Agamerica Bank Moving To Sacramento At End Of Week

AgAmerica Farm Credit Bank of Spokane officially moves to Sacramento at the end of the week under a joint management agreement with the Western Farm Credit Bank of Sacramento.

The agreement will provide management of assets totaling $14 billion and loans to 80,000 borrowers in 15 states, including Washington, Idaho and Montana.

AgAmerica employs 70 people in Spokane, some of whom will relocate. However, the joint management agreement, which begins Saturday, will eliminate a total of 66 jobs between the two banks, saving an estimated $5 million in operating expenses per year.

In other events this week:

Today

Spokane Area Chamber of Commerce board of trustees meets at noon at 1020 W. Riverside.

Harvest States holds information meeting for farmers interested in investing in flour mill and food processing division of the cooperative at 2:30 p.m. at Cavanaugh’s Inn at the Park.

A U.S. District judge in New Jersey holds hearing on proposed billion-dollar settlement between Prudential Insurance Co. and 10 million policyholders.

Tuesday

Cowman’s Classic Bull Sale begins at noon at the Spokane Interstate Fairgrounds. Call Gary Kendall at 208-858-2163.

Harvest States repeats investment meeting at 9 a.m. at the Fairgrounds Auditorium in Colfax, Wash.

Disney Co. holds annual meeting in Anaheim.

Wednesday

Steve Murray of the National Association of Realtors speaks at the Real Estate Market Forum, beginning at 8 a.m. in the Ag Trade Center. Cost: $45. Call 326-9222.

Spokane Area Economic Development Council directors meet at 7 a.m. at 1020 W. Riverside.

Jimmy Kamada, with the Seattle branch of the Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco, speaks to the Inland Northwest Treasury Management Association at noon at the Shilo Inn. Call Ron Cruse at 533-0260.

Thursday

Washington Department of Labor & Industries holds public hearing on proposed 4.45 percent hike in inspection fees for elevators, escalators, electrical, plumbing and other items at 1 p.m. in the Spokane County Public Planning Building, 1026 W. Broadway. Call George Huffman at 360-902-6411.

QVC officials meet with area businesses at the SIRTI Building, 665 N. Riverpoint Blvd. Call the Small Business Development Center at 335-2376.

Friday

Deadline for anti-stadium advocates to collect 48,000 valid signatures to force a public vote on King County’s plan to issue $336 million in bonds for new Seattle Mariners ball park.

McGregor Co.’s Ag Information Day begins at 8:30 a.m. at the Whelan Grange Hall near Pullman.

Tough, new U.S. Food and Drug Administration restrictions on marketing tobacco products as “drug delivery devices” go into effect.

National Farmers Union convention opens in Nashville.

Saturday

Logging of cottonwood trees along the St. Joe River in North Idaho scheduled to resume.

Alaska’s Iditarod dog sled race begins.

, DataTimes ILLUSTRATION: Graphic: Lumber prices

MEMO: This sidebar appeared with the story: ON THE SHELF Business Week, Feb. 24: Cover story explores how Webcasting tries to deliver specific information on demand to personal computer users. Fortune, March 3: Magazine reports results of its 15th Annual Corporate Reputation Survey. Coke remains No. 1; Microsoft moves up.

Pinching Pennies: Financial advisers say tax time presents a good opportunity for finding ways to save money, not only on taxes, but in all aspects of life. Consumer Reports magazine, which offers some tips in its March issue, notes that brownbagging a lunch from home can save $300 a year. Canceling even one little-used cable TV channel will save about $95 a year. Buying clothes made from washable fabrics instead of the “dry clean only” variety can save about $200 a year.