Oregon-based Umpqua Bank opened its Phinney Ridge branch today at 7120 Greenwood Ave. N.
When I stopped by in the late morning, staff members told me there had been a steady stream of people coming in.
Umpqua Bankโs selling point is a strong tie to the community and a bank that feels like a homey community gathering space.
At the Phinney Ridge branch, the table in the middle of the bank is filled with small bags of free coffee beans (fair trade and roasted specifically for them in Oregon) and merchandise from a small, local retailer. That retailer changes every quarter. This quarter itโs Zak & Zoe dog boutique, which is just a couple blocks down on the corner of North 74th Street and Greenwood Avenue North. All merchandise is for sale, and Umpqua gives all the money to the highlighted retailer, without taking any cut.
Zak & Zoe’s products for sale.
The iCafe is a desk with two computers and a printer for anyone to bank online or surf the Internet. A free coffee and tea bar will feature fresh cookies from a local bakery every Friday, and has a paper and paperless community information board. Anyone can submit a community event or pictures through the website.
โWeโre not just a bank,โ Universal Associate Jackie Sapp said. โWe like to think of ourselves as a bank and a store and a coffee shop.โ
The tellerโs row looks more like a hotel lobby than a traditional bank. In fact, all Umpqua associates go through Ritz Carlton customer service training. Two small rooms provide privacy for those opening up new accounts.
โThe idea here is that it kind of looks like a hotel,โ Sapp explained. โWe like to say youโre โchecking inโ not โchecking out.โโ
Each branch has a Neighborhood Narrative on the wall. The Phinney branch highlights the nearby Phinney Neighborhood Association.
If all the tellers are busy or you prefer to speak to someone on the phone, pick up the old-fashioned silver phone in the corner and press one button to be connected directly to customer service, the loan or investment departments, or even Umpquaโs presidentโs direct line. (If he isnโt in his office, his secretary will answer.)
Each employee gets paid for 40 hours of volunteer work on company time. A large computer screen near the front door shows you the number of hours that employees have volunteered, and where. The screen also provides a list of local volunteer opportunities.
Phinney Ridge branch staff hold up โWe Heartโ signs, promoting Umpquaโs contest to see which neighborhood gets the most โlove letters.” The winning neighborhood could win $10,000 for a neighborhood project, and winning businesses could win $1,000. Staff members from left: Michele Livingston (region manager), Jake Mueller (universal associate), Jackie Sapp (universal associate), Jo Figurelli (store manager), Carol Gaouette (area manager), Chris Sailus (mortgage loan officer) and Andrea Tuttle (universal associate).
The Phinney Ridge branch is Umpqua Bankโs fourth Puget Sound area location since July, and branches in West Seattle and Ballard will open by the end of the year.
(Disclosure: Umpqua Bank is a PhinneyWood sponsor.)
