KFBI (11/2/00): Chairman of the Board
News Release
Date: November 2, 2000 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Klamath First Bancorp, Inc. Names Kermit K. Houser as President and CEO
KLAMATH FALLS, OREGON -- November 2, 2000 -- Klamath First Bancorp, Inc. (NASDAQ NMS: KFBI) Rodney N. Murray, chairman of the board, of Klamath First Bancorp, Inc.("the Company") announced today that the board of directors has named Kermit K. Houser as the Company’s new president and chief executive officer effective November 15, 2000.
Commenting on the search process, Murray remarked, "we were very pleased with the caliber of candidates we were able to speak with during our extensive selection process. Mr. Houser’s commercial banking experience and other qualifications are a great match with the direction we are moving our company."
Houser began his career in banking in 1971 as a loan officer at Wells Fargo Bank in Sacramento, California. In 1976 he joined the Oregon Bank (now Bank of America) as Vice President and Manager of the Pendleton branch. In 1983 he was recruited by Seattle 1st National Bank (now Bank of America) as Vice President and Team Leader. In 1986 he moved with Seafirst to Portland as Vice President and Manager to start a new loan production office. Following the consolidation of Seafirst Oregon into Bank of America Oregon in 1991, Houser was named Senior Vice President and Manager for commercial banking. He was elevated to Executive Vice President and Senior Credit Officer in 1993. In 1996, Houser moved to Fresno in his most recent position as Senior Vice President and Market Executive for Bank of America’s South Valley commercial banking. He holds a bachelor of arts degree from California State University, Stanislaus and is a graduate of Pacific Coast Banking School, Seattle, Washington.
Houser is married and has two grown daughters residing in Portland.
Klamath First Bancorp, Inc. is the holding company for Klamath First Federal Savings & Loan Association ("the association") which operates 36 offices, in 22 counties throughout Oregon. Consolidated assets and net earnings through the fiscal year ending September 30, 2000 were $995,575 million and $6.4 million, respectively. |
