Umpqua Bank Australia

Nestled halfway between the Willamette Valley and the California border is Canyonville, Oregon, a timber town founded by pioneers who saw opportunity on the banks of the South Umpqua River. Through generations of hard work, the community built what they needed: a school, a church, a grocery store, a diner, an auto shop. And when the citizens of Canyonville needed a better place than the local watering hole to cash their checks, they came together and built a bank.

On November 14, 1953, South Umpqua State Bank opened its doors with just six employees and a single branch housed in the Canyonville Masonic Lodge. Everyone pitched in, from sorting checks to taking out the trash. Loans were made based on a person's character and were sealed with a handshake. It's how Umpqua's founders believed business should be done, and (with the addition of a bit more paperwork) it's at the heart of how we do business today.

When it comes to community, we're putting our time where our mouth is. Our Connect Volunteer Network TM provides Umpqua associates up to 40 hours - paid - each year to volunteer with youth and community development organizations and schools. Watch the video above and read on to learn more.


The Connect Effect: In 2015, 67% of our associates volunteered over 52,000 hours. We're so proud of everyone involved!

Today we have over 300 locations across the West and new leadership from CEO Cort O'Haver, who carries on our legacy of supporting our customers and communities every day.

Our Local Spotlight program invites small businesses to sell their goods in select stores, and we pass along all the proceeds. Our podcast "Open Account" tackles America's No. 1 source of stress through honest conversations about making, losing and living with money. And our stores continue to host community events, from neighborhood meetings to art openings.

We believe in the potential for greatness in each and every one of us, and everything we've done -- and will do -- is built to help us grow together. No matter where we're going (and growing) as a bank, we'll always stay true to our core ideals: Be a good neighbor, go the extra mile, and take care of our customers, our community and one another.

To fully support our new stores (and our new customers), we shook up traditional banking roles. In lieu of a teller and a team of more specialized bankers, we created the Universal Associate, an empowered expert who can handle most customer concerns on the spot, no hand-off required.

This principle of empowerment enables each and every associate to do great things for our customers and our community. For example, when a wedding venue burned down next to our Vancouver, Washington store, associates didn't wait to ask for permission -- they hosted the wedding themselves in-store, hanging decorations, arranging flowers and serving customers through the whole ceremony!

In ways big and small, we go the extra mile for our community, taking our principles beyond the walls of our store and out into the world.

Benefits:
Umpqua offers a competitive health and welfare package including medical, dental, flexible spending accounts, and life insurance. Additional supplemental options are also available.

Transportation reimbursement:
Umpqua pays 100% of your mass transit fees.

Tuition reimbursement:
Want to complete your career-related degree at an accredited university or college? Our tuition reimbursement program will step in to help.

401k:
Our associates are building their retirement with pre-tax dollars while taking advantage of a 401(k) match and profit sharing program.

40 paid volunteer hours:
Do you want to help build a better community? Our associates donate time during the work day to local youth and community development organizations of their choice. Spread your passion through the Connect Volunteer Networkâ„¢.

Career advancement:
We value our own. And because of that, there are no jobs, only careers. We value our associates and their contributions to our success. There are many opportunities to develop and grow within the bank.

Special product pricing:
Our associates are able to take advantage of the banking experience they help to create. Whether it's free checking with interest, or no annual fees on loans and lines of credit, they enjoy the very best.

Employee assistance program:
For help with personal matters, including family issues, legal services and identity theft solutions, our employee assistance program provides associates and their family members with 24/7 assistance and face-to-face counseling.

Professional dress advance:
Professionalism is a high priority at Umpqua. To help build a business wardrobe, Umpqua offers associates a dress advance up to $500.

World's Greatest Bank University:
To promote job satisfaction, career advancement and continued success, our World's Greatest Bank University provides courses to develop and improve our associates' skills and knowledge. The Umpqua culture is at the core of every class we offer.