Commencement Bank opened its new Auburn Branch on Jan. 2 to better serve its customer base. The centrally-located branch – at 220 15th St. NE, off Highway 167 – marks the bank’s fourth, full-service location.

“As financial services evolve, banks are seeing less and less interaction with customers. As a community bank, we rely on that interaction to build deeper relationships with our clients. That is why we continue to invest in physical locations in addition to technology,” said John Manolides, president and chief executive officer of Commencement Bank. “We are excited to expand our reach in the South Sound by bringing our passion for personalized, local banking to the city of Auburn and the surrounding south King County.”

With one of the area’s fastest growing economies, Auburn is home to more than 4,000 businesses and is the center of the largest industrial complex in the Northwest. It also has an above-average retail market as well as continued job expansion for its residents, according to Commencement Bank. The new location was selected because of the increasing need for financial services in the area and is staffed by bankers who know the Auburn community and its surrounding markets.

“We ensure excellent customer service on a personal level by hiring locally at each of our branches,” Manolides said. “Each banker is a valued member of our community with extensive experience in meeting the needs of the individuals and businesses that reside there.”

To introduce the Auburn team and celebrate its new location, Commencement Bank hosts a grand opening event for customers and the community the week of March 2, with a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Friday, March 6.

For more information, visit commencementbank.com. For information related to the trading of CBWA, visit otcmarkets.com.