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UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549

SCHEDULE 14A

Proxy Statement Pursuant To Section 14(a) of
The Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (Amendment No.        )

Filed by the Registrant   o
Filed by a Party other than the Registrant   o

Check the appropriate box:

o Preliminary Proxy Statement
o Confidential, for Use of the Commission Only (as permitted by Rule 14a-6(e)(2))
x Definitive Proxy Statement
o Definitive Additional Materials

Northrim Bancorp, Inc.

(Name of Registrant as Specified In Its Charter)

 

(Name of Person(s) Filing Proxy Statement, if other than the Registrant)

Payment of Filing Fee (Check the appropriate box):

x Fee not required.
o Fee computed on table below per Exchange Act Rules 14a-6(i)(4) and 0-11.
 
(1) Title of each class of securities to which transaction applies:
     
   
(2) Aggregate number of securities to which transaction applies:
     
   
(3) Per unit price or other underlying value of transaction computed pursuant to Exchange Act Rule 0-11 (set forth the amount on which the filing fee is calculated and state how it was determined):
     
   
(4) Proposed maximum aggregate value of transaction:
     
   
  (5) Total fee paid:
     
   

 


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(NORTHRIM BANCORP LOGO)
3111 C Street
Anchorage, AK 99503

March 16, 2005

Dear Shareholder:

     I am pleased to invite you to attend the Northrim BanCorp, Inc. Annual Shareholders’ Meeting where you will have the opportunity to hear about our 2004 operations and our plans for 2005. The meeting will be on Thursday, May 5, 2005, at 9 A.M., at the Hilton Anchorage Hotel — 500 West Third Avenue in Anchorage, Alaska. I hope to see you there.

     You will find additional information concerning Northrim and our operations in the enclosed 2004 Report to Shareholders and Annual Report—10-K, which includes our audited financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2004.

     Whether or not you plan to attend the meeting, please sign and return your proxy card, which is included with this document, as soon as possible. Your opinion and your vote are very important to us. If you choose to attend the meeting, voting by proxy will not prevent you from voting in person; however, if you are unable to attend, voting by proxy will ensure that your vote is counted.

     Thank you for your continued support of Northrim BanCorp, Inc. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me at (907) 562-0062.

Sincerely,

/s/ Marc Langland
Marc Langland
Chairman, President and CEO

 


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(NORTHRIM BANCORP LOGO)

NOTICE OF ANNUAL SHAREHOLDERS’ MEETING
To be held on May 5, 2005

     Notice is hereby given that Northrim BanCorp, Inc. (the “Company”) will hold its 2005 Annual Shareholders’ Meeting at the Hilton Anchorage Hotel, 500 West Third Avenue, Anchorage, Alaska, at 9 A.M., on Thursday, May 5, 2005, for the following purposes, as more fully described in the accompanying proxy statement:

     1. ELECTION OF DIRECTORS. To elect 11 directors for a term ending at the 2006 Annual Shareholders’ Meeting or such other date as their successors may be elected and qualified.

     2. OTHER BUSINESS. To transact any other business that may properly come before the Annual Meeting or any adjournment or postponement of the meeting.

     Shareholders owning Northrim BanCorp shares at the close of business on March 9, 2005, are entitled to receive notice of and to vote at the Annual Meeting or any adjournment or postponement of that meeting.

     Your Board of Directors unanimously recommends that shareholders vote “FOR” the slate of nominees to the Board of Directors proposed by the Board.

By order of the Board of Directors,

/s/ Mary A. Finkle
Mary A. Finkle
Corporate Secretary

March 16, 2005

     Whether or not you plan to attend the annual meeting, please complete, sign and date the enclosed form of proxy and mail it promptly in the enclosed return envelope, which requires no postage if mailed in the United States. Your vote is important to us. If you attend the Annual Meeting, you may vote your shares in person if you wish to do so even if you have previously sent in your proxy.

 


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NORTHRIM BANCORP, INC.
3111 C Street
Anchorage, Alaska 99503

PROXY STATEMENT

     The Board of Directors (the “Board”) is soliciting proxies for this year’s Annual Meeting. This proxy statement contains important information for you to consider when deciding how to vote on the matters brought before the meeting. Please read it carefully.

     The Board set March 9, 2005, as the record date for the meeting. Shareholders who owned the Company’s common stock on that date are entitled to vote at the meeting, with each share entitled to one vote. There were 6,089,120 shares of Company stock outstanding on the record date.

     Voting materials, which include this proxy statement dated March 16, 2005, a proxy card, and the 2004 Report to Shareholders and Annual Report—10-K are first being mailed to shareholders on or about March 16, 2005.

ABOUT THE MEETING

Why am I receiving this proxy statement and proxy card?

     You are receiving this proxy statement and proxy card because you own shares of the Company’s common stock. This proxy statement describes matters on which we would like you to vote.

     When you sign the proxy card, you appoint the persons named in the proxy, R. Marc Langland and Christopher N. Knudson, as your representatives at the meeting, and those persons will vote your shares at the meeting as you have instructed on the proxy card. This way, your shares will be voted even if you cannot attend the meeting.

Who is soliciting my proxy, and who is paying the cost of solicitation?

     The enclosed proxy is solicited by and on behalf of the Board of Directors, and the Company will bear the costs of solicitation. Certain directors, officers, and employees of the Company and/or its subsidiary, Northrim Bank (the “Bank”), may solicit proxies by telephone, facsimile, and personal contact.

     The Company does not expect to pay any compensation to employees, officers, or directors for soliciting proxies, but will reimburse brokers, nominees, and similar recordholders for reasonable expenses in mailing proxy material to beneficial owners of the Company’s common stock.

What am I voting on, and what vote is required for approval?

     At the Annual Meeting, you will be asked to vote on the election of 11 directors to serve on the Board until the 2006 Annual Shareholders’ Meeting or until their successors have been elected and have qualified. The election of directors will require the affirmative vote of a majority of the shareholders present in person or represented by duly executed proxy at the meeting.

