Some of her clients have no one else to turn to, but Lisa Amaral is there for them.
As a Senior Trust Officer at our Coos Bay Branch, Lisa helps clients at many stages of life manage their financial affairs. She builds close relationships with many people. But in situations where clients are alone or infirm, temporarily disabled or nearing the end of life, she can become like family. She ensures that their bills are paid and their homes are cared for, takes them to medical appointments, feeds their animals and more. She once fulfilled a client’s final wish to have their ashes spread at the Oregon Coast.
“I’ve been called a professional daughter,” Lisa says.
The hours can be long and uneven and can take an emotional toll, but Lisa is passionate about her work. It brings a sense of fulfillment because she’s making a difference in people’s lives.
“It’s more than a job. I know I’m fundamentally helping people,” she says. “Some don’t have family, and I think how vulnerable they are as they face challenges that come with aging. Who’s going to help them?”
Lisa was born and raised in Malibu, California, graduated from UCLA and is a Certified Trust and Financial Advisor. She relocated to the Pacific Northwest to raise her two sons. She has been in banking since 1991 and has been with Oregon Pacific Bank’s trust department since 2006.
Lisa says she tends to be a workaholic but living in the Coos Bay countryside allows her to find peace. She and her husband compete in endurance horse racing, and she’s on the back of a horse every chance she gets.
“The Bay Area is just heaven for a horse person,” she says. “You can ride in the dunes or on the beach for miles or ride up in the hills and into the woods. Our property borders the Elliot State Forest, and the riding is limitless.”
Lisa also finds time to give to the community. She serves on the board of the Coos Bay Schools Community Foundation, which raises funds to support academic, athletic and arts activities for local students. “It’s very important to me,” she says. “I want to give back to the school system that gave my children so much.”
Lisa is also on the South Coast Leadership Council for the Oregon Community Foundation, a philanthropic organization aimed at supporting diverse communities across the state.
Our bank’s company-wide committed to improving the communities we serve is one of the many reasons she likes working for OPB, she says. She’s worked for several banks of various sizes, but OPB’s local ownership, local board of directors, and local decision making is what differentiates the bank for both clients and employees, Lisa says. “Senior management, they really do walk the talk. I can pick up the phone and contact the Director of the Trust Department for an immediate, creative, responsive solution to a crucial client issue. They don’t just claim via advertising to be a community bank, they are a community bank.”
Lisa serves clients not just in Coos Bay, but across much of Southern Oregon. Her service area incorporates Coos Bay east to Roseburg and south to Brookings. While her job naturally comes with challenges, Lisa says, she’s right where she belongs. She advocates for her clients’ interests, according to the terms of their estate plans, even when family interests may become contentious. The most difficult moments, however, are when her closest clients pass on.
“All too often, I lose them,” she says. “That is, no question, the hardest part of my job.”
When that happens, Lisa says, it’s an opportunity to reflect on the reason why she does what she does.
“It’s important we are there to ensure their wishes are carried out,” she says. “When my work becomes impossibly difficult, I remind myself that fundamentally, what I am doing is helping people.”
Our local Trust Officers are available to meet and discuss your unique situation. If you have any questions or would like more information about any of our services, please give us a call at 541-269-7929.
