Sharon and Oliver Waldman, Attorneys at Law
Astoria Business of the Month, September 2010
Sharon and Oliver Waldman are two local family attorneys who share a busy office on the Astoria waterfront. For their practice, which also involves real estate, wills and trusts, Sharon notes how important it is to work with a business-oriented bank. “For complicated legal matters, we require a heightened level of security and sensitivity to confidentiality, and felt Clatsop Community Bank would provide that,” she explained. “We also like keeping our money in a local bank,” she added.
"The head of the bank (Steve Ferber) is also very accessible at the Astoria branch, and I like that,” Oliver said. “Steve comes out, knows my name, and always has the business information I need.” Read more
The Waldmans are often involved in financial transfers because of their work, and need a bank that can help facilitate the process for their small business clients. “We refer the staff at Clatsop Community Bank to our clients all the time,” Sharon said.
Sharon and Oliver Waldman together now specialize in family law, and have worked together professionally since 2008.
The Natural Nook
Seaside Business of the Month, September 2010
“I moved my account to Clatsop Community Bank not long after the bank opened,” said Cathie Cates, owner of The Natural Nook in Seaside. “I believe working with a local bank is just better,” she added. “They know you by name and treat you like family.”
Cates also appreciates the professional service she receives. “The people at the bank know your time is valuable, and they take care of your needs quickly,” Cathie said. She also describes (with a smile) how much she enjoys the freshly baked cookies in the bank lobby on Fridays. Read more
Cates knew three Clatsop Community Bank employees from her previous bank, and had grown to become good friends with them. She enjoys working with them now at her new bank, and sums up her experience by saying that Clatsop Community Bank “always goes the extra mile.”
Cathie Cates has owned The Natural Nook for eight years, though the business has been serving the North Coast from its shop in Seaside for three decades. The business has a strong local following, and offers gifts and home décor items as well as professional florist services.
Coast Rehabilitation Services (CRS)
Astoria Business of the Month, August 2010
Coast Rehabilitation Services (CRS) was banking with a couple of financial institutions when one of the two banks submitted a proposal in a move to win all of the business. “If we were going to take the time to consider a proposal, however, we decided we should invite submissions from other banks, too,” said Jake Carls, executive director of CRS. “Clatsop Community Bank is one of the banks that responded to the request, and theirs was the best proposal,” he added.
“We do have some unique needs,” Carls said, “and Clatsop Community Bank was able to accommodate them.” One of those needs includes maintenance of approximately 60 individual accounts belonging to people in Clatsop County who are supported by CRS.
“Our clients always receive a warm reception at the bank, and they are able to get the personal attention they need in order to conduct their banking business,” Carls explained. “Other banks have become more corporate – they’ve lost the personal touch. Clatsop Community Bank is just the opposite of that,” he said. Read more
“We also appreciate the oversight Clatsop Community Bank provides,” Carls noted. “For example, our checks require two signatures, and Derith Andrew always calls if something doesn’t look quite right,” he added.
Established in 1974, Coast Rehabilitation Services provides a variety of individualized support and residential services designed to assist people as they transition – often from group home or institutionalized settings – to lives of increased independence and self-sufficiency.
Morris' Fireside Restaurant
Seaside Business of the Month, August 2010
“I recommend Clatsop Community Bank to everyone,” said Tom Morris, who, with his wife Suzi, owns Morris’ Fireside Restaurant in Cannon Beach.
Tom and Suzi came to Clatsop Community Bank when their previous bank wouldn’t budge on the terms of their loan. “Clatsop Community Bank beat their rate by 3.5%,” Tom said. “We’ve been there for a year and a half, and they are the friendliest bank in Clatsop County,” he added. “They are meeting our needs and are not charging us one little fee after another.”
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Tom and Suzi moved to Cannon Beach from Seattle in the 1970s to raise their family of eight children. They purchased the restaurant property, including the original log cabin that sat on the site, in 1976. They rebuilt the restaurant bigger and better in 1984.
“All of our children were raised in the restaurant and worked here,” Tom said. None of the children chose careers in the food industry, he notes, but they did develop much of their character and learn some valuable lessons while working in the family restaurant.
Bloomin' Crazy Floral
Astoria Business of the Month, July 2010
Banking can’t be any more convenient. Diane Berry’s business, Bloomin’ Crazy Floral, is directly across the street from Clatsop Community Bank’s Astoria branch. But location is only one of the reasons she chose to bank here.
“They have a good business attitude and are here to help,” Diane said. “And I’ve noticed more and more business people going in,” she added.
On top of that, the staff is friendly, and there is much more of a personal touch at Clatsop Community Bank, Diane explained. “Derith Andrew (operations manager at the Bank) even helped me through Quickbooks downloads,” she said.
“I also love that I get a real person on the phone – I don’t have to press more numbers to get someone. Banking at Clatsop Community Bank has been a great choice for me.” Read more
Diane opened Bloomin’ Crazy Floral in November 2009 at the corner of 10th and Commercial Streets in the newly renovated Sanborn Building. “I like downtown and wanted to be here,” she said. She has more than 30 years of experience in the floral industry and is degreed in floristry. “I knew owning my own business would mean a lot of hours, but I have a great crew and that makes a real difference,” she added.
Yummy Wine Bar & Bistro
Seaside Business of the Month, July 2010
“Anyone who owns a business knows you wear many hats,” said Corey Albert, owner of Yummy Wine Bar & Bistro in Seaside. “Because of that, it’s important to have partners who are looking out for you.”
Corey came to Clatsop Community Bank about a year after the Bank’s Seaside branch opened. “I didn’t hesitate, and it really was an easy transfer,” he said. “The transition was completed quickly, and Mindy Cozart (my personal banker) did much of the legwork. She also made sure I didn’t have any problems in the interim while funds were split between two institutions,” he explained. Read more
Yummy Wine Bar & Bistro hosted several investor meetings when the Bank was in its formative stages. “It was nice to be part of that,” Corey said. And now that he’s a customer, he loves the relationship even more. “They know me and my business, and they understand the seasonality that is inherent to it. They always find a way to make things work, and never leave me without a solution,” he said.
Corey established Yummy Wine Bar & Bistro in 2007, with more than 14 years of experience in the gourmet restaurant industry. He grew up on a farm in Canada with a special appreciation for food and where it comes from. He enjoys tapping the bountiful food sources of the Pacific Northwest, using them to interpret traditional dishes with his signature twist.
