KEDA Award Recipient

“The pandemic and economic crisis of 2020 presented enormous challenges and demanded an unprecedented response from government and industry.  Liberty Bank was recently recognized by the Kitsap Economic Development Authority (KEDA) for being an outstanding PPP lender, as measured by loans to Kitsap-based companies.  Rick Darrow, CEO of Liberty Bank, also points out, relative to the size of bank, Liberty Bank was the number one PPP lender in the state of Washington during 2020.”

https://kitsapeda.org/keda-celebrate-economic-champions-at-2021-annual-meeting/

COVID-19 Preparedness – Update

May 3, 2021 – Update to COVID-19

We would first and foremost like to send out a big “thank you” to all our customers.  You have been patient and supportive, as we all adjusted to rethinking how we continue to provide service and meet your financial needs. COVID-19 has had a profound impact on all of us, this past year.

We have missed having our customers come into the lobby to see us. The LB Team is eager to return to normalcy and with that, we are excited to tell you our reopening our lobby plans.  

Beginning Monday, May 17, 2021, our Poulsbo lobby will be reopening with revised hours to start, from 10:00am to 3:00pm. The Drive-up will continue to be available 9:00am to 5:00pm.

Beginning Monday, June 14, 2021, our Poulsbo lobby will be back open normal hours from 9:00am to 5:00pm.

Our Bellevue Loan Office will be “by appointment only”, until further notice.  You can contact us at 425-436-5705 or if you know the number to your favorite banker.

Our number one priority remains the health and safety of our employees and clients.  We want you to feel safe while visiting us in person.  For that reason, we will have the following protocols in place.

Remember, we will continue to have safe and convenient banking options available, such as our Drive-up, Night Drop, online and mobile banking.

Thank you for your business and we hope you and your family remain safe and healthy.

Liberty Bank Staff

November 17, 2020 – Update to COVID-19

As we continue to monitor the impact of COVID-19 in our communities, we want to provide an update on our commitment to serve you throughout this difficult time. This has been an extremely challenging year that has radically changed many aspects of our daily lives.  Here we are in November and we are still in the fight against COVID-19.

Following the latest proclamation by Governor Inslee on November 15, 2020, our Poulsbo branch lobby and our Bellevue office will continue to remain closed to the public. 

Our customers and employees are our highest priority and we are committed to providing services, resources and support to our customers while maintaining the safety and health of our employees. Our team has been working hard to navigate through COVID-19, going above and beyond to ensure the safety of staff, clients, and our communities. 

Please know the Liberty Bank team is here to assist you with your financial needs.  We encourage you to use our drive-up and digital/mobile banking tools. If you are not able to use our drive-up, or you need in-person assistance, please call us at 360-779-4567 and set up an appointment or just come to the front door of the Poulsbo branch.  We are keeping an eye out for anyone that may need additional services.  Strict COVID-19 protocols will need to be followed. 

The bank continues to follow the local, state and national news to help give us guidance as we try to balance the safety of our staff and servicing our customers.

Thank you for your patience as we work through this difficult time together and we appreciate your business.

All of us here at Liberty Bank hope you and your family continue to remain safe and protected from COVID-19.

August 5, 2020 – Update to COVID-19

As a result of social distancing recommendations around COVID-19, our lobby continues to remain closed to the public to keep our staff and customers safe. We will update this page once that changes. Meanwhile, on-site staff continue to work normal business hours to serve you.  We encourage all customers to do their in-person banking using our drive-up or night drop.  We encourage you to leverage our digital options; Online banking, Mobile banking, Mobile Deposit and Remote Deposit Capture. You can also access any ATM, surcharge-free, with your Liberty Bank Debit Card.

Scammers follow the headlines. Scammers are taking advantage of fears surrounding the Coronavirus.  Visit the Federal Trade Commission for tips to help you keep the scammers at bay:

https://www.consumer.ftc.gov/blog/2020/02/coronavirus-scammers-follow-headlines

For latest information and full list of recommendations about coronavirus, visit the https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/

Thank you for your patience as we work through this difficult time together and we appreciate your business.

All of us here at Liberty Bank hope you and your family continue to remain safe and protected from COVID-19.

May 5, 2020 – Update to the COVID-19

As you know by now, Governor Inslee extended the “Stay Home, Stay Healthy” order until May 31, 2020. He also revealed a four-phase plan to safety reopen the state; Phase 1 begins today. Each phase is expected to last at least three weeks, the minimum amount of time public health experts believe is required to determine how the new level has impacted the transmissibility and impact of the virus.

