The Oregon Bankers Association (OBA) inducted Richard E. Brown, senior vice president, environmental program director with Bank of America’s Global Environmental Group in Portland, into the Oregon Bankers Hall of Fame during the Oregon Bank Leadership Symposium held in December. 
 
Induction into the Oregon Bankers Hall of Fame is the highest honor bestowed peer-to-peer within the Oregon banking community. It recognizes the outstanding contributions inductees have made to the Oregon banking industry, to the OBA, and to the communities in which they live and work.
 
Brown was born in Prineville and at the age of two moved to Lake Oswego where he would graduate from high school. He obtained his BA in political science from the University of Oregon and subsequently moved to Washington, D.C. to work for then-Congressman Ron Wyden. Brown made his way back to Oregon and served as Wyden’s district director before joining Bank of America in 1991. In his initial role as CRA (Community Reinvestment Act) officer he would also oversee government relations, communications, and community relations. During his tenure at the bank, he has held local, regional and national roles in marketing and communications, media relations, philanthropy and now, in the Global Environmental Group. In his current role he is responsible for managing the bank’s strategic relationships with national and international environmental organizations.
 
Brown has been engaged with the Oregon Bankers Association for much of his banking career, having previously served as a member of OBA’s Government Relations Committee and later as its chair. In 2007-2008, Brown chaired the OBA and since its founding in 2013, he has chaired the OBA Education Foundation, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit with a dual mission of improving the financial literacy of Oregonians and supporting the education, development and recruitment of future Oregon bankers.
 
Beyond his service to the industry, Brown is beloved by many in his community for his willingness to open doors and facilitate connections. In addition to his current role as OBA Education Foundation chair, Brown serves on the board of Habitat for Humanity Portland Region. In recent years, he’s served on the boards of Parkinson’s Resources of Oregon, All Hands Raised, and Portland Parks Foundation.
 
In commenting about Brown’s induction to the Oregon Bankers Hall of Fame, Roger Hinshaw, president for Bank of America in Oregon and S.W. Washington, said, “Rich has been a key part of the ‘heart and soul’ of Bank of America’s operations and leadership team in the Pacific Northwest for more than 30 years. Over his storied career, Rich has been a beloved leader both internally within the bank, where he has held several regional and national positions of influence, and externally, as a key member of our ‘volunteer army’ in this community, serving on multiple boards, committees, and commissions.” Hinshaw adds, “Rich always brings expertise, as well as his full commitment and passion to every assignment he undertakes. His contributions to our industry are immense.”
 
Since its creation in 1987, the Oregon Bankers Hall of Fame has inducted 82 individuals who have made outstanding contributions to the Oregon banking community and the communities they serve.