Senior Vice President / Commercial Team Leader
Roseburg Branch

Matt Kowal is happy to have joined Oregon Pacific Bank as a Senior Vice President and Commercial Team Leader at our Roseburg Branch.

Having come to OPB in July 2022, Matt is already well-known in Roseburg for his banking expertise and his passion for community service. Altogether, he’s spent about 25 years in banking.

In part, he says, he opted to join OPB because he wanted to feel more connected to the community. Larger banks are often less in touch with the unique economic conditions that local residents face.

“What drew me to Oregon Pacific Bank was a chance to go back to my days at a true community bank,” he says. “I really wanted to get back to helping clients in the community, where I live.”

Matt also shows that community commitment by giving freely of his time to a number of local service organizations, many of which have one common thread: giving local children opportunities to succeed. For example, he’s chair of the board for Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) of Douglas County, part of a larger organization that advocates for abused and neglected children who have been placed in foster care.

Matt and his wife adopted their then 3-year-old son, who was a beneficiary of the CASA program. They went on to adopt two other children as newborns. Matt is glad they’ve been able to give their children a chance at a better life. It’s what drives him to help children who come from unstable home environments.

“It really pulls on my heartstrings because I understand what CASA can do for those children,” he says. “It’s the reason I do the work I do.”

Matt is also on the board of the Mercy Foundation, which is affiliated with Mercy Medical Center in Roseburg. As part of its mission, the Mercy Foundation offers children’s outreach programs for dental care, diabetes and trafficking prevention.

In addition, he’s on the board of the Roseburg High School Foundation, which raises funds to support teachers with needed supplies and students through scholarship programs.

“Kids’ education is my passion,” he says.

While talking with his son about education, Matt decided to go back to school to get his MBA, and he and his son spent time doing homework together.

“It gave me a chance to have some bonding time with my son,” Matt says. “I truly believe education is important. You’re always learning something every day.”

Matt’s also on the advisory board for the Small Business Development Center in Roseburg and involved with the Umpqua Economic Development partnership, both of which offer insight into what’s happening in the local business community. Formerly, he served on the Salvation Army advisory board, and is the past president of the Rotary Club of Roseburg.

Matt says he and his family are happy with their move to Roseburg, and they enjoy getting together with friends who’ve come to feel like family. In their free time, they enjoy hiking and spending time on the river as a family, and Matt likes to hit the golf course whenever he can.

He’s excited about his position at OPB and looks forward to assisting customers in his new role.

“We provide a value to the clients we serve, not only in the community connections we’re able to offer, but our products and services are very competitive,” he says. “It was really important for me to be a part of bank that really cares about the community.”

To find out how we can help you and your nonprofit or business succeed, give us a call at 541-677-9454.