We will continue to monitor the data and elements surrounding COVID-19.  For now, our lobby will remain closed to the public, to keep our staff and customers safe.  The staff on site are working normal business hours to serve you.  We encourage all customers to do their in-person banking using our drive-up or night drop.  We encourage you to leverage our digital options; Online banking, Mobile banking, Mobile Deposit and Remote Deposit Capture. You can also access any ATM, surcharge-free, with your Liberty Bank Debit Card.

Economic Stimulus Payments from the IRS continue to go out.  Please check your Online or Mobile banking for direct deposit.  It will appear like a tax refund credit entry from IRS TREAS 310. If you don’t have direct deposit set up with the IRS, paper checks will begin to be processed on April 20, with the first batch arriving the week of May 4th. Please note, it is the IRS that determines when payments are made, and we will not know which round you are in until we receive a payment for you.  Learn more by visit: https://www.irs.gov/coronavirus/economic-impact-payments

https://www.irs.gov/coronavirus/economic-impact-payment-information-center

Scammers follow the headlines. Scammers are taking advantage of fears surrounding the Coronavirus.  Visit the Federal Trade Commission for tips to help you keep the scammers at bay:

https://www.consumer.ftc.gov/blog/2020/02/coronavirus-scammers-follow-headlines

For latest information and full list of recommendations about coronavirus, visit the https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/

Thank you for your patience as we work through this difficult time together and we appreciate your business.

All of us here at LB hope you and your family continue to remain safe and protected from COVID-19.

April 13, 2020 – Update to the COVID-19

As we live through these unprecedented times, we want you to know that we are as committed as ever to delivering excellent customer service. We understand this is an incredibly stressful time for you. Please know that the health and safety of our staff and customers remain our top priority, in addition to meeting our customers financial needs.

Our lobby remains closed to the public; however, we are operating under normal business hours through our Drive-up and Night Drop services.  We encourage you to leverage our digital options; Online banking, Mobile banking, Mobile Deposit and Remote Deposit Capture. You can also access any ATM, surcharge-free, with your Liberty Bank Debit Card.

The response and applications we’ve received for the SBA Paycheck Protection Program, has been overwhelming. As phone call volumes and emails remain high, we appreciate your continued patience, as we work hard to serve our customers and community businesses.

Economic Stimulus Payments from the IRS are scheduled to begin arriving in bank accounts April 15-29. Please check your Online or Mobile banking for direct deposit.  It will appear like a tax refund credit entry from IRS TREAS 310. If you don’t have direct deposit set up with the IRS, paper checks will begin to be processed on April 20, with the first batch arriving the week of May 4th. Please note, it is the IRS that determines when payments are made, and we will not know which round you are in until we receive a payment for you.  Learn more by visiting these websites:

https://www.irs.gov/coronavirus/economic-impact-payments

https://www.irs.gov/coronavirus/economic-impact-payment-information-center

For latest information and full list of recommendations about coronavirus, please visit:  https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/

We appreciate your business and patience.

We hope you and your family continue to remain safe and protected from COVID-19.

Liberty Bank Staff

April 6, 2020 – Update to the COVID-19

We know these are challenging times.  We’re feeling it too.  And every day, our employees are committed to helping our customers, because we are passionate about our customers and communities. We are in this together, and we’ll continue to provide the service, resources, and information to help you navigate this unprecedented time.

The Governor’s “Stay Home, Stay Safe” mandate has been extended through at least May 4th.  For this reason, our lobby will remain closed to the public. We are considered an “essential” business and we are here and ready to serve you through our Drive-up, Night Drop, Online Banking, Mobile Banking and Remote Deposit Capture.  Remember that you can use any ATM to get cash, with no charge from us.

Please be aware of predators, attempting to take advantage of the current situation.  We have provided a link to the Federal Trade Commission, to give you additional information, to keep you safe.

https://www.consumer.ftc.gov/features/coronavirus-scams-what-ftc-doing

On April 2, 2020, the FDIC published a Consumer News: COVID-19 and Your Financial Health with information about “Keep yourself and your money safe”.  You can find that document by visiting: https://www.fdic.gov/consumers/consumer/news/covid-19.pdf

We appreciate your patience, as phone and email volumes may be higher than usual during this time.

