Banner Bank's commitment to small business lending earned the bank numerous awards from the U.S. Small Business Administration again this year. Banner was named Regional Lender of the Year for the Seattle/Spokane District of Washington, Star Performer in the Portland, Oregon District, and a National Lender Recognition Award in the Sacramento, Calif. District. The awards were presented at separate ceremonies as part of National Small Business Week.

The SBA announced Banner Bank originated the most loans last year among all banks serving Washington State, approving 174 loans totaling $40,462,420. The agency named Banner its Regional Lender of the Year for the Spokane/Seattle District at the Washington Small Business Awards Gala Wednesday night. The SBA's Seattle/Spokane District includes the entire state of Washington except for a small geographic region that includes Vancouver, Wash., which is included in the Portland District, due to proximity.

Banner Bank closed 51 loans in Oregon's Portland District during the SBA fiscal year, totaling $4,527,500. Earlier this month, the SBA presented Banner with its Star Performer Award for demonstrating "lending excellence" closing at least 20 loans during the agency's fiscal year. The SBA's Portland District includes Vancouver and 30 of the 36 Oregon counties. Only the six most eastern counties are not included as they are assigned to the Boise, Idaho District.

Banner Bank is a Washington-chartered commercial bank that conducts business from more than 200 locations in Washington, Oregon, California and Idaho. With more than $11.7 billion in assets, Banner offers a wide variety of banking services and financial products to individuals and small- and medium-sized businesses and their employees throughout the Western U.S. Visit Banner Bank at www.bannerbank.com.