Viking Bank announced on November 8 that, at a special meeting of shareholders held earlier this month, Viking shareholders approved the plan of merger and acquisition by AmericanWest Bank.

The votes cast in favor of the transaction represented more than 88% of the total number of shares outstanding.

The transaction is expected to close before year end and is subject to customary closing conditions including the approval of Viking Bank’s regulatory agencies.

“Viking and AmericanWest share similar cultures and a relationship-oriented approach to business-focused community banking," said Rich Mulcahy, Interim Chief Executive Officer of Viking Bank. "We are excited about the positive impact we can make in the communities we serve through this merger, and look forward to receiving the necessary regulatory approvals to close the transaction.”

After three years of financial struggles, the merger was first announced in September.

At that time Landon Brazier, Chairman of Viking Financial, assured us that the merger will be good for the Ballard Community.

"This organization will now be a stronger support to the community than we have been in recent years. With more financial resources and a larger capital base, we will be able to make larger loans than Viking Bank was ever able to make," he said. "The name's going to change but the level of service will be the same."

Brazier said they're working to ensure that Viking Bank employees will maintain their positions in the bank and customers will notice little change in the bank's service.

"Customers are likely going to wind up dealing with the same people they've been dealing with all along," Brazier said.