Byline: Brad Carlson, in Idaho Business Review

Cascade Bancorp's acquisition of Boise-based Farmers & Merchants State Bank went about as well as a bank merger could -- and still there were unexpected challe ... read more

Cascade Bancorp's acquisition of Boise-based Farmers & Merchants State Bank went about as well as a bank merger could -- and still there were unexpected challenges. Cascade President and CEO Patty Moss said in an interview in Boise last week that the blending of computer operating systems between the Boise bank and hers, which is based in Bend, Ore., was more challenging than anticipated, partly because more than half of bank transactions are done electronically. "The whole conversion process is never fun," she said. The conversion impacted employees and customers, Moss said. For example, every customer had to change personal identification numbers. "The worst thing for us was to have computer disruption," she said. Farmers and Merchants President Mike Mooney said the bank prides itself on personal service, but realizes that there is a growing independence among customers as they take advantage of ATM cards and other electronic banking. "There were a few little challenges there," he said of converting to the Cascade system. "As you look forward to future mergers and conversions, it's a huge issue. Electronics is the future."