Banner Bank

Office address: 10 South First Avenue, PO Box 907, Walla Walla, WA 99362-0265
Website: bannerbank.com
Year established: 1890
Company type: banking
Employees: 1,950+
Expertise: personal banking, business banking, commercial banking, commercial real estate, home loans, wealth management, investment services, retirement planning, estate planning, college savings, insurance products
Parent company: Banner Corporation
Key people: Mark Grescovich (CEO), Robert Butterfield (CFO), Sherrey Luetjen (general counsel), Mark Borrecco (chief banking officer), Janet Brown (chief information officer), James Costa (COO), Dan Oxford (chief risk officer)
Financing status: corporation

Banner Bank is a regional bank based in Walla Walla and has more than $16 billion in assets. The bank offers personal and business banking, loans, and investment services through 135 branches in the western US. It reports high client engagement and has received repeated recognition by leading financial publications.

History of Banner Bank

Banner Bank began in 1890 as the National Building Loan & Trust Association in Walla Walla, Washington. Banner Corporation, the holding company for Banner Bank, was formed in 1995 and has built a strong regional presence in the western US. By 2000, the company unified its branches under the Banner Bank name.

Banner Bank’s market presence

Over time, the firm has become known for blending personal service with the reach of a larger financial institution. Banner Corporation has also become publicly traded on the NASDAQ Global Market under the symbol BANR.

Today, the bank provides many deposit options and lending solutions for people, businesses, and those in agriculture. As a member of the Federal Home Loan Bank System, Banner Bank ensures all deposits are FDIC insured.

Community commitment

The bank operates in California, Idaho, Washington, and Oregon, with assets surpassing $16 billion by 2024. But community support has always been central to Banner Bank’s story. The bank has supported nearly 1,000 charitable causes in that same year and has contributed almost $2 million and many volunteer hours.

The Fall Fund Drive, a community giving campaign organized by Banner Bank, also raised over $41,000 and collected more than 16,500 food items for local families.

Banner Bank products and services 

Banner Bank's clients can access a wide range of solutions designed to fit both simple and complex financial needs:

Retirement solutions

• retirement planning: custom plans for steady retirement income
• individual retirement plans: options for personal retirement savings
• business retirement plans: tailored plans for small business owners and staff
• retirement savings calculators: online tools for planning and estimates

Wealth and estate planning

• estate planning: strategies for wealth transfer and giving
• charitable giving: solutions for planned donations and legacy

Education planning

• college savings planning: accounts for future education costs

Investment and insurance products

• securities and advisory services: investment advice through LPL Financial
• insurance products: life and other insurance options via LPL
• mutual funds, stocks, bonds: access to a broad investment menu

Banner Bank also offers easy access to wealth and investment services through its main banking platform. Clients benefit from clear compliance support and can contact LPL Financial, an independent broker-dealer, for privacy and regulatory information.

Culture and corporate values

Banner Bank states that its culture aims to attract, empower, and reward employees while supporting growth. According to the company, its vision is to be the best financial services provider in the West. Banner Bank lists these values as central to its culture:

1. do the right thing
2. honesty and integrity
3. mutual respect
4. quality
5. trust
6. teamwork
7. accountability

The company also provides staff with benefits focused on physical, financial, and mental health needs. These include:

• healthcare coverage: medical, dental, vision, and company-paid life insurance
• disability and leave: short-term and long-term disability, paid sick leave, parental leave
• paid time off: vacation days, personal days, 11 holidays, community service hours
• financial compensation: base pay, incentives, commissions, and 401(k) with company match
• tuition reimbursement: up to $5,250 for full-time, $2,625 for part-time staff
• additional perks: employee banking discounts, public transportation reimbursement, service awards
• support programs: EAP, flexible spending accounts, critical illness and supplemental insurance options

For Banner Bank’s corporate responsibility initiatives, it provided nearly $405 million in community development loans in 2024. The bank also supported 875 organizations with over 18,000 volunteer hours.

About CEO Mark Grescovich and key people

Mark J. Grescovich is the president and CEO of Banner Bank, joining in 2010 after a long banking career. Before Banner, Grescovich was executive VP and chief corporate banking officer at FirstMerit Corporation in Ohio. He also worked as a managing partner in corporate finance at Sequoia Financial Group.

The executive team at Banner Bank guides the company’s finance, legal, operations, and risk strategies:

• Robert G. Butterfield oversees financial planning as CFO, ensuring strong fiscal management
• Sherrey Luetjen manages legal matters as general counsel, focusing on compliance and governance
• Mark Borrecco directs business growth as chief banking officer, building client and community relationships
• Janet Brown heads technology as chief information officer, advancing digital systems and security
• James Costa supervises daily operations as COO, improving service and efficiency
• Dan Oxford leads risk programs as chief risk officer, monitoring compliance and enterprise risk

This team also serves as executive VPs, supporting Banner Bank’s reach across four western states. Their experience helps the bank offer a wide range of financial solutions.

The future at Banner Bank

Banner Corporation, Banner Bank’s parent company, reported over $53 million in net income for the third quarter of 2025. It boosted its quarterly dividend by 4 percent which shows belief in its future prospects. These results support Banner’s ability to invest in its network and strengthen its financial foundation.

The bank also promoted Dan Oxford to executive VP and chief risk officer, expanding his leadership over risk management. The promotion enhances the company’s ability to manage compliance, fraud, and climate risk for greater stability and client protection. Promoting from within shows Banner’s focus on developing talent and preparing for long-term growth.