BELLINGHAM – Peoples Bank announced that Mark Swanson was promoted to vice president and regional retail banking manager.

Swanson has more than 20 years of business management experience and most recently served as branch manager at the Peoples Bank Cordata and West Lynden branches.

He joined Peoples in 2010.

In his new role, Swanson is responsible for the oversight of sales, service and operational performance of retail branches in Whatcom, Skagit and Island Counties.

Also promoted: Debbie Hogue accepted the position of assistant vice president and branch manager of the Cordata and West Lynden branches.

She joined the bank in 2011 and was previously the branch manager at the Ferndale Branch and has 24 years of banking experience.

Rusti Elefson accepted the position of assistant vice president and branch manager for the Ferndale Office.

Elefson has 18 years of local community banking experience and has been with Peoples Bank since 2002.

Peoples Bank is a locally owned and operated, independent community bank with more than $1.3 billion in assets.

Headquartered in Bellingham, the bank was founded in 1921 and operates 24 full-service branches and three loan production offices located throughout Washington.