This spring, Oregon Pacific Bank partnered with the University of Oregon’s Professional Edge initiative to offer a Commercial Banking Immersion—an intensive, hands-on experience designed to give students a real-world look at community banking in action.

The idea began with a conversation between Roger Busse, a longtime banker and
instructor at the University of Oregon’s Lundquist College of Business, and John Raleigh, Executive Vice President and Chief Lending Officer at Oregon Pacific Bank. Busse, who teaches the university’s Commercial Banking course, saw an opportunity to take learning outside the classroom—and knew OPB would be the right partner to bring that vision to life.

The result was a seven-week immersion, offering students a chance to explore the many dimensions of community banking.

A cohort-based crash course in real-world banking

Over the course of the immersion, 11 finance-focused students from UO’s Lundquist College of Business stepped into the day-to-day workings of a local bank. Guided by Oregon Pacific Bank professionals, they explored everything from credit analysis and loan structuring to compliance and client relationships—gaining not just technical skills, but a deeper understanding of what it means to serve a community through banking.

Each week, students explored key elements of commercial banking, including borrower analysis, loan structuring, compliance, financial projections, and credit proposals. Along the way, they met with OPB professionals across departments—from credit and compliance to HR and trust services—gaining insight into the many career paths that exist within a bank. All the while, students tackled a simulated loan origination project, culminating in a final pitch to OPB’s internal “loan committee.”

“This was about more than just teaching banking fundamentals,” said Roger Busse, instructor of the Commercial Banking course at the University of Oregon’s Lundquist College of Business. “It was about giving students a transformative experience—one that blended academic rigor with real-world tools, mentorship, and exposure to the human side of finance. Oregon Pacific Bank delivered that and more.”

Real people. Real careers. Real mentorship.

For the students, the immersion wasn’t just about technical skills—it was about connection. Each session offered a chance to meet real people working in banking and hear how they built their careers. From Bank President Ron Green’s unconventional path from musician to CEO, to HR Director Tricia Welch’s insights on workplace culture and career growth, students were exposed to the variety of career opportunities that exist within the banking industry.

“Our goal was to give students a broader outlook on what a bank really looks like—from the inside out,” said John Raleigh. “We wanted them to walk into their first job with more than just textbook knowledge. This experience gave them a chance to ask real questions, meet real people, and see how community banking works in practice. One of the most valuable parts of the experience, according to the students themselves, was getting to meet professionals across departments and understand the many different career paths that exist beyond lending. That kind of exposure can make all the difference when you’re just starting out.”

And OPB’s commitment didn’t stop at instruction. Through casual traditions like “Friday putting” and informal mentorship, the bank emphasized its people-first culture—highlighting what makes community banking different.

Building careers—and the future of community banking

For Oregon Pacific Bank, the Commercial Banking Immersion wasn’t just a one-time initiative, it was the beginning of a long-term partnership with the University of Oregon to help shape the next generation of banking professionals. With many participants actively exploring roles in the financial industry, the experience has already opened doors and sparked new career ambitions.

Each student also earned a Commercial Banking Essentials microcredential, validating the skills they developed throughout the project and giving students a tangible asset to carry into their job search.

For John Raleigh, the most rewarding part was watching students connect with real bankers and realize there’s no single path into the industry.

“A community banking role can be anything—from credit to compliance to trust services,” he said. “Once you’re inside a bank like OPB, there are so many directions you can go. Our hope is that this experience gives students a little mentorship, a little confidence, and the tools to take that first step into a career that might have felt out of reach.”

This initiative was made possible in part by the Oregon Bankers Association Education Foundation, which underwrote the Commercial Banking course at the University of Oregon. Their continued investment in banking education helps create opportunities like this connecting students with real-world experience and strengthening the future of community banking across Oregon.

Interested in learning more about how Oregon Pacific Bank invests in our
communities and the future of banking?

Visit www.OregonPacificBank.com or reach out to explore how we’re growing careers, partnerships, and local impact every day.