KLAMATH FALLS – The Bank of Eastern Oregon is purchasing seven northeast Oregon branches of Klamath First Federal.

The sales were not part of a trend, but a move aimed at consolidation to increase Klamath First’s efficiency, the bank’s President and Chief Executive Officer, Kermit K. Houser, said in a written statement.

“With the recent announcement of our proposed merger with Sterling Financial Corporation, several community banks indicated an interest in many of our rural branch locations,” he continued. “Klamath First determined that Bank of Eastern Oregon was the best candidate to acquire its branches since Bank of Eastern Oregon shared Klamath First Federal’s com- mitment to customers and employees.”

Klamath First Federal did not anticipate any further sales or closures prior to the merger, Houser said.

The transfer of the seven banks in Burns, Condon, Fossil, Heppner, John Day, Prairie City and Moro will double Bank of Eastern Oregon’s current six branches.

“We were established in 1945 to meet the financial needs of rural communities in eastern Oregon and these branch purchases will allow us ton continue that tradition in markets and with customers we are very familiar with, said George Koffler, president and chief executive office of the Bank of Eastern Oregon.”