Bank of the Cascades takes over local bank

The Bank of the Cascades officially opened its doors on Monday, and according to Julie Miller, the Oregon President of the Bank of the Cascades (BOTC), there have already been lines forming and new customers signing up.

BOTC was in growth mode when it bid on several branches of Bank of America when they decided to divest, Miller said. They acquired the Bank of America branches in Cathlamet, Raymond, Willapa Bay and Westport.

Local staff were retained and “bank ambassadors,” as Miller described them, have been here to smooth the transition from Bank of America to BOTC.

“The team is phenomenal,” Miller said of the local crew who handled the unusual lines on Monday.

“This is an exciting opportunity,” Miller said, “and a perfect fit for us. We like being part of the community and encourage our employees to sit on boards and committees. We have grants available for local non-profit education programs and we like to sponsor local events and more.”