Who is entitled to vote?

     Only shareholders who owned the Company’s common stock as of the close of business on the record date, March 9, 2005, are entitled to receive notice of the Annual Meeting and to vote the shares that they held on that date at the meeting, or any postponement or adjournment of the meeting.

How do I vote, and how are the votes counted?

     You may vote your shares either in person at the Annual Meeting or by proxy. To vote by proxy, you should mark, date, sign, and mail the enclosed proxy card in the prepaid envelope provided. If your shares are registered in your own name and you attend the meeting, you may deliver your completed proxy card in person. “Street name” shareholders, that is, those shareholders whose shares are held in the name of and through a broker or other nominee, who wish to vote at the meeting will need to obtain a proxy from the institution that holds their shares.

 


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     With regard to the election of directors, you may cast your vote in favor of some or all of the nominees or you may withhold your vote as to some or all of the nominees. Directors will be elected if the number of votes cast in favor of the director exceeds the number of votes cast against the director. Accordingly, votes withheld generally will have no effect on the outcome of the election. You may also abstain from voting on any proposals other than the election of directors. An abstention will have no impact on the election of directors or any of the remaining proposals set forth in the Notice of Annual Shareholders’ Meeting.

     If shares are held in “street name,” that is, through a broker or nominee, the broker or nominee is permitted to exercise voting discretion under certain circumstances. At this meeting, if the broker or nominee is not given specific voting instructions, shares may be voted on the election of directors by the broker or nominee in their own discretion. However, if your shares are held in street name and neither you nor your broker votes them, the votes will be “broker non-votes,” which will have the effect of excluding your vote from the tallies. If your shares are held in your own name and you do not vote your shares, your shares will not be voted.

     On each matter before the meeting, including the election of directors, shareholders are entitled to one vote for each share of common stock they held at the record date. Shareholders may not cumulate their votes for the election of directors.

Can I change my vote after I return my proxy card?

     Yes. If the enclosed proxy is duly executed and received in time for the meeting, the persons named in the proxy will vote the shares represented by the proxy “FOR” the 11 nominees listed in the proxy statement, unless otherwise directed. If you grant a proxy, you may revoke it at any time before its exercise by written notice to the Company to the attention of Mary A. Finkle, Corporate Secretary, by submitting a proxy with a subsequent date, or by announcing your revocation to the secretary at the meeting prior to the taking of a shareholder vote. The shares represented by properly executed proxies that are not revoked will be voted in accordance with the specifications in such proxies.

Can I vote on other matters or submit a proposal to be considered at the meeting?

     The Company has not received timely notice of any shareholder proposals to be considered at the Annual Meeting, and shareholders may submit matters for a vote only in accordance with the Company’s bylaws. The Board of Directors does not presently know of any other matters to be brought before the Annual Meeting.

     For shareholders seeking to include proposals in the proxy materials for the 2006 Annual Meeting, the proposing shareholder or shareholders must comply with all applicable regulations, including Rule 14a-8 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the proposals must be received by the Secretary of the Company on or before November 16, 2005.

How many votes are needed to hold the Annual Meeting?

     A majority of the Company’s outstanding shares as of the record date (a quorum) must be present at the Annual Meeting in order to hold the meeting and conduct business. Shares are counted as present at the meeting if a shareholder is present and votes in person at the meeting or has properly submitted a proxy card. As of the record date for the Annual Meeting, 6,089,120 shares of the Company’s common stock were outstanding and eligible to vote.

How do I communicate with Directors?

     The Board provides a process for stockholders to send communications to the Board or any of the directors. Stockholders may send communications to the Board or any of the directors c/o Corporate Secretary, Northrim BanCorp, Inc., 3111 C Street, Anchorage, Alaska 99503. All communications will be compiled by the Corporate Secretary of the Company and submitted to the Board or the individual directors on a periodic basis.

PROPOSAL 1: ELECTION OF DIRECTORS

General

     The Company’s Articles of Incorporation provide that the Board of Directors will consist of not less than five nor more than 25 directors. Currently, the Board of Directors consists of 11 directors. The Board of Directors has set the number of directors to be elected at the Annual Meeting at 11 directors. Directors are elected for a one-year term and serve until their successors have been elected and qualified.

 


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     The Board of Directors has nominated the individuals listed on the following pages for election as directors for the one-year term expiring at the 2006 Annual Shareholders’ Meeting or until their successors have been elected and qualified. If any nominee refuses or becomes unable to serve as a director before the meeting, the directors will select a replacement nominee, and your proxies will be voted for that replacement nominee. The Board of Directors presently has no knowledge that any nominee will refuse or be unable to serve.

     It is the Company’s policy to encourage that the directors up for election at the annual meeting attend the annual meeting. All directors up for election at the 2004 Annual Shareholders’ Meeting attended the 2004 Annual Shareholders’ Meeting.

INFORMATION ABOUT THE NOMINEES

     The following table provides certain information about the nominees for director, including age, principal occupation during the past five years, and year first elected a director of Northrim Bank (the “Bank”) or the Company. All of the nominees are presently directors of the Bank and the Company.

