Umpqua Bank Donates Building To Coast Community Health Center

Umpqua Bank and Coast Community Health Center (CCHC) announced today a long-term partnership to bring healthcare services to Port Orford. On March 1, 2018, Umpqua will donate its building located at 716 NE Highway 101 to CCHC, a not-for-profit community health center serving rural communities and low-income residents along Oregon’s southern coast. Once building ownership transfers to CCHC, Umpqua will continue serving Port Orford customers through a combination of online banking, ATM services and in-person banking consultations.

CCHC is a federally qualified health center based in Bandon, Oregon, and relies on a mix of public-private funding and partnerships with organizations like Umpqua to improve access to quality, low-cost primary and preventative healthcare. Umpqua’s building donation will enable CCHC, which already has community outreach offices in Port Orford, to expand the offering of services to local residents.

“Words can’t express how grateful Coast Community Health Center is for Umpqua’s generosity and partnership,” said Linda Maxon, CCHC chief executive officer. “Bringing our comprehensive approach of health and wellness to Port Orford has been one of our top priorities. This donation and our ongoing partnership with Umpqua will significantly improve local residents’ access to excellent, affordable care and treatment.”

CCHC’s vision for North Curry is to bring comprehensive primary and preventative healthcare services to Port Orford that include dental care and pharmacy. Maxon noted that Port Orford has lacked comprehensive primary and preventative health care for many years. It’s been 22 years since the last pharmacy operated locally and the last dentist to serve Port Orford left nine years ago, leaving the community largely without dental services. In addition to improving the community’s health, the partnership will also bring new family-wage jobs to Port Orford and spur additional economic growth.

“Umpqua Bank leaders truly understood how our model of health and wellness equals community wellness. They got it,” Maxon continued. “Their gift will help us to expand the offering of services under one roof while continuing their unique approach to community economic wellness.”

According to Brian Read, head of retail banking at Umpqua, the partnership with CCHC is a model for how the bank intends to support its communities as more and more customers choose to bank online, reducing the need for physical bank locations.

“Port Orford is a great example of what’s possible when a community and a financial institution work together on solutions that enhance the local quality of life for residents,” Read continued. “Although technology is changing how people bank and reducing the use of physical locations, Umpqua is proactively working with local leaders and outstanding organizations like Coast Community Health Center to find a smart use for Umpqua-owned properties that benefit our communities. And we’ll continue to ensure our local customers have access to convenient banking services.”

To serve its Port Orford customers after CCHC assumes responsibility for the building, Umpqua will continue providing banking services through new and unique channels. In addition to an ATM located onsite, Umpqua will introduce a new community relationship officer role. The officer will be active in the local community in a variety of ways and be available by appointment to advise customers, handle non-transactional banking needs, and provide assistance on the use of Umpqua’s online and digital banking tools.

About Coast Community Health Center
Coast Community Health Center, a private, not-for-profit, Federally Qualified Health Center has been recognized for its commitment in providing primary healthcare services to the south coast through its Bandon health center. Operating since 2010, Coos and Curry county residents are also served at Coast’s outreach offices in Bandon and Port Orford.