Mortgage bank HBOS' success can be a yawn - 2004-02-26
Bank of Scotland's former chief Sir Peter Burt – now chairman-elect of ITV – used to reiterate that his mission was to make banking boring. The takeover by Halifax made things exciting for a time but now the dead hand of meeting City expectations is taking over.

The total dividend raised 5 per cent to 30.9p per share – an important number since HBOS has more small shareholders than any other company, courtesy of its mortgage bank roots.
Read the full story at Yorkshire Post

Columbia Bancorp enters Portland market - 2004-02-26
Columbia River Bank of The Dalles has set up a Portland-area commercial loan office managed by a veteran of the local banking community.

The subsidiary of Columbia Bancorp has named Bonnie Fletcher vice president and manager of the new office. Before that she was vice president of commercial lending at Umpqua Bank. Fletcher is the past president of the Oregon Mortgage Bankers Association.
Read the full story at Business Journal of Portland