The Latest from Columbia

October is National Cybersecurity Month and a great opportunity to take a few moments to reflect on mobile security. These days our devices seem to follow us everywhere, and hold more and more vital data and personal information than ever.

Heart disease and stroke are the leading cause of death in the United States, and its far-reaching effects have touched many of us. Each fall, we partner with the American Heart Association (AHA) to help raise funds and awareness for their mission to prevent heart disease.

When I joined Columbia Bank, I inquired about our areas of support and was surprised that we didn’t have a specific list. The best practices I’d learned it the past dictate that aligning a company’s areas of support with its corporate mission are critical in building a cohesive strategy.

As a bank that provides financial counsel to clients both big and small, we believe there is a foundational principle on which the legal community and the banking community collaborate – forming the dual core of a trusted advisor team.

As your community partner and your bank, we feel it is important to share fraud trends as they occur and provide resources and information to help you avoid fraudulent attacks.

The Northwest has been one of the hottest real estate markets in the nation. But it’s not immune to national trends. Steady mortgage rates and variable home prices will make some pockets of the Northwest competitive and others affordable.

According to the American Cancer Society, more than 15.5 million Americans with a history of Cancer were alive on January 1, 2016, and about 1.7 million new cancer cases were expected to be diagnosed last year.

As an entrepreneur, receiving a loan backed by the Small Business Administration (SBA) is like a getting a driver’s license; it gives you the keys to a new realm of possibilities. Don’t let the term small in small business mislead you.

Earlier in the year, we established some basic tips to help you keep your mobile device on lockdown, but being proactive with your mobile security doesn’t stop there. While passcodes, secure browsing mode and getting familiar with your devices built in security options are great first steps, staying on top of your mobile security game means staying up to date on the newest trends and resources available.

April is National Volunteer Month, a time dedicated to honoring the volunteers who give their time and resources to generously support our communities. At Columbia Bank, volunteerism is a vital part of our commitment to the communities we serve.