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For those interested in knowing more about this "local community
bank" - you might want to visit this link:<br><br>
<a href="http://moneycentral.msn.com/investor/invsub/ownership/ownership.asp?Symbol=AWBC" eudora="autourl">
http://moneycentral.msn.com/investor/invsub/ownership/ownership.asp?Symbol=AWBC</a>
<br><br>
You might find it interesting to note that about 34 % of the outstanding
stock is held by large institutions.<br>
It does appear that their growth model (business model) is to acquire
small "really local" banks.<br>
From what I can glean, it went public in 1995 or so, with 10
"financial centers". It has grown to 40 financial centers
in 10 years. Below are two of the more recent acquisitions.<br><br>
AmericanWest Bancorporation Announces Agreement To Acquire Columbia Trust
BancorpNovember 30, 2005
<dl>
<dd>AmericanWest Bancorporation and Columbia Trust Bancorp jointly
announced that they have entered into a definitive agreement pursuant to
which AmericanWest Bancorp will acquire Columbia Trust Bancorp, the
holding company for Columbia Trust Bank, based in Pasco, Washington, in a
transaction valued at $37.75 million or $45.70 per Columbia Trust Bancorp
share. Closing on this transaction is expected during the last half of
the first quarter of 2006. Columbia Trust shareholders may elect to
exchange each share held for cash or stock, although elections may be in
the proration to achieve the targeted stock-cash split of 50%-50%. After
completion of the holding company merger, Columbia Trust Bank will be
operated as a division of AmericanWest Bank until integration is
completed, at which time it will be merged into AmericanWest Bank.
<br><br>
</dl>AmericanWest Bancorporation Completes Merger with Latah
BancorporationAugust 02, 2002 <br>
<br><br>
<dl>
<dd>AmericanWest Bancorporation announced the completion of its merger
with Latah Bancorporation, Inc. of Latah, Washington. AmericanWest will
pay $21.22 cash and .5192 of a share of its stock for each Latah
Bancorporation, Inc. share. <br>
<br><br>
</dl><b>It is a business that seems to recognize that in order for the
business to prosper, it must grow. And it has done some good
growing the past decade. It is rated as 7/10 on the Forbes index (a
bit better than the average in its class), but it does not appear to be
paying dividends at the present time. <br>
If your interests in the financial markets are focused on the Northwest,
it does appear to have some appeal. It may be a good prospect for
merger itself!<br>
However, be cautioned, it does have financial centers in a lot of towns
with WalMart Supercenters, e.g., Spokane, Colville, Kennewick, Sunnyside,
Moses Lake, Yakima and Ephrata - to name a few.<br><br>
Cheers.</b></body>
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