             
Name/Age   Occupation of Nominee During Past Five Years   Director Since
R. Marc Langland, 63
  Chairman, President, and CEO of the Company and the Bank; Director, Alaska Air Group     1990  
 
           
Larry S. Cash, 53
  President and CEO, RIM Architects (Alaska), Inc. since 1986; CEO, RIM Architects (Guam), Inc.     1995  
 
           
Mark G. Copeland, 62
  Since June 1999, owner and sole member of Strategic Analysis LLC, a management consulting firm; Member, Copeland, Landye, Bennett and Wolf, LLP (law firm) for 30 years prior to that time     1990  
 
           
Frank A. Danner, 71
  Since May 1990, Secretary/Treasurer, IMEX Ltd. dba Dynamic Properties (real estate firm); President and CEO (1978-2003), Far North Fishermen, Inc. (a commercial fishing enterprise); Partner of KPMG LLP from 1970 to 1990     1990  
 
           
Ronald A. Davis, 72
  CEO and Administrator, Tanana Valley Clinic until his retirement in 1998; Secretary/Treasurer, Canoe Alaska, 1996 to 1999; Vice President (1999-2003), Acordia of Alaska Insurance (full service insurance agency)     1997  
 
           
Anthony Drabek, 57
  President and CEO, Natives of Kodiak, Inc. (Alaska Native Corporation) since 1989; Chairman and President, Koncor Forest Products Co.; Secretary/Director, Atikon Forest Products Co.     1991  
 
           
Christopher N. Knudson, 51
  Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of the Company and the Bank     1998  
 
           
Richard L. Lowell, 64
  President (1985-2004), Ribelin Lowell & Company (insurance brokerage firm) Chairman of the Board, Ribelin Lowell Alaska USA Insurance Brokers (insurance brokerage firm)     1990  
 
           
Irene Sparks Rowan, 63
  Director (1988-2000), Klukwan, Inc. (Alaska Native Corporation) and its subsidiaries     1991  
 
           
John C. Swalling, 55
  President, Swalling & Associates PC (accounting firm) since 1991     2002  
 
           
Joseph E. Usibelli, 66
  Chairman, Usibelli Coal Mine since 1986     1990  

The Board of Directors recommends that you vote “FOR” these nominees.

Shareholder Nominations for 2005 Annual Shareholders’ Meeting

     In accordance with the Company’s Bylaws, shareholder nominations for the 2005 Annual Shareholders’ Meeting ordinarily must be delivered in writing to the Secretary of the Company not less than 14 nor more than 50 days prior to the

 


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meeting. Any shareholder nomination should contain the following information to the extent known to the nominating shareholder: (i) the name and address of each proposed nominee; (ii) each nominee’s principal occupation; (iii) the total number of shares of the Company’s common stock that will be voted for each proposed nominee; (iv) the name and residence of the nominating shareholder; (v) the number of shares of the Company’s common stock owned by the nominating shareholder; and (vi) whether the nominee had agreed to serve if elected.

     Nominations not made in accordance with the above requirements may be disregarded, in the sole discretion of the Chairman of the Annual Meeting, and upon the Chairman’s instruction, the vote teller may disregard all votes cast for that nominee.

Information Regarding the Board of Directors and its Committees

     All non-management directors, with the exception of Mr. Danner who is a partner of ARC Partnership, the company that owns the Bank’s main office space, are independent of management within the meaning of currently applicable rules of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the “1934 Act”), the Securities and Exchange Commission and the Nasdaq National Market listing requirements.

     The Company’s Board of Directors has adopted certain standing committees, including an Audit Committee and Compensation Committee.

     The Company does not have a standing Nominating Committee. The board believes it is important to have involvement of all directors in the nominating process. A majority of independent directors identifies and recommends persons to be nominees for positions on the Board of Directors at each annual meeting of shareholders, and to fill vacancies on the board between annual meetings. Our directors take a critical role in guiding the Company’s strategic direction and overseeing the management of the Company. Board candidates, including directors up for reelection, are considered based upon various criteria, such as personal integrity, broad-based business and professional skills and experiences, banking experience, concern for long-term interests of the Company’s shareholders, freedom from conflicts of interest, sound business judgment, community involvement, and the time available to devote to board activities.

     The Bank’s Board of Directors met 10 times, and the Company’s Board of Directors met 10 times during 2004. During 2004, all directors attended at least 75% of the total meetings of the Board and all committees of which they were members. The Company’s independent directors meet in executive sessions once per quarter and rotate as lead director twice a year.

     Audit Committee. The Audit Committee’s principal functions include reviewing and approving the services of the independent auditors, reviewing the plan, scope, and audit results of the independent and internal auditors, and reviewing the reports of bank regulatory authorities. The Company’s Board of Directors has adopted a written charter for the Audit Committee. Current members of the Audit Committee are Mark G. Copeland, Anthony Drabek, and Richard L. Lowell.

     During 2004, the Audit Committee had four regular meetings. In addition to its regularly scheduled meetings, the Audit Committee has had periodic meetings to keep informed of the process in place to achieve readiness for compliance with Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 (“SOX”) and discuss the current status of progress being made with the Company’s independent auditors, internal SOX Committee and internal senior auditor.

     Each of the members of the Committee is independent of management within the meaning of the 1934 Act, the rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the Nasdaq National Market listing standards. The Committee and the full board have determined that no individual Audit Committee member qualifies as an audit committee financial expert within the meaning of such rules. The board does believe, however, that each of the Committee members has attributes of a financial expert within the meaning of applicable rules and that all of the members of the Committee, taken as a whole, would constitute a financial expert within the meaning of applicable rules.

     In addition, one of our directors, Mr. Swalling, is a certified public accountant and, while he is not a member of the Audit Committee due to the demands of his schedule, he is available as a resource on financial matters. For these reasons, at this time the board does not believe it is necessary to actively search for a director that would qualify as a financial expert.

     Compensation Committee. The primary functions of the Compensation Committee, which met six times in 2004, are to review and approve officer compensation, select and approve employee benefits and retirement plans, and administer the Company’s stock option plans. Compensation Committee members are Larry S. Cash, Ronald A. Davis, and Joseph E. Usibelli. All members of the Compensation Committee are independent within the meaning of currently applicable rules of the 1934 Act, the Securities and Exchange Commission, and the Nasdaq National Market listing requirements.

 


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     Director Compensation. Non-officer directors currently receive a $5,000 annual cash retainer and an award of stock equal to $5,000 at the then current market value payable annually for serving on the Board of Directors, in addition to the fee of $750 for each Board meeting attended. Members of the Audit and Compensation Committees receive $750 for each meeting attended with the exception of the committee chairpersons who receive $1,500 and $1,125, respectively, for each committee meeting they attended.

