Columbia Bank celebrates Mattawa grand opening
Columbia Bank Mattawa Branch Manager Maria Rosales, far right, and other bank officials and employees listen as CEO Melanie Dressel addresses the gathering of more than 50 at the grand opening last week of the new Mattawa Branch building. Others in the photo, from left, are: Juana Hernandez, Personal Banker; Nini Valdez, Assistant Branch Manager; Erika Lopez, Teller; Jeanie Centenari, VP Regional Sales & Service Manager; Crystal Valdez, Teller; Jose Avalos Martinez, Teller; Lisa Renteria, Branch Supervisor; Juan De La Garza, Personal Banker; Rosa Morfin, Teller; Sean Lewis, AVP, Construct…
MATTAWA — Columbia Bank corporate officials were in town last week to help celebrate the grand opening of the recently installed building that is now the Mattawa branch.
Bank officials, bank employees and visitors to the celebration in Hund Memorial Park, kitty-corner from the bank, were treated to enchiladas and carne asada with beans and rice and soft drinks.
In her address, Chief Executive Officer Melanie Dressel expressed her pleasure at being there. She had grown up in a small eastern Washington town.
“Even though our headquarters is in Tacoma, this part of the state is very special to me,” she said. “Columbia Bank is privileged to be a part of your community. Mattawa and all our branches here in eastern Washington are very important to us at Columbia.”
Dressel added that the new the street reflects the bank’s continued commitment to this area. She noted the branch recently made a donation to help rebuild and expand the Desert Aire Airport.
“In August, the branch staff enjoyed participating in the Community Days with a booth and by riding on a float with two blue Columbia Bank couches,” she said.
Branch Manager Maria Rosales, a board member of the Columbia Basin Health Association as well as the Treasurer of the Mattawa Chamber of Commerce, also spoke, lauding her team.
“We are very excited to be in our new location,” she said. “We did our branch expansion to better service our customers and accommodate the needs of our growing community. I want to thank our community members for their support and patience during the entire process.
Rosales thanked chamber members for attending. She also thanked the bank’s extended team from the region and Tacoma for attending.
“I want to thank everyone on my team (at the branch) for their support during this transition,” she said. “Thank you for everything you do.”
Dressel said she was saddened to see the space in which Maria’s team worked when she visited. She went away knowing that Columbia needed to improve the branch, and she thanked Maria’s team for being patient.
Headquartered in Tacoma, Columbia Bank has $8.2 billion in assets. It has 150 branches that serve small and medium sized businesses, professionals and individuals.