We hope you and your family continue to remain safe and protected from COVID-19.

LB Staff

March 30, 2020 – Update to the COVID-19

As previously communicated, Liberty Bank is actively monitoring and responding to the outbreak.

ALERT! Scammers are taking advantage of fears surrounding the coronavirus, from fake CDC emails, Phishing emails, counterfeit treatments or equipment. The Federal Trade Commission and FDIC have established websites with helpful information to help consumers avoid COVID-19 related scams.  We have these website links available to you under News & Resources on our website www.libertybanknw.com.

Liberty Bank remains vigilant in practicing the recommended safeguards against the Coronavirus, with our staff and customers. Our lobby will remain closed to the public, the week of March 30, 2020.  We will continue to have staff on site and remain committed and ready to serve customers.

We encourage our customers to utilize electronic banking methods, including online banking, Cash Management, Remote Deposit Capture, mobile app, and depositing checks using mobile deposit capture.  Remember that you can use any ATM to get cash, with no charge from us.

We sincerely thank you for your support and partnership as we face these challenges together and hope you and your family remain safe and protected from COVID-19.

LB Staff

March 20, 2020 – Update to the COVID-19

As the global impact of the COVID-19 continues to rise, our thoughts are with our employees, customers and community during this unprecedented time.  We hope you all remain safe and stay strong.  We’re all in this together.

Here at Liberty Bank, our top priority is the health and well-being of our employees and customers.  We continue to monitor federal, state and local advisories and have implemented strict precautionary measures to help keep our branch and office staff safe. 

Our lobby will remain closed to the public, the week of March 23, 2020.  We will continue to have staff on site and remain committed and ready to serve customers.

We encourage our customers to utilize electronic banking methods, including online banking, Cash Management, Remote Deposit Capture, mobile app, and depositing checks using mobile deposit capture.  Remember that you can use any ATM to get cash, with no charge from us.

During this time of great uncertainty, we would like to encourage everyone to support each other.  Stay safe, remain positive, and be well.

Thank you for your loyalty, We’re here for you!

Sincerely,

LB Staff

March 16, 2020 – Update to the COVID-19.

We want to update you on our measures to keep our staff, customers, and community safe and healthy. 

Liberty Bank is taking precautionary measures to safeguard you and the communities we serve.  Our team is preparing to have some staff members work remotely.  To minimize human to human contact and further protect against the spread of the virus, we will close our lobby to the public, starting March 17, 2020.

There will still be staff on site to assist you through the Drive-up, the Night Drop (located inside the first double doors) and on the phone.

We encourage our customers to utilize electronic banking methods, including Online Banking, Cash Management, Remote Deposit Capture, Mobile App, and depositing checks using Mobile Deposit Capture.  Remember that you can use any ATM to get cash, with no charge from us.

At this time, we are keeping normal business hours, it’s only our lobby that is closed. 

The welfare of our customers and staff is of utmost importance to us.  Kitsap Public Health recommends all community members take steps to prevent the spread of COVID-19 and other respiratory illnesses:

For more information and the full list of recommendations from the CDC, please see the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) guidelines or refer to the links below:

https://kitsappublichealth.org/

https://www.cdc.gov/

https://www.governor.wa.gov/

https://www.who.int/

If you have any questions about your accounts, you can send us an email at customerservice@libertybanknw.com or call us during normal business hours at 360-779-4567.

We apologize for this inconvenience but appreciate your understanding that our top priority remains the health and safety of our communities.

SBA To Provide Small Businesses Impacted by Coronavirus (COVID-19) Up to $2 Million in Disaster Assistance Loans

Disaster Loan Assistance: https://disasterloan.sba.gov/ela/

WASHINGTON – SBA Administrator Jovita Carranza issued the following statement today in response to the President’s address to the nation:

“The President took bold, decisive action to make our 30 million small businesses more resilient to Coronavirus-related economic disruptions. Small businesses are vital economic engines in every community and state, and they have helped make our economy the strongest in the world. Our Agency will work directly with state Governors to provide targeted, low-interest disaster recovery loans to small businesses that have been severely impacted by the situation. Additionally, the SBA continues to assist small businesses with counseling and navigating their own preparedness plans through our network of 68 District Offices and numerous Resource Partners located around the country. The SBA will continue to provide every small business with the most effective and customer-focused response possible during these times of uncertainty.”

