First Fed Bank adds board member amid settlement proceedings

SEC filings show institution includes $5.8M for ‘legal matter’

PORT ANGELES — Diane C. Davis has been appointed the board of directors for First Fed Bank and its holding company, First Northwest Bancorp.

The move on Wednesday comes less than a week after the Port Angeles-based bank settled a lawsuit connected with its involvement in a water vending company.

Davis has 25 years of strategy, risk management and corporate governance experience in the insurance industry, according to a First Northwest Bancorp press release. From March 2020 to June, Davis served on the board of First Financial Northwest Bank.

In March, First Financial Northwest, the holding company for First Financial Northwest Bank, was acquired by Global Federal Credit Union.

Davis also is a co-chair of the Seattle Conversation on Board Diversity and a former member of the board of directors for Habitat for Humanity Seattle-King County.

On July 17, First Fed entered into a settlement agreement related to its relationship with a water vending machine company that is being investigated by the state Department of Financial Institutions for operating a Ponzi scheme.

First Fed, three companies involved in the water vending business — Water Station Management, Creative Technologies and Refreshing — plus Ideal Property Investments and a number of other parties agreed to drop their lawsuits and countersuits filed in U.S. District Court for the Western District of Washington in Tacoma.

As part of the agreement, First Fed agreed to pay between $2.87 million and $5.74 million the other parties, according to SEC filings.

In a May 21 revised SEC filing, First Fed noted that its expenses had included $5.8 million related to a “legal matter.”

________

Reporter Paula Hunt can be reached by email at paula.hunt@peninsuladailynews.com.

More in News

Two dead after tree falls in Olympic National Forest

Two women died after a tree fell in Olympic National… Continue reading

The aurora borealis shines over Port Townsend late Monday night. Ideal conditions to view the event are from about 9 p.m. to 3 a.m. with clear skies and away from city lights or higher locations with northern views. (Steve Mullensky/for Peninsula Daily News)
Northern lights

The aurora borealis shines over Port Townsend late Monday night. Ideal conditions… Continue reading

Jefferson County board sets annual goals

Discussions include housing, pool, artificial intelligence

Clallam commissioners to continue policy discussions on RVs, ADUs

Board decides to hold future workshop before finalizing ordinance

Port Angeles School District community conversation set Thursday

Individuals who want to talk to Port Angeles School… Continue reading

Sue Long, left, Vicki Bennett and Frank Handler, all from Port Townsend, volunteer at the Martin Luther King Day of Service beach restoration on Monday at Fort Worden State Park. The activity took place on Knapp Circle near the Point Wilson Lighthouse. Sixty-four volunteers participated in the removal of non-native beach grasses. (Steve Mullensky/for Peninsula Daily News)
Work party

Sue Long, left, Vicki Bennett and Frank Handler, all from Port Townsend,… Continue reading

Portion of bridge to be replaced

Tribe: Wooden truss at railroad park deteriorating

Kingsya Omega, left, and Ben Wilson settle into a hand-holding exercise. (Aliko Weste)
Process undermines ‘Black brute’ narrative

Port Townsend company’s second film shot in Hawaii

Jefferson PUD to replace water main in Coyle

Jefferson PUD commissioners awarded a $1.3 million construction contract… Continue reading

Scott Mauk.
Chimacum superintendent receives national award

Chimacum School District Superintendent Scott Mauk has received the National… Continue reading

Hood Canal Coordinating Council meeting canceled

The annual meeting of the Hood Canal Coordinating Council, scheduled… Continue reading