Published June 2003

Dickson’s vision created Frontier Bank

The impact of Frontier Bank on Snohomish County’s economy, charitable organizations and residents over the past 25 years has been far greater than most people imagine.

As the business editor for the Herald in 1978, I interviewed the bank’s hopeful, energetic and enthusiastic president — Bob Dickson — for a story announcing his plans to launch a new community bank, supported by a board of directors with local business ties and by hundreds of local residents who invested $2 million in that dream.

Over the next quarter century, in various journalistic roles, I wrote about Frontier Bank’s growth from its original trailer-office on Evergreen Way to a financial network of 38 offices in eight Western Washington counties, while that initial $2 million investment grew to $2 billion in assets.

But I saw not only the financial impact of the bank — the funding of developers’ construction projects, the building of new bank branch offices and the hundreds of Frontier jobs — but also the human impact, the bank’s contributions to numerous charities and community endeavors and the volunteer involvement in those community groups by Frontier Bank’s management and staff.

Bob Dickson’s vision for the bank, his community spirit, his business ethics and his natural leadership skills with people all contributed immensely to Frontier Bank’s success — and it was clear that he was always enjoying everything he did.

In May, several hundred Frontier Bank stockholders, clients, friends and family members converged on the Everett Golf & Country Club to congratulate President and CEO Bob Dickson on 25 years of success and to wish him a happy retirement. But this won’t be the end of his banking career — not yet.

Although officially “retired,” Dickson remains chairman of the board of directors of both Frontier Bank and Frontier Financial Corp., so he will continue to have a voice in directing the course of the bank he helped to launch. Those who know him well expect he’ll be coming around regularly to see how things are going.

Now 70, Dickson realized he was ready to turn over the bank’s daily operations to others. Longtime banker Michael J. Clementz, who came to Frontier Bank in 2000, is now president and CEO of Frontier Financial Corp.

Dickson’s son, John, is now CEO of Frontier Bank and executive vice president of the holding company, Frontier Financial Corp. At the bank, John Dickson will be assisted by Lyle Ryan as president and chief operating officer, Connie Pachek as executive vice president of bank operations and human resources, and Jim Ries as president of the bank’s real estate division.

Thanks, Bob, for contributing so much to Snohomish County and the Puget Sound area in so many ways through Frontier Bank, including preparing for “life after Bob” by establishing a highly experienced management team that will continue the bank’s leadership role in the communities it serves.

Back to the top/June 2003 Main Menu