OBA Education Foundation Inks Three-Year Partnership with Eastern Oregon University

The Oregon Bankers Association (OBA) Education Foundation ("Foundation"), which advances the education, development and recruitment of future Oregon bankers among other endeavors, announces a new agreement with Eastern Oregon University (EOU) committing financial and volunteer support to expand commercial banking curriculum, learning experiences and career exposure.

Now in its 10th year, the OBA Education Foundation is celebrating many accomplishments. Chief among them is the partnerships the Foundation has established with University of Oregon and Oregon State University to attract and educate the next generation of bankers. With the financial support of many banks and bankers, the Foundation is now able to extend this work to EOU based in La Grande.

Linda Navarro, president and CEO of the Oregon Bankers Association and the Foundation's secretary-treasurer, says of the partnership, "We've been waiting for the right time to expand our university partnership model to EOU, and that time has come. Our hope is that this partnership will educate and attract more ready and willing college graduates to banking positions in rural communities, particularly in Eastern Oregon."

Tom Moran, president and CEO of Community Bank headquartered in Joseph with 10 branches throughout Eastern Oregon and Washington, said of the new EOU partnership, "Given how successful the Foundation's partnerships with other universities have proven to be in other parts of the state, we're excited for similar results at a school a little closer to home."

In addition to these public university partnerships, the Foundation sponsors a unique campus-based financial education model at University of Portland and is exploring future partnerships at the community college level.