Process for Accessing SBA’s Coronavirus (COVID-19) Disaster Relief Lending

For additional information, please contact the SBA disaster assistance customer service center. Call 1-800-659-2955 (TTY: 1-800-877-8339) or e-mail disastercustomerservice@sba.gov.

Liberty Northwest Bancorp, Inc. Completes Subordinated Note Offering

Poulsbo, Wash. (March 30, 2021): Liberty Northwest Bancorp, Inc. (the “Company”), the holding company for Liberty Bank, announced that it has completed a private placement of $5 million in aggregate principal amount of fixed-to-floating rate subordinated notes to certain qualified institutional accredited investors. The Company will use the proceeds for general banking purposes with an emphasis on supporting the growth of the holding company and the Bank. 

The notes will initially accrue at an annual fixed interest rate of 5.50% until April 2026.  Thereafter, the notes will reset quarterly to an annual floating rate equal to 90-day average secured overnight financing rate plus 500 basis points until maturity in April 2031, or an earlier redemption date. The Company may redeem the notes, in whole or in part, after April 2026.  Any redemption will be at a redemption price equal to 100% of the principal amount of the notes being redeemed plus accrued and unpaid interest.  The notes are not subject to redemption at the option of the holders. 

“We are pleased to have raised this private placement to continue to invest in Liberty Bank,” said Richard C. Darrow, CEO of Liberty Bank and President and CEO of Liberty Northwest Bancorp, Inc. “This is a strong statement about the confidence in our growing bank, which continues to serve the markets of Kitsap County with our Poulsbo branch and across Puget Sound on the Eastside of Lake Washington with our Bellevue office.”  

Keller Rohrback LLP served as counsel to Liberty Northwest Bancorp, Inc., and MJC Partners, LLC, served as the sole placement agent for the offering.

Liberty Northwest Bancorp, Inc. was established in 2020 as a single bank holding company for its Washington state-chartered bank subsidiary Liberty Bank.

Liberty Bank, headquartered in Poulsbo, serves clients throughout the West Sound and Puget Sound regions. Liberty Bank is a full-service community bank committed to highly personalized service and to reinvesting in the communities it serves. The bank provides loans and professional banking solutions to businesses, non-profits, and consumers. For more information, go to https://www.libertybanknw.com or call 360-779-4567.

About MJC Partners, LLC is a leading Los Angeles-based boutique investment banking and advisory firm providing a full range of strategic, transactional and valuation-related services to clients across multiple industry groups with a focus on financial services. For more information visit www.mjcpartners.com.

Forward Looking Statements

This news release may include forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and Liberty Northwest Bancorp, Inc. and Liberty Bank (together, the “Company”) intend for such forward-looking statements to be covered by the safe harbor provisions for forward-looking statements contained in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Future events are difficult to predict, and the expectations described above are necessarily subject to risk and uncertainty that may cause actual results to differ materially and adversely.

Forward-looking statements can be identified by the fact that they do not relate strictly to historical or current facts. They often include the words “believe,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “intend,” “plan,” “estimate,” or words of similar meaning, or future or conditional verbs such as “will,” “would,” “should,” “could,” or “may.” These forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance, nor should they be relied upon as representing management’s views as of any subsequent date. Forward-looking statements involve significant risks and uncertainties and actual results may differ materially from those presented, either expressed or implied, in this news release. Factors that might cause such differences include, but are not limited to: the Company’s ability to successfully execute its business plans and achieve its objectives; changes in general economic and financial market conditions, either nationally or locally, in areas in which the Company conducts its operations; changes in interest rates; continuing consolidation in the financial services industry; new litigation or changes in existing litigation; increased competitive challenges and expanding product and pricing pressures among financial institutions; legislation or regulatory changes which adversely affect the Company’s operations or business; loss of key personnel; and changes in accounting policies or procedures as may be required by the Financial Accounting Standards Board or other regulatory agencies.

The Company undertakes no obligation to publicly revise these forward-looking statements to reflect subsequent events or circumstances.

This announcement is for informational purposes only and does not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy securities.

Accellion Data Security Breach

02/05/2021 – If you applied for unemployment or were a victim of unemployment fraud, during 2020, you will want to read this alert.

