For the past 20 years, Peoples Bank has provided a full range of banking services to the Wenatchee community. With the opening of a second branch in East Wenatchee on January 8, Peoples Bank will complement the services offered by the Wenatchee Financial Center, bringing added convenience and new services to customers on both sides of the river.
Peoples Bank Retail Sales and Service Director Mark Swanson, Retail District Branch Manager Amy Smith, and East Wenatchee Branch Manager Theresa Terry recently sat down with WenatcheeTalk to discuss Peoples Bank’s commitment to the Wenatchee Valley and share its excitement for the new branch opening.
Peoples Bank in Wenatchee
Peoples Bank was established over 100 years ago in Whatcom County and opened its first office east of the mountains in Wenatchee in 2003. That branch moved to what is now known as the Wenatchee Financial Center in 2013. In 2004, Peoples Bank also opened a branch in East Wenatchee inside a Safeway store but made the difficult decision to close the branch in 2017 and explore opportunities to provide a more comprehensive customer experience in the area.
“We’ve been looking for the right location and the right opportunity to reopen this office, so when the property on Valley Mall Parkway became available, we jumped on it to build a new home for our East Wenatchee branch,” Mark says.
The new full-service branch, located at 337 Valley Mall Parkway, offers a wide range of banking products and amenities, including personal and business banking services, real estate and commercial loan centers, as well as safe deposit boxes, and a three-lane drive-thru teller. “Whether you’re a teen looking for your first checking account, a business looking to grow, or someone older looking for retirement advice, we have the services and expertise to help,” Mark explains.
The East Wenatchee Team
The East Wenatchee branch team is local and very familiar with the area. “All of our East Wenatchee staff have worked either at our Wenatchee Financial Center or at other local financial institutions. All of them have local ties here and are from the area,” says Amy Smith.
Theresa Terry, the new East Wenatchee branch manager, has been with Peoples Bank for three years. “The values at Peoples Bank are customer-centered and service-oriented,” she says. “It’s a great place to work, and we pride ourselves on our strong customer relationships and dedication to the community.” Theresa works closely with Kendra Helmerson, the new assistant manager of the East Wenatchee Branch. Kendra joined Peoples Bank in 2016 and has served in various retail and personal lending positions.
The retail staff is supported by local teams in both mortgage lending and commercial banking. Michael Machado, Commercial Market Leader, and Commercial Banking Officers Bobby Black and Stacy Suydam have over five decades of combined experience providing financial services to local businesses. They are also active community members.
Michael has led the commercial banking group in Chelan and Douglas Counties since 2020. He is very active in the Wenatchee Valley, serving as an active member of the East Wenatchee Rotary and East Wenatchee Events Board for 20 years, the Douglas County Planning Commission for 10 years, and the Columbia Valley Community Health Board member for over 5 years.
Stacy serves on the board of the Alatheia Therapeutic Riding Center, which provides equine-assisted services to children and adults with physical and developmental disabilities and veterans living with PTSD. She also sits on the finance committee for the Wenatchee Valley YMCA and coaches for the North Central Washington Volleyball Club.
Bobby serves on the board of the Common Ground Community Housing Trust, which focuses on home ownership, affordability, and stewardship in the Wenatchee Valley.
Grand Opening Celebration on February 1
Although the new Peoples Bank East Wenatchee Branch opened for business earlier this month, it is hosting a grand opening event on February 1 from 5 to 7 p.m. with a ribbon cutting hosted by the Wenatchee Valley Chamber of Commerce. The event will feature light appetizers and local beer, wine, and cider. All are welcome to attend to enjoy refreshments while checking out the fully renovated branch and meeting the members of the new East Wenatchee Peoples Bank team.
Please visit the new Peoples Bank East Wenatchee Branch at 337 Valley Mall Parkway, East Wenatchee, WA 98802.
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