EXECUTIVE OFFICERS

     The following table sets forth certain information about the Company’s executive officers:

                     
Name   Age   Position   Has Served as
            an Executive
            Officer Since
R. Marc Langland
    63     Chairman of the Board, President and Chief Executive Officer of Northrim BanCorp, Inc. and Northrim Bank     1990  
 
                   
Christopher N. Knudson
    51     Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of Northrim BanCorp, Inc. and Northrim Bank     1990  
 
                   
Victor P. Mollozzi
    55     Senior Vice President, Senior Credit Officer of Northrim Bank     1990  
 
                   
Joseph M. Schierhorn
    47     Senior Vice President, Chief Financial Officer, and Compliance Manager of Northrim BanCorp, Inc. and Northrim Bank     2001  
 
                   
Robert L. Shake
    46     Senior Vice President, Executive Loan Manager of Northrim Bank     2004  

     All officers are elected by the Board of Directors for one year terms or until their successors are appointed and qualified. Each of the named executives have employment agreements with the Company. See “EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION — Employment Agreements.”

     Code of Conduct. The Company has adopted a Code of Conduct, which includes a Code of Ethics for our executive officers. We will furnish a copy of the Code of Conduct to shareholders at no charge upon request to the Corporate Secretary.

EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION

Report of the Compensation Committee on Executive Compensation

     The Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors (the “Compensation Committee”) of the Company has furnished the following report on executive compensation for fiscal year 2004. The Compensation Committee report is intended to describe in general terms the process the Compensation Committee undertakes and the matters it considers in determining the appropriate compensation for the Company’s executive officers, including the executive officers who are named in the Summary Compensation Table that begins on page 8.

Responsibilities and Composition of the Compensation Committee

     The Compensation Committee is responsible for (i) establishing, with the assistance of independent compensation consultants and legal counsel, compensation programs for executive officers of the Company designed to attract, motivate, and retain key executives responsible for the success of the Company as a whole; (ii) administering and maintaining such programs in a manner that will benefit the long-term interests of the Company and its shareholders; and (iii) determining the salary, bonus, stock option, and other stock-based compensation of the Company’s executive officers. The Compensation Committee serves pursuant to a Charter adopted by the Board of Directors.

     The Compensation Committee is composed of Ronald A. Davis, Chairman, Joseph E. Usibelli, and Larry S. Cash. None of the members are officers or employees of the Company and all are independent of management within the meaning of currently applicable rules of the 1934 Act, the Securities and Exchange Commission, and the Nasdaq National Market listing requirements. Mr. Usibelli has served on the Compensation Committee since 1991. Mr. Cash was appointed to the Compensation Committee in 1996. Mr. Davis was appointed to the Compensation Committee in 2002.

 


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Compensation Philosophy

     The Compensation Committee bases its compensation strategy on maintaining the Company’s primary strategic goal: to maintain, over the next several years, a well-capitalized, customer-focused financial institution, headquartered in Anchorage and serving the greater Anchorage, Matanuska Valley, and Fairbanks areas, as well as various other markets in and outside Alaska. We believe that achieving these goals will create long-term value for shareholders, consistent with protecting the interests of our depositors. The Company’s business and growth strategies consist of the following elements:

•   Continued development of a business culture in which customers are accorded the highest priority in all aspects of the Company’s operations.
 
•   Emphasis on developing full-service banking relationships with members of the business and professional communities to increase loan and core deposit volumes.
 
•   Competitive and responsive commercial, construction, small business, land development, and real estate lending.
 
•   Strong marketing emphasis on the Company’s customer-focused philosophy to assist in the further development of a broad core deposit base which will help fund expanded lending activity.
 
•   Control of credit risk through established loan underwriting and monitoring procedures, loan concentration limits, product and industry diversification, as well as the hiring and retention of experienced lending personnel having a high degree of familiarity with their market areas.
 
•   Delivery of products and investment management services through its subsidiary’s (Northrim Investment Services Company) investment in Elliott Cove Capital Management.
 
•   Delivery of employee benefits products and services through its subsidiaries’ purchase of an interest in an employee benefits business unit to be renamed Northrim Benefits Group.
 
•   Formation in Washington State of a new division of Northrim Bank and hiring of experienced personnel with a high degree of familiarity of the Washington market to deliver short-term working capital to customers by purchasing their accounts receivable.
 
•   Continued growth through a combination of growth at existing offices, developing a sales culture to broaden existing and new customer relationships, expanding the Company’s presence and visibility in the marketplace, along with technological advances, and expansion into other markets as promising strategic opportunities for diversification and growth arise.

     The Compensation Committee believes that compensation packages for executive officers and key personnel should be based to a substantial extent on achievement of the goals and strategies the Board has established and articulated. When establishing salaries, bonus levels and stock option awards for executive officers, the Compensation Committee considers (i) the Company’s financial performance during the past year; (ii) the individual’s performance during the past year; and (iii) the salaries of executive officers in similar positions with companies of comparable size and other companies within the financial institutions industry. For executive officers other than the Chief Executive Officer, the Compensation Committee gives consideration to recommendations of the Chief Executive Officer. The method for determining compensation varies from case to case based on a discretionary and subjective determination of appropriate criteria.

Compensation Programs and Practices

     The Company’s executive compensation program continues to consist of four key elements: (i) base salary; (ii) a performance-based annual bonus; (iii) periodic option grants and other stock-based compensation awards; and (iv) retirement and other deferred benefits.

     The Compensation Committee believes this four-part approach best serves the interests of the Company and its shareholders. It enables the Company to meet the requirements of the highly competitive banking environment in which it operates, while ensuring that executive officers are compensated in a way that advances both the short- and long-term interests of shareholders. The variable annual bonus rewards and motivates individual performance, and is based, in significant part, on the contribution made by the officer to the Company’s overall performance. Stock options and other stock-based awards relate a

 


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significant portion of long-term remuneration directly to stock price appreciation and further promote the executive’s continued service with the organization.

