Umpqua Bank

Umpqua: The World’s Greatest Bank

The Umpqua River weaves a lazy path through the green and golden forests, and deep, rugged canyons of Oregon State. This is the land of lumberjacks, loggers and farmers, whose river is renowned for outstanding salmon, steelhead fishing and exhilarating whitewater challenges. And while the North Umpqua River offers an ideal setting for many recreational pursuits, the South Umpqua State Bank is pleased to offer the people of Canyonville an ideal atmosphere for all of their financial pursuits as well. 

Founded in 1953, Umpqua Bank began life as a small, traditional community bank that was loved by locals and proud of its reputation for great service. Very conservative, it began to grow through the acquisition of other small local banks, spanning to six regional branches in forty (40) years. Then in the mid 1990’s, the local logging business began to decline and Umpqua bank appeared as though it was about to be devoured by a national giant. With pioneering in its veins and a determination to remain independent, the Board took a risk when their long-time president announced his retirement. Rather than promote from within, they would set their scope wider and hire Raymond Davis, someone that was far from the typical bank CEO.

He was energetic and dynamic, a mid-thirties banking consultant from Atlanta, who set out to reinvent retail banking by bringing the best of the best to Canyonville. Davis inherently recognized that banks were stagnant, notorious commodities – sterile, transactional, predictable and intimidating and therefore sought the opportunity to differentiate. Quickly realizing that in order to truly transform the banking experience, he would need to create a new approach that would enable their associates to provide a more unique and intimate customer experience. He focused on sales and service and sought out those who did that best – people like the Gap, Starbucks and Ritz Carlton. Electing to focus solely on the...