by Terri Wiebold

As parents are gearing up for children in Castle Pines North (CPN) to head back to school, a local financial institution is also preparing for the start of school, but in a very unconventional way.

Fom the left, Jennifer, Nancy, Samantha, Sarah, Michael, and Kelly

Washington Mutual (WaMu) is one of the nation’s leading consumer and small business banks. The company was established in 1889 and currently operates more than 2,600 consumer and small business banking stores throughout the nation. In August 2003, it opened the doors of its CPN branch, located at 7298 Lagae Road, at the corner of Castle Pines Parkway and Lagae Road.

WaMu is truly unique among financial services companies. It offers a variety of traditional banking services (personal and business checking accounts, mortgage loans, savings accounts, etc) in a non-traditional environment. The banking experience is inviting, not institutional. Gone are the high counters and teller windows that greet customers in most banks. Instead, there is an open, welcoming space with the look and feel of a contemporary retail store—complete with “concierges” to escort you to the appropriate areas for service, and a children’s activity center to occupy the young bankers of the future while mom and dad take care of business. According to Branch Manager, Nancy Tosdale, “We are focused on meeting the needs of our consumers while giving back to the community at the same time – and kids are a big part of that.”

One way WaMu gives back to the community is through its “Wamoola for Schools Program.” Participants in the program earn points every time a purchase is made with a debit card, and those points are accumulated and converted into dollars for the participant’s school of choice. WaMu also has a School Savings Program, where bank personnel go into the schools and allow students to make deposits into personal accounts. “We will actually contribute their first quarter for them,” said Tosdale. “We would like to be involved in more schools in the area,” she continued.

For more information about WaMu’s hours of operation or the services it provides, go to www.wamu.com or call the CPN branch directly at 303-663-6760.