     The Company has developed and implemented policies for determining salary structure, annual incentive bonus payments, and employee stock option and other stock-based awards based on recommendations by nationally recognized compensation consulting firms, which have periodically reviewed the Company’s executive compensation practices and its overall compensation program.

     During 1999, 2002, 2003, and again in 2004, the Company engaged an independent nationally recognized consulting firm to review and analyze its executive compensation package and its overall compensation practices to ensure that the Company remains competitive with financial institutions of comparable size. Based on the consultants’ recommendations and with the advice of legal counsel, the Company adopted an employee stock incentive plan in 2000, amended its executive officer employment agreements effective January 1, 2003, and adopted in 2004, as approved by shareholders, the new Northrim BanCorp, Inc. 2004 Stock Incentive Plan authorizing issuance of 300,000 shares and reflecting accounting rule changes.

     Base Salary Based on its consideration of competitive industry salaries and general economic conditions within the Company’s market area and within the financial institutions industry, the Company’s Human Resources Department has established a graded salary structure for executives and other officers. Individual base salaries for executive officers are based upon recommendations by the Chief Executive Officer, taking into account the officer’s salary grade. Base salary levels are reviewed annually and any proposed increases are recommended to the Compensation Committee by the Chief Executive Officer based on an assessment of an executive’s scope of responsibilities, individual performance, and contribution to the organization.

     Annual Bonus Executive officers have an annual incentive bonus opportunity as participants in the Company’s Executive Incentive Plan (the “Incentive Plan”). Incentive Plan participants are recommended by the Chairman of the Board and President, and approved by the Compensation Committee prior to each plan year. The Incentive Plan establishes three tiers of incentive award amounts based on officer title and level of responsibility. The Incentive Plan then establishes within each tier three levels of award representing a predetermined graduated percentage of annual base salary. Actual bonus amounts must be approved by the Compensation Committee and are based on a formula that takes into account predetermined performance standards. The current performance standards include efficiency, return on equity, net income to budget, asset growth, and the credit quality of portfolio loans. These criteria may be modified from time to time based on the Company’s strategic plan, with a goal of maximizing shareholder returns.

     Options and Other Stock-Based Compensation The Compensation Committee has followed a philosophy of offering stock-based incentives to the Company’s employees to: (i) attract and retain the best available personnel; (ii) enhance long-term profitability and shareholder value; and (iii) encourage employees to acquire and maintain stock ownership in the Company, thereby more closely aligning the interests of employees and shareholders. The Compensation Committee, subject to the Company’s employee stock incentive plans, may determine the employees eligible to receive options and awards and to assess the amount of each option and award.

     Retirement and Other Deferred Compensation Executive officers participate in the Company’s qualified retirement plan, the Northrim Bank Savings Incentive Plan (401-k), to the same extent and subject to the same rules and limitations as the Company’s and the Bank’s other employees. In addition, effective July 1, 1994, the Bank adopted the Northrim Bank Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan (“SERP”) for the benefit of its executive officers. The Compensation Committee and the Board of Directors approved an amendment to the SERP, effective January 1, 2004, allowing participants more flexibility in choosing the form of payment of their benefits. The SERP provides for payment of a specified amount to plan beneficiaries or their survivors upon retirement, with early retirement permitted after the participant’s 55th birthday if she or he has been a plan participant for at least five years prior to retirement. Benefits are payable monthly beginning 90 days after retirement, with the amount payable being equal to the total plan account balance for that participant (including interest at a specified fixed rate), divided by 12 months, divided by the number of years over which the participant elects to receive payments, with 15 years being the maximum period over which payout is permitted. If the participant dies prior to commencement of benefits, benefits are paid to the participant’s survivors in equal installments over 15 years unless the Compensation Committee elects to accelerate payment. Finally, certain executive officers are entitled to participate in the Bank’s non-qualified deferred compensation plan, which is intended to provide a source of funds for the future retirement of such executive officers.

 


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     The Company’s performance has, in the Compensation Committee’s opinion, shown the value of this approach. In particular, the Compensation Committee noted continued asset growth, deposit growth, improvement in credit quality, and improved efficiencies for the year 2004 derived from the operation of the Bank’s new imaging system, which the Compensation Committee believes will provide the Company with the technology needed to currently serve and efficiently meet the future needs of Northrim’s customers. The Compensation Committee also noted that the Company has achieved a profit every quarter since the fourth quarter of its first full year in operation.

     Chief Executive Officer Compensation Mr. R. Marc Langland serves as the Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer of Northrim BanCorp, Inc. and Northrim Bank. In evaluating the compensation of Mr. Langland for services rendered in 2004, the Compensation Committee considered both quantitative and qualitative factors.

     In looking at quantitative factors, the Compensation Committee reviewed the Company’s 2004 financial results compared to the Company’s plan and actual results for 2003. Specifically, the Committee considered that: (i) the Company’s total assets; portfolio loans (excluding loans for resale) and total deposits grew by 8%, 13%, and 8%, respectively, from year-end 2003 to year-end 2004 and the Company’s tangible book value per share grew to $12.60 at year-end 2004 compared to $11.29 one year ago; (ii) year-end net income increased 1% from 2003; and (iii) the Company earned $1.71 per diluted share for the year 2004 compared to $1.69 per diluted share one year ago.

