Seattle based Homestreet Bank celebrated its West Seattle branch grand opening Feb. 19 with a gathering that saw customers, local business leaders and others attend to meet the bank's people and get acquainted with what Homestreet offers.

The new branch at 4022 Alaska Street, is the same location as American West, and prior to that Viking Bank. According to Homestreet officials American West chose to move more in a direct small business support direction and chose to sell the West Seattle and Bainbridge Island branches to Homestreet.

"We looked for over two years for the right West Seattle location," said Homestreet's CEO Mark Mason," because we knew we had to be here." Branch Manager Melodie VanHouten echoed his comments and added, "We have a community involvement focus and I think we are good fit for West Seattle."

As part of the celebration, Homestreet presented a check for $4000 to West Seattle Helpline which was accepted by Executive Director Tara Luckie.

Homestreet offers a full range of financial services including:

• Personal banking
• Commercial banking and cash management
• Commercial lending
• Mortgage lending
• Reverse mortgages
• Residential construction financing
• Commercial real estate
• Investment services
• Insurance services

Begun in 1921, Homestreet is headquartered in Seattle and as of 9/30/13 had $2.86 billion in assets. They employ 1,426 people and operate 68 branches in Washington, California and Hawaii.

They are proud of their community involvement. "Last year," Mason said, "we helped more than 200 non profit organizations through our programs." To do that Homestreet has a program called "Partner Rewards in which personal checking accounts opened at a local branch means the bank will donate $50 to select non-profit agencies. For details visit www.homestreet.com or call the West Seattle branch at 206-933-3091.

Homestreet has even refurbished their community meeting room open to neighborhood groups and others who need a meeting space. That space can be used even after normal business hours. To learn more or reserve the meeting room contact the bank.