History of the Bank of Whitman

The Bank of Whitman was established on Sept. 29, 1977 in Colfax. A history of the bank was published in The Journal in a four-page section that was included in the newspaper’s Dec. 7, 1989, edition as the bank announced its Dec. 15, 1989, grand opening of the Ritzville branch.

An explanation of the bank’s beginnings was described in the following manner: “This was the result of two years of hard work by many groups and individuals attempting to establish an independently owned and operated bank in Colfax. All 14 of the original directors and most of the stockholders were either area businessmen or farmers. Initially, $840,000 of startup capital was raised. The first two years the bank was open emphasis was placed on establishing a smooth flow of operations.

In 1983 the bank’s directors recognized a need to expand in the surrounding area. In 1983 the bank opened its first branch, replacing People’s Bank in Washtucna. In 1985 branches were opened in Endicott and LaCrosse and in 1988 a branch was launched in Rosalia.

At the time of the opening of the Ritzville branch, 1982 Ritzville High School graduate Steve Ruthven was the original branch manager. The local branch staff included Stacey Schoessler and Michelle Kramer.

When the Ritzville branch opened, John U. Pavlik, former publisher of The Journal, was introduced as the newest member of the bank’s board of directors.