     In addition to these quantitative accomplishments, the Compensation Committee also considered certain qualitative accomplishments by Mr. Langland in 2004. Specifically, the Compensation Committee recognized that, due in part to Mr. Langland’s continued efforts, the Company realized a number of its corporate objectives, including the formation of Northrim Funding Services as a division of the Bank based in Bellevue, Washington to provide short-term working capital to customers in Washington State and Oregon by purchasing their accounts receivable; the implementation of technological advances to more efficiently operate the Bank and better serve its customers; as well as the further development of the Company’s strategic plan to deliver a diversified range of non-deposit investment products and investment management services through its subsidiary’s (Northrim Investment Services Company) investment in Elliott Cove Capital Management LLC (“Elliott Cove”) that is expected to attract, broaden, and strengthen customer relationships, as well as provide the opportunity to develop new relationships over the long-term in an increasingly competitive environment; and the purchase of an interest, through its subsidiaries, in an employee benefits business unit to be renamed Northrim Benefits Group to deliver employee benefits products and services to its business communities. The Compensation Committee also recognized Mr. Langland’s vision, extensive community involvement, as well as his leadership in strategically positioning the Company for future significant development in the banking industry and in the Company’s market area, and otherwise developing long-term strategies for the future direction and growth of the organization.

     Based on the foregoing and consistent with the Compensation Committee’s overall compensation philosophy, the Compensation Committee made the following determinations with respect to Mr. Langland’s compensation for 2004. Mr. Langland’s annual salary in 2004 was established at $292,365, and he was awarded an incentive (bonus) payment of $71,040 for 2004 performance. In December 2004, Mr. Langland was also granted a stock option award of 7,182 shares of common stock and 1,197 restricted stock units for his outstanding contributions to the Company’s success.

CONCLUSION

     The Compensation Committee believes that for 2004, the compensation terms for Mr. Langland, as well as for the other executive officers, were clearly related to the realization of the goals and strategies established by Northrim BanCorp, Inc. as well as the performance of the organization as compared with performance of peer companies.

Ronald A. Davis, Chairman
Larry S. Cash
Joseph E. Usibelli

 


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Stock Performance Graph

     The graph shown below depicts the total return to shareholders during the period beginning after December 31, 1999, and ending December 31, 2004. The definition of total return includes appreciation in market value of the stock, as well as the actual cash and stock dividends paid to shareholders. The comparable indices utilized are the Standard & Poor’s 500 Index, which is a nationally recognized index of stock performance by 500 leading companies located in the United States chosen by market size, liquidity, and industry group, the Russell 3000 Index, representing approximately 98% of the U.S. equity market, and the SNL Financial Bank Stock Index, comprised of publicly traded banks with assets of $500 million to $1 billion which are located in the United States. The graph assumes that the value of the investment in the Company’s common stock and each of the three indices was $100 on December 31, 1999, and that all dividends were reinvested.

(PERFORMANCE GRAPH)

                                                 
    Period Ending  
Index   12/31/99     12/31/00     12/31/01     12/31/02     12/31/03     12/31/04  
Northrim BanCorp Inc.
    100.00       109.56       172.77       165.70       287.97       300.39  
S&P500
    100.00       91.20       80.42       62.64       80.62       89.47  
Russell 3000
    100.00       92.54       81.94       64.29       84.25       94.32  
SNL $500M-$1B Bank Index
    100.00       95.72       124.18       158.54       228.61       259.07  

COMPENSATION TABLES

Summary Compensation Table

     The following table sets forth the aggregate compensation for services rendered to the Company in all capacities paid or accrued for the fiscal years ended December 31, 2004, 2003, and 2002, to each person serving as an executive officer of Northrim BanCorp, Inc. and Northrim Bank whose aggregate cash and cash equivalent forms of compensation exceeded $100,000 (“Named Executives”).

 


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                            Long-term        
                            Compensation Awards        
                            Restricted     Securities     All  
Name and Principal   Annual Compensation     Stock     Underlying     Other  
Position   Year     Salary     Bonus     Award(s) ($)(1)     Options (#)(2)     Compensation(3)  
R. Marc Langland,
    2004     $ 292,365     $ 71,040     $ 27,663       7,182     $ 143,002  
Chairman, President,
    2003       282,828       63,250             12,000       165,919  
Chief Executive Officer
    2002       277,776       70,000                   123,349  
Christopher N. Knudson,
    2004       206,451       50,400       14,351       3,724       87,370  
Executive Vice President,
    2003       197,359       43,585             9,500       91,420  
Chief Operating Officer
    2002       193,928       47,000                   59,532  
Victor P. Mollozzi,
    2004       151,222       18,240       5,731       1,490       50,875  
Senior Vice President,
    2003       147,077       21,000             5,000       63,306  
Senior Credit Officer
    2002       144,492       30,600                   40,329  
Joseph M. Schierhorn,
    2004       159,828       37,000       10,654       2,766       47,302  
Senior Vice President,
    2003       134,029       29,000             7,500       17,318  
Chief Financial Officer,
    2002       123,990       30,000                   14,196  
Compliance Manager
                                               
Robert L. Shake,
    2004       154,969       28,224       8,204       2,128       43,807  
Senior Vice President,
    2003       118,615       20,000             7,000       8,651  
Executive Loan Manager
    2002       111,079       13,852                   7,701  

     (1)Represents the grant of stock awards under which Messrs. Langland, Knudson, Mollozzi, Schierhorn, and Shake have the right to receive, subject to vesting, 1,197, 621, 248, 461, and 355 shares, respectively. The stock awards vest after three years, assuming the named executives remain employed by the Company at that time. The values set forth above are based on the closing price of the Company’s stock on the date of grant, December 15, 2004, which was $23.11. The value of the grants to Messrs. Langland, Knudson, Mollozzi, Schierhorn, and Shake at December 31, 2004 were $28,237, $14,649, $5,850, $10,875, and $8,374, respectively, based on the closing price of $23.59 per share. The stock awards are entitled to dividend equivalents.

     (2)As adjusted for stock dividends.

     (3)Includes $16,000, $16,000, $12,056, $13,000 and $10,222 in contributions to the Company’s 401(k) savings plan in 2004 for Messrs. Langland, Knudson, Mollozzi, Schierhorn, and Shake, respectively. Includes $58,500, $29,408, $7,563, $6,667 and $7,500 in contributions to the SERP and $65,730, $41,012, $29,958, $27,172 and $25,639 in contributions to the Company’s Supplemental Executive Retirement Deferred Compensation Plan through payment of annual premiums on variable adjustable life insurance policies in 2004 for Messrs. Langland, Knudson, Mollozzi, Schierhorn, and Shake, respectively. The balance of the 2004 amounts represents term life insurance premiums.

