By Ivan Dochovski - Commercial Banking Officer, Peoples Bank | Puget Sound Business Journal

Ivan Dochovski - Commercial Banking Officer

I’ve been fascinated by farming ever since I was a child helping my grandparents plant and harvest their small family farm in Bulgaria. I remember being amazed at the idea that you can put a seed in the ground, take care of it, and a few months later it would yield crops that would feed you through the winter. Wouldn’t you know it, when I moved to the United States to attend Northwestern College in Orange City, Iowa, I once again found myself in the heart of an agricultural community.

It’s no surprise, then, when I moved to Whatcom County in 2013 and started working at Peoples Bank, I was immediately intrigued with the bank’s nearly 100-year history supporting the agriculture industry. Founded in 1921 in Lynden, Washington, Peoples Bank was established as a community partner for local farmers.

One of the most interesting aspects of agriculture is that it’s not typically an industry that people decide to join on a whim. Instead, it’s usually a family operation passed down from generation to generation. This means a large part of a banker’s job is helping customers plan ahead and be ready to transition their operations to the next generation when the time comes. Read more...