About the Division of Banks

The Division of Banks (DOB) was organized in 1907 and administers Title 30, Title 32, and Title 33 of the Revised Code of Washington.

The division regulates more than 90 Washington State-chartered commercial banks, stock savings banks, mutual savings banks, alien banks, savings and loan associations, and independent trust companies.

We charter new banks, business development corporations, trust companies, foreign banks, and savings & loan associations. Also, we authorize new branches and branch closures; and approve mergers & acquisitions.

We work directly with the institutions we regulate through examination and supervisory activity to be sure that they provide adequate and proper services to the public. We seek to ensure the protection of the interests of depositors, borrowers, shareholders, and consumers.

Our mission is to support economic stability and growth in the State of Washington through efficient regulation and by providing an open market for competitiveness of state-chartered and multi-state financial institutions.

There are more than 20 federally chartered commercial banks and savings and loan associations with home offices in the State of Washington. They can be identified by the words "National" or "Federal" in their name, the initials "FSB" or "FA" in their name, or the initials "NA" following their name. The Office of the Comptroller of the Currency or the Office of Thrift Supervision regulates federally chartered institutions. Questions concerning these institutions can be forwarded to the banks themselves, or to the Office of the Comptroller of Currency at (800) 613-6743 or the Office of Thrift Supervision at (800) 842-6929.

The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation insures deposits of all commercial banks, stock savings banks, mutual savings banks, and savings and loan associations.