Viking Bank, which has a branch office in Poulsbo, recently was recently selected to receive a $124,430 award from the fifth annual Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFI) Fund and Bank Enterprise Award (BEA) Programs. The bank was recognized for its lending activities in financially underserved communities.

Viking was the only bank in the state to receive the award, in spite of the fact that more than 300 banks, thrifts, and community development institutions across the nation participate in the program.

The BEA program is the principal means which the CDFI Fund uses to reach its goal of expanding financial service organizations’ community development lending and investments.