Mountain Pacific Bank of Everett reported a fourth-quarter profit of $337,253 and an annual net profit for 2007 of $854,740. The bank also earned back its startup losses, ending the year with positive earnings of $87,231. Mountain Pacific’s assets totaled $78.9 million as of Dec. 31, an 82 percent increase over the previous year. The community bank said it intends to open a branch in Lynnwood this spring.
Tully’s hires bankers to explore options
Tully’s Coffee Corp. said Monday it has hired investment banking firm D.A. Davidson &Co. to study the company’s “strategic alternatives,” raising speculation that the business could be sold. The Seattle-based coffee chain said D.A. Davidson will advise Tully’s directors “on a range of alternatives,” including ways to raise money or merger and acquisition opportunities, Tully’s said.
Fixes for Microsoft’s Vista sent to factory
Microsoft Corp. said it has sent a major package of upgrades and fixes for Windows Vista, its latest operating system, off to manufacturers for mass production. The software maker said Vista Service Pack 1, or SP1, improves reliability, security and performance. Many of the fixes have already been released as part of monthly updates since Vista went on sale.
Chrysler plants shut amid parts dispute
A dispute between Chrysler LLC and parts supplier Plastech Engineered Products Inc. forced Chrysler to shut down or cancel shifts at five factories Monday, and the automaker said it could idle all 14 of its assembly factories. Plastech supplies Chrysler with about 500 plastic interior, exterior and powertrain components for nearly all of its vehicles, according to a lawsuit Chrysler filed.
Intelius shuts down cell-number selling
Intelius Inc., a startup that launched online directory assistance for cell-phone numbers, has shut down the service after complaints from consumers and Verizon Wireless. Intelius had 90 million numbers in its database, according to its Web site, and was selling them for $15 each to anyone who had a name and wanted a number. Verizon Wireless called on Intelius last week to stop selling numbers.
United to charge extra for luggage
United Airlines will begin charging some passengers $50 to check a second piece of luggage on domestic round-trip flights, becoming the first big carrier to impose such a fee. Some analysts said that if the move didn’t generate big resistance from consumers, the traditional two-free-bags rule was likely to go away. United, the nation’s second-largest carrier, cited higher fuel costs for the new fee.
Treasury bill interest rates fall again
Interest rates on short-term Treasury bills fell in Monday’s auction to their lowest levels since late 2004. The Treasury Department auctioned $23 billion in three-month bills at a discount rate of 2.23 percent, down from 2.335 percent last week. Six-month bills were auctioned at a discount rate of 2.16 percent.
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