The Office of the Washington State Auditor (SAO) used the online services company Accellion to transfer data.  A security incident at Accellion may have allowed unauthorized access to data being used by SAO.  The link below will take you to the SAO website, where you can learn about the incident, what you can do to protect your data, and about the SAO’s next steps.

https://sao.wa.gov/breach2021/

Galina Georgieva Joins Liberty Bank

November 16, 2020 – Relationship Manager/Poulsbo Office

“I love living in a small friendly town and being part of such a great community. It is my pleasure to be able to help and support our community through my banking knowledge and experience and through my volunteering efforts. Liberty Bank is such a wonderful community bank, and I am excited to be part of this amazing team.”

Galina takes on the role of Relationship Manager at Liberty Bank’s Poulsbo branch after honing her banking skills at Islanders Bank on Orcas Island. She has worked as a teller, customer service specialist, operations supervisor, credit analyst and consumer loan officer, managing the bank’s consumer portfolio and being responsible for annual loan reviews and renewals. She also worked to approve new consumer loan requests and assisted commercial loan officers. Galina earned her BA in business administration from South-West University in Bulgaria. In addition to English, she fluently speaks German and Bulgarian. In 2018 Galina completed the credit analyst development program offered by the Washington Bankers Association. A resident of Poulsbo, Galina enjoys working out, spending time with her family, and traveling in her spare time. She has volunteered for many different non-profit organizations, including Orcas Island Lions Club, Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Services of San Juan Islands (DVSAS), and her daughter’s preschool.

Pandemic Scams

During this pandemic and with the holiday shopping season, we are seeing an increase in cybercrime.  We care about your financial security and we want you to enjoy peace of mind, while still enjoying the convenience of the digital age.  Here are a few tips to help you keep your information secure:

Log Out:  Any time you finish using online banking, always log out.

Protect Your Passwords: Never share your passwords, especially over unprotected internet or Wi-Fi networks. 

Trust Your Gut: Never open texts or emails that seem suspicious, especially if it’s from a person or business you don’t know, or if you did not initiate the conversation.  Always go directly to known and trusted sites.

Never Share Your Information: Criminals will try to trick you into revealing private information so they can steal your money and/or your identity.  Never give them your information.  If you receive a call from someone claiming to be from Liberty Bank, requesting information, or access to your computer, call us immediately.  Beware of fake calls from Apple and Amazon support.

Please refer to the Federal Trade Commission site for the latest scams and on how to file a fraud report, if you do become a victim.  https://www.ftc.gov/

Michelle Connor Joins Liberty Bank Board

Poulsbo, WA (Oct. 21, 2020): Liberty Bank, which recently changed its name from Liberty Bay Bank and expanded from Poulsbo to open a new office in Bellevue, has named Forterra President and Chief Executive Michelle Connor to its board of directors.

Connor has served Forterra, a real estate non-profit dedicated to securing and preserving land in the Pacific Northwest, for 25-years, participating in more than 400 transactions worth $500 million and providing executive leadership in all phases of public policy, community engagement, negotiations, fundraising, and innovative finance. She has a track record of community engagement, including participating in the International Women’s Forum, Skagit Environmental Endowment Commission, USDA National Urban and Community Forest Advisory Council, and the Urban Land Institute.

“I’m enthusiastic to support a community bank that is focused on stewarding the financial needs of local businesses and entrepreneurs who are the heart of our communities,” said Connor, a third-generation Washingtonian who grew up on Budd Inlet in South Puget Sound and now lives in Seattle.

“Michelle brings a vision of collaboration and environmental stewardship, with a distinct community focus. She is intelligent, has a wealth of experience, and a leadership style that is truly admirable,” said Liberty Bank Chief Executive Officer Rick Darrow. “We are honored to have her join our Board of Directors.”

Connor earned her M.S. from the University of Washington’s College of Forest Resources and B.A. from the Evergreen State College.

Susan Preston Joins Liberty Bank Board

Liberty Bank names angel investing guru Susan Preston to board of directors

Poulsbo, WA (Oct. 13, 2020): Liberty Bank, which recently changed its name from Liberty Bay Bank and expanded from Poulsbo to open a new office in Bellevue, has named world-recognized angel investor Susan Preston to its board of directors.

Preston, a savvy angel investor and globally recognized author, consultant and speaker on angel and venture financing, is managing partner of SeaChange Fund. She has worked in senior management of early-stage companies and was a partner in three law firms. She has taught in the MBA program at the University of Washington and is former chair and lead instructor for the Angel Resource Institute, a global investor and entrepreneur education organization.