Employment Agreements

     Effective January 1, 2003, the Company adopted amended employment agreements for R. Marc Langland, Christopher N. Knudson, and Victor P. Mollozzi and a new employment agreement with Joseph M. Schierhorn. Effective January 1, 2004 the Company entered into a new employment agreement with Robert L. Shake. Each employment agreement between the Company and the executive will automatically renew for successive one-year terms, unless either party gives notice 90 days prior to the expiration of the term and since no notice was given by either of the parties, the employment agreements between the Company and each of the named executives were renewed for the year 2005 according to the terms defined in the agreements.

     The employment agreements provide for severance payments in the event of termination of the executive by the employer without cause or if the executive leaves the Company for good reason during the term of the agreement. In either event, the Company is required to pay the executive an amount equal to two times the executive’s highest base salary over the prior three years, plus an amount equal to two times the higher of the target bonus or average bonus paid over the prior three years.

 


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     The executives are also entitled to severance payments in certain circumstances following a change of control of the Company. In the case of Langland and Knudson, if the Company is subjected to a Change of Control (as defined in the agreements) and either the Company or its assigns terminates either executive’s employment without cause or, either executive terminates his employment for good reason within two years of the Change of Control, the executive would be paid an amount equal to three times his highest base salary over the prior three years, plus three times the executive’s target bonus or three times average bonus over the prior three years, whichever is greater.

     In the case of Mollozzi, Schierhorn and Shake, if the Company is subjected to a Change of Control and either the Company or its assigns terminates the executive’s employment without cause or, the executive terminates his employment for good reason within two years of the Change of Control, the executive would be entitled to be paid an amount equal to two times his highest base salary over the prior three years, plus two times his target bonus or two times the average of his bonuses over the prior three years, whichever is greater.

     The employment agreements contain an “Excise Tax Gross-Up” provision to ensure that the Company’s executives are treated fairly should there be a Change of Control, in that the value of the severance benefits agreed upon by the Company and the executives would be preserved.

     The employment agreements contain covenants by the executives that they will not compete with the Company for two years (one year in the case of Change of Control) after termination without cause or by the executive for good reason. The severance payments are contingent on the executives agreeing to release the Company from any known or unknown claims and liabilities arising out of the executive’s employment with the Company.

Equity Compensation Plan Information

                         
                    Number of Securities
                    Remaining Available for
    Number of Securities to be           Future Issuance Under
    Issued Upon Exercise of   Weighted-Average Exercise   Equity Compensation Plans
    Outstanding Options,   Price of Outstanding Options,   (Excluding Securities
Plan Category   Warrants and Rights   Warrants and Rights   Reflected in Column (a))
    (a)   (b)   (c)
Equity compensation plans approved by security holders(1)
    405,091 (2)   $ 12.05       250,162 (3)
Total
    405,091     $ 4,881,346.55       250,162  

     (1)The outstanding balance of options was 405,091 (column (a)) with a related weighted average exercise price of $12.05 (column (b)).

     (2)Includes 405,091 outstanding options and 0 incentive shares awarded but not yet delivered.

     (3)Includes 250,162 options available for grant, 0 incentive shares not yet awarded and 0 shares authorized for the Employee Stock Purchase Plan but not yet allocated.

Option Grants in 2004

     The following table sets forth certain information on option grants in 2004 to the Named Executives:

Individual Grants

                                         
    Number of                          
    Securities     Percentage of                    
    Underlying     Total Options                    
    Options     Granted to     Exercise Price Per     Expiration        
Name   Granted(1)     Employees in 2004     Share     Date     Grant Date Value(2)  
R. Marc Langland
    7,182       16.8 %   $ 23.11       12/15/2014     $ 63,992  
Christopher N. Knudson
    3,724       8.7 %   $ 23.11       12/15/2014     $ 33,181  

 


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    Number of                          
    Securities     Percentage of                    
    Underlying     Total Options                    
    Options     Granted to     Exercise Price Per     Expiration        
Name   Granted(1)     Employees in 2004     Share     Date     Grant Date Value(2)  
Victor P. Mollozzi
    1,490       3.5 %   $ 23.11       12/15/2014     $ 13,276  
Joseph M. Schierhorn
    2,766       6.5 %   $ 23.11       12/15/2014     $ 24,645  
Robert L. Shake
    2,128       5.0 %   $ 23.11       12/15/2014     $ 18,960  

     (1) Represents non-qualified and incentive stock options granted on December 15, 2004. Shares vest one-third each year beginning on December 15, 2005, and remain exercisable for 10 years from the date of grant.

     (2) The fair market value of options granted during 2004 is estimated on the date of grant using a qualified binomial option-pricing model with the following weighted-average assumptions: expected dividends of $0.44 per share, risk free rate of 4.09%, and volatility rate of 39.28% for December and expected life of 7.66 years.

Option Exercises in 2004 and Year-End Option Values

     The following table summarizes option exercises by and the value of unexercised options granted to the Named Executives:

                                 
                    Number of        
                    Securities     Value Of  
                    Underlying     Unexercised  
                    Unexercised     In-the-Money  
    Shares             Options     Options  
    Acquired             At 12/31/2004     At 12/31/2004  
    On     Value     (Exercisable/     (Exercisable/  
Name   Exercise     Realized     Unexercisable)(1)     Unexercisable)(2)  
R. Marc Langland
    28,801     $ 548,806       69,814/15,182     $ 943,633/$80,167  
Christopher N. Knudson
    20,682     $ 302,743       38,851/10,057     $ 516,922/$62,515  
Victor P. Mollozzi
                32,367/ 4,823     $ 469,665/$32,679  
Joseph M. Schierhorn
    3,677     $ 60,530       23,707/ 7,766     $ 323,005/$49,278  
Robert L. Shake
                17,817/ 6,795     $ 230,409/$45,778  

     (1)As adjusted for stock splits.

