Amazingly, in those twelve decades, they’ve only had eight presidents, including Josh Deck who took the reins in 2022. With many years of service under his belt, he’s excited to see what the future holds, personally, professionally and for this bedrock institution.

Deck started as President and CEO on July 1, 2022, but was hired as the bank’s Vice President of Risk & Compliance 11 years earlier. His time in the industry didn’t start there.

“Prior to working at OlyFed I worked as a Bank Examiner for the Department of Treasury within an agency called the Office of Thrift Supervision,” Deck explains. “My job was to travel around the country to perform examinations at banks like OlyFed.”

But life on the road is tough for a new family so he decided to shift gears. “As a local to the Tacoma area graduating from Franklin Pierce High School, I knew I wanted to set down roots somewhere in the South Sound that would feel like home,” says Deck. He’d interacted with OlyFed during his time as an Examiner and “saw that everything they do is what makes a great bank. I am truly inspired by OlyFed’s rich history of building and supporting the economic, social and cultural infrastructure of our community and how deeply we care for our customers and employees. It’s really a special place to work and do business and that was evident to me from day one.”

A baseball player through college, Deck now coaches his sons’ baseball and basketball teams. This teamwork mentality influences his leadership skills in a very simple way: work for the greater good of the entire team by helping everyone reach their full potential. He welcomes questions and suggestions from his entire staff and maintains a focus “on helping our team build character and competency because they are the foundation of trust, which is at the core of everything we do in banking.”

Trust is also key to OlyFed’s reach within the community.

“Doing business in Thurston County is relationship-based,” Deck explains, “and it’s critical that people know you, trust you, and like you. As our community continues to grow and gets more diverse, we are focused on sharing additional details about our unique mutual structure, which makes us accountable to our customers, not shareholders. Since we were designed from the ground up to put people above the bottom line, we know our future rests in genuine, authentic and transparent customer care and support.”

To build these relationships, the bank encourages its employees to volunteer and serve on the boards of local charities, groups, teams and clubs. Currently, OlyFedders are on the boards of more than 30 organizations, donate more than 1,000 hours of community service annually and the bank invests over 10% of profits back into local nonprofits.

OlyFed participates in or sponsors many events and activities through the Thurston County Chamber. They sponsor Math for Life to promote financial literacy in schools and take part in the Chamber’s Gala which funds programs like Leadership Thurston County. OlyFed employees are also involved in Thurston Young Professionals, South Sound BIPOC, Business After Hours and morning mixers.

“There is huge value in what the Chamber provides in terms of networking, advocacy and professional development,” says Deck. “As one of the oldest businesses in Olympia, we’ve had a working relationship with the Chamber that dates back 100 years. It’s our work with the Chamber that’s allowed us to grow right along with our community decade after decade.”

They also foster economic growth in many ways. The Affordable Homebuyer program helps families earning less than 80% of median income in Thurston and Mason counties purchase a home. Community Checking connects the un- and under-banked with financial resources, tools, and support. Financial education and homebuyer classes are offered monthly to anyone wishing to know more.

For entrepreneurs, the business banking team helps companies start, build, and grow. “We know that 90% of businesses in Thurston County have less than 20 employees, so supporting local institutions of commerce is critical to a thriving and healthy economy,” says Deck.

“We also know that 73% of Thurston County residents live and work in the county, which means the fact we are a portfolio lender—we don’t sell our loans because they are our long-term investment strategy—ensures both our tax and philanthropic dollars stay local supporting critical infrastructures like parks, roads, schools, and critical social, health and emergency services.”

At the end of the day, Josh Deck and the OlyFed family understand that everyone benefits when we work together. If you’re looking for a banking partner, check out OlyFed and they’ll help build your today, tomorrow and financial legacy into the future.