“We welcome Susan and her vast expertise to the board of Liberty Bank,” said Liberty Bank CEO Rick Darrow. “Her breadth and depth of knowledge will help us make sound financial decisions as we grow our bank and assist more businesses in the communities we serve.”

Preston earned her JD, cum laude, from Seattle University School of Law and her Bachelor of Science in microbiology and public health, magna cum laude, Phi Beta Kappa, from Washington State University. She has served as a director on more than 35 boards of private and public entities.

Liberty Bank is a forward-thinking, customer-centric community bank committed to providing the best banking service and customer satisfaction in the Puget Sound Region. Liberty Bank is locally minded, civically engaged, and has an abiding appreciation for the communities it serves. The bank strives to anticipate and understand clients’ personal and business financial issues and find the best solutions to move them forward. Liberty Bank is headquartered in Poulsbo, Wash., and has an office in Bellevue, Wash. Find out more at www.libertybanknw.com.

Bellevue Poised to Emerge Stronger from Pandemic, Leaders Say

Written By John Stearns, 425business.com
August 5, 2020

Mayor, deputy mayor field questions during State of the City webinar

Bellevue’s citizens, businesses, and government have been financially shaken by the COVID-19 pandemic, and the city was jarred by downtown rioting and looting on May 31, but the city’s foundation is solid and Bellevue is positioned to emerge stronger from 2020’s challenges and remain a beacon for others, two City leaders said Thursday.

Patrick Bannon, middle, of the Bellevue Downtown Association, poses a question during an online State of the City event Thursday with Mayor Lynne Robinson and Deputy Mayor Jared Nieuwenhuis.

“I’ve never been more bullish about Bellevue,” Deputy Mayor Jared Nieuwenhuis said during an hour-long State of the City webinar during which he and Mayor Lynne Robinson fielded questions from Patrick Bannon, president of the Bellevue Downtown Association (BDA).

Nieuwenhuis is confident the city will emerge stronger and better after the pandemic.

“We still are that shining city on a hill because of the makeup of our residents, quite frankly — residents that value and ensure a strong sense of community, a commitment to public safety, excellent schools, world-class parks, and a business climate that, quite frankly, is the envy of cities all over the country. So Bellevue is still that place that you want to be,” he said.

Robinson acknowledged the difficulty facing the community and businesses during the pandemic, “but from what I hear regionally and federally, and locally, our city is better positioned than any other city to get through this and we’ll get through it together,” she said. “We have to continue helping each other.”

If people feel like they’re not receiving the help they need, she encouraged them to contact the City or email her directly. Often, the need simply needs to be connected to resources, Robinson said.

A big need she hears is rental assistance for businesses and individual households. She lauded Bellevue’s approach to put “hundreds of thousands of dollars into rental assistance” to ease rent burdens.

Robinson and Nieuwenhuis highlighted some of the City’s responses to the pandemic, including from the BDA and Bellevue Chamber, such as posting critical information on websites, distributing personal protection equipment, navigating loan programs, deferring local small-business taxes, suspending water shutoffs, permitting expanded outdoor dining, and distributing postcards and flyers with key information in multiple languages.

Robinson cited small businesses helping one another and mentioned Poulsbo-based Liberty Bank as an example. The bank did an “amazing job” of providing 300 PPP loans to businesses amounting to $50 million, she said, citing a bank-wide number. The bank opened an office in Bellevue in February to serve King County and its president and chief lending officer, Alan Fulp, heads the local office and sits on BDA’s board.

About 30 percent of those PPP loans were made in Bellevue, Fulp said in a follow-up interview. Robinson and Fulp noted everyone who applied for a PPP loan through Liberty Bank got one.

Overall, city businesses received 4,000 PPP loans preserving 35,000 jobs, Robinson said.

Addressing a question from Bannon about workforce trends, Nieuwenhuis earlier this year had talked about the importance of a diverse economy in Bellevue. Ironically, he said, the city’s tech-heavy economy has worked to its advantage during the pandemic, with many employees easily working from home.

“That’s been very helpful for our economy for sure,” he said.

The retail, lodging, and restaurant industries haven’t been so fortunate. With unemployment rates of about 48 percent in the hotel and food services industries, 26 percent in retail trade, and 22 percent in arts/entertainment/recreation — all disproportionately affecting the bottom of the income scale, he said, citing the City’s desire to help.

