Banner Corporation Announces 3Q07 Conference Call and Webcast And Completes Acquisition of NCW Community Bank


WALLA WALLA, Wash., Oct. 10, 2007 (PRIME NEWSWIRE) -- Banner Corporation (Nasdaq:BANR), the parent of Banner Bank and Islanders Bank, today announced that it will report earnings for the third quarter of 2007 after the market closes on Thursday, October 25, 2007. Management will host a conference call on Friday, October 26 at 8:00 a.m. PT (11:00 a.m. ET) to discuss the results. The call will also be broadcast live via the internet.

Investment professionals are invited to dial 303-262-2140 at 8:00 a.m. PT (11:00 a.m. ET) to access the call. All current and prospective shareholders are welcome to listen to the live call or replay through a webcast posted on the Banner Bank's website, www.bannerbank.com. An archived recording of the call can be accessed by dialing 303-590-3000, access code 11098880#, until Friday, November 2, 2007.

Additionally, Banner has completed the acquisition of NCW Community Bank of Wenatchee, Washington. The merger was approved by the shareholders of NCW Community Bank at a special meeting of shareholders held on September 27, 2007 and closed effective today, October 10. In connection with the acquisition, NCW Community Bank merged into Banner Bank.

Founded in 1999, NCW Community Bank was a state-chartered commercial community bank with approximately $100 million in assets, $89 million in loans, $91 million in deposits and shareholders' equity of $9 million at June 30, 2007. With one branch in Wenatchee and one under construction in East Wenatchee, the Bank specialized in meeting the financial needs of individuals and small and mid-sized businesses in its local market.

Banner Corporation is a $4.3 billion bank holding company operating two commercial banks in Washington, Oregon and Idaho. Banner serves the Pacific Northwest region with a full range of deposit services and business, commercial real estate, construction, residential, agricultural and consumer loans. Visit Banner Bank on the Web at www.bannerbank.com.



            

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