[Press Release published in Wallowa County Chieftain on June 18, 2009.]


Bank of Eastern Oregon breaks ground 

Enterprise Branch Ground Breaking


From left: Vickie Searles, Wallowa County Chamber; Gary Propheter, EVP/COO, Bank of Eastern Oregon; Irv Nuss, Mayor, City of Enterprise; Michelle Young, Enterprise City Manager; Jeremiah Moffit, Moffit Bros. Construction; Troy Farwell, Wellens-Farwell Construction. On right: John Bailey & Bob Williams, VP’s/Loan Officers; Lynda Silveira, Branch Manager, Enterprise Branch; and Becky Kindle, VP/Branch Administrator, Bank of Eastern Oregon.

Enterprise, Oregon - Bank of Eastern Oregon broke ground recently on its new $1.5 million Enterprise branch, custom designed for a mountain setting.

The 3,900 square foot building at 101 Hogan Street, corner of River Street, is expected to open by the first of next year and employ up to eight people.

“We’re really looking forward to getting a full-sized facility in Enterprise,” said Gary Propheter, Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of Bank of Eastern Oregon.

“We’re going to be there for a long time. Enterprise is our kind of town, small and rural. The biggest town we’re in – it’s a coin flip between Burns and Boardman,” he said.

Bank officials designed a floor plan for the new Enterprise branch and then hired architect Brian Hawkins of Medford to design the outside of the building.

They visited Wallowa County to look at other buildings and create a design complimenting the current downtown and mountain views.

Bank of Eastern Oregon celebrates 65 years in 2010. It has 12 branches.

The bank, which has headquarters in Heppner, has long been involved in rural communities.

Bank of Eastern Oregon recently awarded eighteen $500 scholarships to graduating seniors.

This is the 17th year the bank offered this scholarship program, giving away more than $68,000, to date. In Wallowa County, Paige Bailey, who graduated from Joseph High School, received one of the scholarships.

For further information, please contact Gary Propheter, EVP & Chief Operations Officer, Bank of Eastern Oregon, gpropehter@beobank.com, or 541-676-0201.

About BEO Bancorp

BEO Bancorp is the holding company for Bank of Eastern Oregon, which operates 12 branches and two loan production offices in nine eastern Oregon counties. Branches are located in Arlington, Ione, Heppner, Condon, Irrigon, Boardman, Burns, John Day, Prairie City, Fossil, Moro, and Enterprise; loan production offices are located in Hermiston and Ontario. Bank of Eastern Oregon also operates a mortgage division and offers brokerage services through BEO Financial Services. The bank’s website is www.beobank.com.