There are “glimmers of hope,” though, for those industries, with hotel occupancy doubling since April, to about 20 percent; traffic volumes into the city rising by more than 50 percent; and pedestrian use of crosswalks up 70 percent to 80 percent, “so there are more people that are out, about, hopefully, shopping, going to restaurants or coffee, or you name it.”

Biking is up, too, hitting all-time highs, he said.

The City will monitor the work-from-home trend to see how it affects the tech landscape, Nieuwenhuis said, calling the situation fluid.

Asked about affordable housing, Robinson said housing supply and affordability is no longer considered optional for Bellevue.

“Now we realize that it’s really essential for economic vitality and for that high livability that we all want — and frankly, right now we do not have a full spectrum of housing affordabilities,” she said, adding that less than 10 percent of Bellevue’s housing is affordable to a family of four earning $100,000 per year.

The City is focused on the issue, she said, examining rezoning properties in growth areas to accommodate affordable housing, for example. It decreased parking requirements in transit-oriented development zones for affordable housing, added incentives for market-rate housing to include affordable housing, and is partnering with companies like Microsoft to retain affordable housing already in Bellevue.

The City’s goal three years ago was to create 2,500 affordable units in 10 years. It already has created 500 affordable units and has 900 more in the pipeline, she said.

Like other cities, the pandemic is hurting Bellevue’s budget, which is expected to face a $12 million to $16 million shortfall, Nieuwenhuis said. Pandemic recovery could take two to three years, he said, hopeful Bellevue can recover quicker. Budget deliberations begin in September, he said, encouraging business and resident input.

Asked if Bellevue would consider a payroll tax to address revenue challenges, as Seattle has, Nieuwenhuis cited a council colleague in not wanting to kill the goose that laid the golden egg.

“I think this is perhaps apropos to the payroll tax,” Nieuwenhuis said. “I don’t think there is any appetite to move anything like that forward in the city of Bellevue. … Businesses want to be here in Bellevue and that’s primarily because they see where we see as a City … the business community as a partner,” he said, noting 45-plus corporate headquarters in the city, 100 international companies and 150,000 jobs.

Robinson hopes to see more people living in Bellevue who work in Bellevue. Only about 10 percent of people living in Bellevue work there, which heavily affects transportation, she said, excited by the East Link light rail extension coming in 2023, which she said continues ahead of schedule and under budget. She also looks forward to the Eastrail bike-pedestrian route getting connected, providing a safe throughway north and south of the city.

Nieuwenhuis referenced the rioting and looting May 31, calling it a painful lesson.

“I think Bellevue lost a little bit of its innocence that day,” he said. “That was something that was always somewhere else, that something like that could not happen to Bellevue, but it did.”

The City has arrested 23 people from that incident so far, with more coming, and the City is pressuring county prosecutors to prosecute to the fullest extent of the law, he said. The City also is working to ensure such an incident doesn’t recur and to be more prepared if one appears possible.

Nieuwenhuis praised City police for their response and overall quality, ranking among six percent of U.S. forces nationally accredited. A nationally accredited police department has never ended up under a federal consent decree for a pattern of excessive force. Accreditation requires meeting 400-plus standards on best policing practices, including promoting community building, accountability, diversity training, and de-escalation — so Bellevue police already are doing what many are asking of police, but City police are open to continuous improvement, he said.

Asked about national issues of systemic racism, equity, and inclusion, he noted the city’s growing minority population — 41 percent in 2010, 51 percent in 2018 — and said the City overall has taken diversity seriously for years, listing staff and community efforts focused on diversity, equity, and inclusion.

Asked about inspiring moments in recent weeks, Nieuwenhuis was inspired to see businesses and residents meet to clean up downtown the morning after the riots. While the damage was traumatic, businesses remained positive about Bellevue and wanted to be part of the solution, he said.

Robinson agreed.

“But the most inspiring moment for me was when we showed up at 10 o’clock at the downtown park to start cleanup, the Bellevue High School students had already been there since 6 a.m. and had done most of the work in the downtown park — and I’ve never seen high school students get up that early,” she said. “And I was just so impressed and I wish I could thank them personally.”

