Community Nationwide, people are leaving mega-banks and switch- ing their financial transactions to community banks, where avail— able. Why? Impersonal, arbi— trary service, unfamiliarity with local conditions, customs, and needs. skimming the cream of investments and services, and leaving the rest of the commu- nity to flounder. Pulling profits, loans, and service out of the community to somewhere they can make more profit with less work. Deceitful shell games with fees to make their services “appear” less expensive than others. Becoming so large it becomes virtually impossible to get even a simple question answered. So What is community banking, what can and does it offer, Why are people flocking to it in droves? In part the answer is humanness — local staff, who know and recognize you when you walk in the door. No need to produce twenty pieces of identification to cash a check. Reasonable loan processes. Willingness to develop rules which fit local realities. Preferring to make a reasonable profit from providing you services over many years rather than making a killing foreclosing your loan because a payment was a day late. Having the community’s interest at heart, not just their own profit. Knowing their own well-being depends on that of the community. From an energetic standpoint, the architecture of banking facilities plays a role in the success of that institution, like any. Everything we build reflects and embodies the values and policies of our institutions. If the institution and its architecture are based on Sustainability and life- and commu- nity—enhancing values, it will hold a place in our hearts and contribute positively to the energy of community. If it, and the process of designing and building its facilities, are based on greed and exploitation, it will poison the energy of community. , OCR Text: Community Nationwide, people are leaving mega-banks and switch- ing their financial transactions to community banks, where avail— able. Why? Impersonal, arbi— trary service, unfamiliarity with local conditions, customs, and needs. skimming the cream of investments and services, and leaving the rest of the commu- nity to flounder. Pulling profits, loans, and service out of the community to somewhere they can make more profit with less work. Deceitful shell games with fees to make their services “appear” less expensive than others. Becoming so large it becomes virtually impossible to get even a simple question answered. So What is community banking, what can and does it offer, Why are people flocking to it in droves? In part the answer is humanness — local staff, who know and recognize you when you walk in the door. No need to produce twenty pieces of identification to cash a check. Reasonable loan processes. Willingness to develop rules which fit local realities. Preferring to make a reasonable profit from providing you services over many years rather than making a killing foreclosing your loan because a payment was a day late. Having the community’s interest at heart, not just their own profit. Knowing their own well-being depends on that of the community. From an energetic standpoint, the architecture of banking facilities plays a role in the success of that institution, like any. Everything we build reflects and embodies the values and policies of our institutions. If the institution and its architecture are based on Sustainability and life- and commu- nity—enhancing values, it will hold a place in our hearts and contribute positively to the energy of community. If it, and the process of designing and building its facilities, are based on greed and exploitation, it will poison the energy of community. , Nehalem Valley Historical Society,Nehalem Valley Historical Archives,People,Families,Bender/DeMoll,Architect,Astoria Bank,Bank of Astoria, Columbia Bank, First Security Bank of Washington,Bank of Astoria, Columbia Bank, First Security Bank of Washington 2, Bank of Astoria, Columbia Bank, First Security Bank of Washington 2