Anyone who has taken a trip
through the heart of Lynden knows it’s a town that values its history and
cherishes its roots. So, it’s no surprise that when hometown institution Peoples Bank
reached its 100th anniversary, the community took notice. The bank has always prioritized
its commitment to the communities it serves. Its dedication to strong fiscal
responsibility has allowed it to grow and flourish over the years, including through
challenging times from the Great Depression to 2008’s global recession, and
more recently, the coronavirus pandemic.

Lisa Hefter has been with Peoples for 28 years and has worked her way from teller to Chief Operating Of-ficer. Photo courtesy Peoples Bank

Peoples Bank executive Lisa
Hefter has been with the bank for 28 years. “I grew up in Lynden and went to
Lynden High School,” she says. “My parents banked at Peoples, and I started as
a teller here in 1992, about six months after I graduated from Central
Washington University.” Hefter then worked in various roles within the bank
before being promoted to Chief Financial Officer in 2009. A decade later, she
was promoted to Chief Administrative & Risk Officer, and she assumed the
role of Chief Operating Officer earlier this year. In October 2020, Hefter was
elected to the Board of Directors of Peoples Bank and Peoples Bancorp. This
kind of career longevity is not uncommon at Peoples Bank. In fact, nearly 20
employees have worked for Peoples Bank for three decades or longer.

“Like Peoples Bank, many of the country’s community banks actually started by
community members coming together and establishing institutions that could
respond better to the needs of local families and businesses,” explains Hefter.
“Back in 1921, a group of Lynden residents established the Peoples State Bank
for this same reason. We changed our name to Peoples Bank in 1996, and today our
23 branches serve customers in Whatcom, Skagit, Snohomish, Island, King, and
Chelan counties.”

Lynden Mayor Scott Korthuis proclaimed August 7th Peoples Bank Day in Lynden. Photo courtesy Peoples Bank

The bank’s longevity and its
sense of tradition also extend to its family leadership. “Irwin LeCocq, Sr., the
grandfather of our CEO Charles LeCocq, bought a controlling interest in the
bank in 1938. Charles is the third generation of his family leading the bank,
and now his son Ryan also works here,” says Hefter. “Our longevity means we’ve also
been fortunate to serve multiple generations of local businesses and customers.
We have customers whose grandchildren have accounts with us today. It’s
gratifying to be a part of the community for so long.”

The Lynden Pioneer Museum unveiled a new Peoples Bank exhibit showcasing its historical memorabilia. Photo courtesy Peoples Bank

To commemorate the milestone, Peoples
Bank partnered with the Lynden
Pioneer Museum
and
KAFE Radio to host a community celebration. Leading the festivities, Lynden
Mayor Scott Korthuis proclaimed August 7th “Peoples Bank Day.” The
Lynden Pioneer Museum, which unveiled a new Peoples Bank exhibit, offered free
admission. Edaleen Dairy gave out free scoops of a special ice cream flavor—Chocolate
Dipped Raspberry Ripple—created especially for Peoples Bank Day.

“Even though it was a rainy
day—the first measurable rainfall we’ve had in nearly two months—we ended up
serving over 300 hotdogs, and everyone had a great time,” said Will Butela, a
member of the Peoples Bank marketing department who helped organize the event.

Founded in 1921 as Peoples State Bank, Whatcom County’s longest running financial institution has been headquartered in Bellingham since 2008. Photo courtesy Peoples Bank

Although the hot dogs and ice
cream certainly drew attendees, Butela was also glad to see the community take
a moment to think about its history. “You can’t really think about Peoples Bank
without thinking about its deep connection with the Lynden community,” said
Butela.

As the bank moves forward, it’s bringing all of that history along with it. “One thing that is so compelling to me is our culture of commitment. We’re invested in our communities because we live and work in them, and we want to make them better places,” says Hefter.

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