City leaders talk economic outlook, police reform and more with Bellevue Downtown Association

The annual State of the City with the BDA was held as a virtual fireside chat, livestreamed Thursday, July 30

Author: Haley Ausbun, Friday, July 31, 2020 9:29am

Published by: Bellevue Reporter

For Bellevue Mayor Lynne Robinson and Deputy Mayor Jared Nieuwenhuis, the most inspiring day this year was not the day a large protest occurred in downtown over the death of George Floyd, defunding the police and social change, which simultaneously saw property destruction and looting at Bellevue Square Collection, but the day after: June 1.

Residents, Bellevue High School students and business owners were out the next morning cleaning up any graffiti and broken glass in downtown. Nieuwenhuis said he was amazed by everyone’s positive attitude, and Robinson said she was inspired by the students there at 6 a.m. who took care of much of the cleanup.

“I have every confidence Bellevue will emerge stronger and better than it is today once we shed this pandemic. We still are that shining city on the hill because of the makeup of our residents,” Nieuwenhuis said. “Residents that value and ensure a strong sense of community.”

The Mayor and Deputy Mayor discussed this and more at the annual Bellevue Downtown Association (BDA) State of the City via livestream, Thursday, July 30. BDA President Patrick Bannon asked questions based on input from BDA members to city leadership that ranged from systemic racism to economic development. You can watch the full discussion via Facebook here.

Robinson said Bellevue may be in a better position than most cities to recover following the pandemic, but it’s still a difficult time for the community. She praised businesses and associations, nonprofits, Overlake Hospital for treating COVID-19 patients, residents and even police for what she said was an example of deescalation at the May 31 Bellevue protests.

Nieuwenhuis said that the looting that day showed that police are essential, and that it should be uncontroversial. He said the city is pressuring the King County Prosecutors that the people who are being identified as stealing or destroying property at Bellevue Square and a few neighboring businesses are being punished at the full extent of the law. He also said police are working to keep this form of property destruction from happening again.

He also praised the police department for being nationally accredited, which is something 6% of departments in the nation have.

“We are always open to a continuous improvement in the city of Bellevue, no matter what department it is,” Nieuwenhuis said. “But I’m so proud of our police department proactively doing so many of these things already. At the end of the day, we’ve got a great police department, we always can do better.”

The city council also took a pledge following the protests to review police department use-of-force policies and gather input from the community on public safety.

When asked about systemic racism, Nieuwenhuis discussed several diversity programs and cultural competency training for city employees. Mayor Robinson added that there was always room to do more.

When pivoting to questions about development, Bannon asked city leadership about the vision for downtown and future developments, and how COVID-19 will impact that work. Much of the discussion was optimistic, as Robinson discussed the important bike and pedestrian connections being made through the downtown core, transportation projects continuing through Bellevue during the shutdown as it was deemed essential construction work by Gov. Jay Inslee, larger tech companies supporting Bellevue’s economy, and small to mid sized businesses supporting each other.

In regards to small business, Robinson said they’ve received 4,000 Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans, preserving 35,000 jobs in Bellevue. She said what’s most inspiring is small businesses helping each other. New Liberty Bank helped other local companies get 300 PPP loans, valuing at $50 million.

In the pandemic, tech companies have pivoted more successfully during the pandemic than other businesses, which put Bellevue at an advantage. Still, other industries in the city are sitting with high unemployment rates. Hotel and food service industry is seeing a 48% unemployment rate. But Nieuwenhuis said traffic and pedestrian increase in recent weeks in Bellevue is a good sign the workforce trend will improve and consumers are going out and supporting local business.

Robinson said as Bellevue has received a wave of development growth, balancing amenities can be a challenge. But the city is using planning processes to make sure no one neighborhood has better schools, parks and health access than another.

The biggest need Robinson has said she’s hearing is a call for rental assistance for businesses and residents. Bellevue did not put a rental moratorium in place like many other cities during the pandemic. Robinson said instead they’ve put funds into rental assistance so once people get back to earning money, they will not have back pay.

As they discussed housing supply and affordability, Robinson said the city used to believe affordable housing was optional in Bellevue. Now it’s become clear it is essential for economic vitality— less than 10% of housing is affordable to a family of four earning $100,000 a year, and there’s little affordable housing. The council is now looking at incentives to encourage some affordable housing in growth areas, and work to retain the affordable residences they have.

As the city looks forward, recovery is expected to take place in two to three years. Bellevue, with 45 global companies headquartered here, might recover sooner as it maintains a business friendly position.

“I know this is a very challenging time, but from what I hear regionally, federally and locally, our city is better positioned than any other city to get through this, and we’ll get through it together,” Robinson said.