Organizers raise capital for a bank in Douglas County

Organizers of a new bank in Douglas County, pushing hard toward a planned August 15 opening, are on the streets to raise $8 million in capital.

Carson River Community Bank, which will be the only community-owned bank in the county, plans to raise at least 75 percent of its $10 million in start-up capital from Douglas County investors.

Organizers already have invested $2 million.

Late last month, the organizers won approval from the state's financial institutions division to complete their creation of the new institution.

Spearheading the organizing group is longtime businessman Byron Waite his interests have ranged from mining to mortgage banking and Dick McCole, a real estate broker and mortgage lender. Waite will serve as chairman of the board.

Dan Dykes, the president and chief executive officer of Carson River Community Bank, has worked in banking in Nevada for 30 years.

He took a key role in organizing Southwest USA Bank, a private banking institution in Las Vegas, after career that included work for Nevada National Bank, Valley Bank and Bank of America.

Dykes said organizers see strong demand for a locally owned bank in Douglas County.

"The large banks dominate the market here," he said last week. "The community has been crying out for a bank. There is going to be an ongoing niche for a community bank."

Carson River Community Bank has signed a longterm lease on space at Jack's Valley Road and U.S. 395 near the Douglas County-Carson City line.

The bank will employ 11 when it opens.

Among the staff, Dykes said, will be Lorrie Hadlock, branch manager and vice president. She most recently worked at 1st National Bank of Nevada.

Donna Kruger, who has worked 10 years in the Minden branch of Bank of America, will be customer service manager.

Sue Siple, who previously worked for Wells Fargo in Carson City and Nevada Banking Co. in Gardnerville, will be senior loan assistant.

Along with Waite, McCole and Dykes, members of the bank's board will include Barbara Sikora, Toby Cooling, Mike Jacobs and Alan Reed.

Other organizers of the bank are Budge Brown, Bill Henderson, Brent Holderman, Kathie Hudson, Michael Neilon, Brad Spires, Jim Valentine and Lisa Wetzel, Michele Wagner and Rob and Kari Wigton.