Craft3 Officially Open in Klamath Falls
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File Photo, Pacific Crest FCU
SOUTHERN OREGON OFFICE OF CRAFT3 OFFICIALLY OPENS IN KLAMATH FALLS
Business lender Stephanie Hirche will anchor initial office co-located in Washburn branch of Pacific Crest Federal Credit Union
KLAMATH FALLS, OREGON – Nonprofit lender Craft3 is now open in Klamath Falls, Oregon. The company’s new location will be staffed by Stephanie Hirche, a banker with nearly twenty years of experience. The office, which will serve all of Southern Oregon, will be co-located with the Washburn location of Pacific Crest Federal Credit Union.
“Craft3 has a great track record of bringing resources to rural communities throughout the Northwest,” said Chad Olney, President and CEO of Pacific Crest Federal Credit Union. “Craft3 and Pacific Crest have similar missions and a complementary set of services which together bring a broader array of opportunities to the Klamath Basin. Having them here is a big win for us.”
Most recently, Hirche was an Assistant Vice President and Commercial Relationship Manager for Banner Bank in Eugene, Oregon. She has worked in the banking industry for nearly twenty years.
“Creating jobs in Southern Oregon requires access to capital for small business. But as a former banker, I know that traditional financial products simply don’t meet the needs of all entrepreneurs. That’s where Craft3 fits in. They approach capital in an unconventional way, and I’m excited to be on the team,” said Stephanie Hirche.
Craft3 announced its expansion to Klamath Falls in July 2017. Since then, it has been meeting with community leaders, evaluating physical office space, and conducting a hiring process. In August 2017, Craft3 made a major investment in Klamath Falls-based REACH, Inc. as part of a $7 million project to preserve and expand the nonprofit’s facility.
The office co-located at the Washburn branch of Pacific Crest Federal Credit Union is expected to be temporary while Craft3 conducts additional hiring over the remainder of 2018. Once fully staffed, the company plans to establish a more-permanent standalone location in the downtown area.