History of Peoples Bank

It was the summer of 1920 when the citizens of Lynden decided it was time for a change. At the time there was only one bank in town. And as we all know, "one" is not a number that fosters competitive fire.

As a result, 56 citizens met at the Odd Fellow Hall (now known as the Eagles Hall) to organize Peoples State Bank. Upon approval from the state on December 9, 1920, the Bank opened for business. The original officers were P.J. Van Hemert, President, J.W. Stearns, Vice President, and Albert Kok, Cashier.

It was 18 years later when Irwin LeCocq purchased a controlling interest in the Bank and  joined as President. It was at this time that Mr. LeCocq established the Bank's core values of honesty, integrity, respect, and fiscal conservatism.

As World War II ended, the Bank was on solid footing with $2,000,000 in assets. In February of 1952, the LeCocq legacy continued, as Irwin LeCocq, Jr. joined as Assistant Cashier.

The value of a locally owned, home town bank was never more important to the community. And as the area continued to grow, so did the Bank. In fact, the demand for better service took Peoples State Bank into Bellingham and other nearby locations.

In 1987, Charles LeCocq was elected President, while Irwin LeCocq, Jr. remained as Chairman of the Board.

Today, we are known as Peoples Bank with branches in many Washington communities. Our growth is predicated on the same values that we started with over 90 years ago: be responsible and dedicated to our clients and serve our local communities beyond the business banking.

Our history, our outstanding employees and enduring core values are the pillars of our Bank. They unify our team to serve beyond what is expected to make a difference in the lives and businesses of our customers.