no date yet for the arrival of SSB, Worley said. Other bank officials had told city hall the bank might open on Aug. 17, but that was not to be.

"The businesses struggled all week trying to find a (banking) solution," City Clerk Robin Newcomb said. "Two managers from (SSB) in Ellensburg were here the majority of the week trying to help with a solution."

Worley said SSB will not take over Bank of Whitman loans or accounts. Those went to Columbia Bank.

SSB will be starting from scratch. Former BofW account holders would have to choose to do business with SSB.

- Staff report