Siuslaw Bank will join community bankers throughout the nation to celebrate the month of April as Community Banking Month. This year community bankers will make a collective effort to inform the public of the important economic and social contributions local banks make in their communities.
Siuslaw Bank will focus on educating local youth on the importance of saving throughout the month long celebration. As part of this effort, the Bank will host an essay contest entitled, “Why It’s Important to Save.” Winning essays will be published in local newspapers.
Siuslaw Bank will culminate Community Banking Month on April 29, 2008 with “Teach Children to Save Day,” when employees of the Bank will visit community classrooms to mentor elementary school children on the importance of excellent saving habits.
“I’m proud to unite with other community bankers across the state and nation to display our dedication to serving our customers, our state, and our country the best way we know how,” said Johan Mehlum, Siuslaw Bank CEO and Chairman of the Board. “We are proud of our community and we are dedicated to serving our community and the citizens and businesses that reside and operate here. Our bank has a different philosophy than larger institutions. We are uniquely committed to the local area and our focus lies in helping our community to grow and prosper.”
Community banks are independent, locally owned and operated institutions. The more than 8,300 community banks across America today are often recognized for personalized and individual service, low fees and focus on the local economy.
Founded in 1964, Siuslaw Bank is Lane County’s oldest independent bank.
April 4th, 2008
Above: Coins collected for a previous Tons of Change event
Will a Guinness Book for World Records award take place on Saturday, April 5? Our sources say yes. On Saturday, April 5 Siuslaw Bank’s Cottage Grove office will host the official weigh-in for the Boys & Girls Clubs’ “Tons of Change” campaign.
Siuslaw Bank employees, along with volunteers from the community, KVAL, and five members of the University of Oregon Women’s Basketball team, will be on hand to weigh nearly 1,000 buckets of coins collected throughout the Emerald valley, in hopes of setting a world record for collecting over one ton of coins for charity.
“Our goal is to collect a minimum of one ton of coins,” said Sherman Smith, President, Board of Director for the Boys & Girls Clubs of Emerald Valley. “We have an estimated 500 to 600 pounds of coins on hand with more coming in. Visually it will be a good show.”
Siuslaw Bank is excited to support the campaign, which will benefit the Boys & Girls Clubs of Emerald Valley and finance many of their day-to-day operations assisting under-privileged children throughout the greater Eugene area.
“We have long admired the good work the Boys & Girls Clubs do for our youth and are happy to help host the Tons of Change event,” says Robert Ball, Vice President at Siuslaw Bank and manager of the Cottage Grove office.
The “Tons of Change” event both wraps up the annual National Boys & Girls Clubs Week and kicks off Community Banking Month, which focuses on the positive impact local banks make on their communities.
“Community Service is an integral component of our philosophy,” says Lonnie Iholts, President of Siuslaw Bank. “Our culture centers on our dedication and commitment to serving our community. Our original founders were comprised of community leaders and that truth still holds today.”
April 4th, 2008