     (2) In accordance with applicable rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission, values are calculated by subtracting the exercise price from the fair market value of the underlying stock. For purposes of this table, fair market value is deemed to be $23.59, the last sale price of the Company’s common stock reported on the Nasdaq National Market on December 31, 2004.

SECTION 16(a) BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP REPORTING COMPLIANCE

     Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 requires the Company’s directors and executive officers to send reports of their ownership of the Company’s stock to the Securities and Exchange Commission. The Company believes that all Section 16(a) filing requirements that apply to its directors and executive officers were complied with for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2004, with the exception of Ronald A. Davis whose Form 4 for one transaction in July 2004 was inadvertently filed late.

INTEREST OF MANAGEMENT IN CERTAIN TRANSACTIONS

     During 2004, certain directors and executive officers of the Company and the Bank and/or their associates were also customers of the Bank. It is anticipated that directors, executive officers, and their associates will continue to be customers of the Bank in the future. All transactions between the Bank and directors, executive officers, and their associates were made in the ordinary course of business on substantially the same terms, including interest rates and collateral, as those prevailing at the time

 


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for comparable transactions with other persons, and in the opinion of management did not involve more than the normal risk of collectibility or present other unfavorable features. At December 31, 2004, the Bank had outstanding $3.1 million in loans to directors, and their related interests. The Bank’s unfunded loan commitments to these directors and their related interests at December 31, 2004, were $2.5 million.

     In April 2000, with approval of the majority of the Company’s independent directors, the Bank renegotiated and extended to 2013 its lease for approximately 30,000 square feet of office space in the 3111 C Street building in Anchorage, Alaska, for its headquarters. The building is owned by the ARC Partnership, which includes Mr. Danner, a director, among its partners. Under the terms of its existing lease, the Bank as lessee, paid $810,100 in rental payments to the partnership in 2004.

SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT

     The following table sets forth certain information concerning the beneficial ownership of the Company’s common stock as of March 1, 2005, by (i) each director and nominee for director of the Company; (ii) the Named Executives; (iii) all executive officers and directors of the Company as a group; and (iv) persons known to management to beneficially own more than 5% of the outstanding common stock (as adjusted for dividends):

                 
Name and Address of   Amount and Nature of        
Beneficial Owner(1)   Beneficial Ownership(2)     Percent of Class(3)  
R. Marc Langland
    153,673 (4)     2.5 %
Larry S. Cash
    2,174 (5)      
Mark G. Copeland
    12,191        
Frank A. Danner
    22,378 (6)      
Ronald A. Davis
    6,749        
Anthony Drabek
    2,114        
Christopher N. Knudson
    66,462 (7)     1.1  
Richard L. Lowell
    15,200        
Irene Sparks Rowan
    3,001        
John C. Swalling
    2,320 (8)      
Joseph E. Usibelli
    104,400       1.7  
Victor P. Mollozzi
    60,808 (9)     1.0  
Joseph M. Schierhorn
    30,177 (10)      
Robert L. Shake
    18,860 (11)      
All executive officers and directors as a group (14 persons)
    500,507       8.0  
Dalton, Greiner, Hartman, Maher & Co.
565 Fifth Avenue
New York, NY 10017
    445,471 (12)     7.3  
Wedbush Inc.
1000 Wilshire Boulevard
Los Angeles, CA 90017
    342,450 (13)     5.6  

 


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     (1)Unless otherwise provided, the address for all directors and executive officers of the Company is 3111 C Street, Anchorage, Alaska 99503.

     (2)Unless otherwise indicated, parties named exercise sole voting and investment power over the shares, subject to community property laws (where applicable).

     (3)Where beneficial ownership is less than 1% of all outstanding shares, the percentage is not reflected in the table. The percentages shown are based on the number of shares of common stock deemed to be outstanding under applicable regulations as of the date specified (including options held by such persons exercisable within 60 days).

     (4)Includes 69,814 shares which Mr. Langland has the option to purchase within 60 days of the date of this table.

     (5)Includes 854 shares held in trust for Mr. Cash’s children.

     (6)Includes 1,248 shares owned by Mr. Danner’s spouse and 3,693 shares owned by IMEX, Ltd., a real estate firm owned primarily by Mr. Danner’s spouse, as to which Mr. Danner disclaims beneficial ownership.

     (7)Includes 38,851 shares which Mr. Knudson has the option to purchase within 60 days of the date of this table and 399 shares held in trust for Mr. Knudson’s children.

     (8)Includes 1,470 shares beneficially owned by a limited liability company in which Mr. Swalling shares voting and dispositive power over such shares, which are held of record by its members, as to which Mr. Swalling disclaims beneficial ownership.

     (9)Includes 32,367 shares which Mr. Mollozzi has the option to purchase within 60 days of the date of this table.

     (10)Includes 23,707 shares which Mr. Schierhorn has the option to purchase within 60 days of the date of this table and 692 shares held in trust for Mr. Schierhorn’s children.

     (11)Includes 17,817 shares which Mr. Shake has the option to purchase within 60 days of the date of this table.

     (12)Dalton, Greiner, Hartman, Maher & Co., in its capacity as investment adviser, may be deemed to beneficially own 445,471 shares with shared voting and/or dispositive power over such shares which are held of record by its clients and disclaims any pecuniary interest.

     (13)Includes 77,171 shares held by Edward W. Wedbush, Chairman of Wedbush Inc., and 239,124 shares held by Wedbush Inc. as to which Mr. Wedbush disclaims beneficial ownership.

RELATIONSHIP WITH INDEPENDENT PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS

     The accounting firm of KPMG LLP (“KPMG”) has been engaged as the Company’s independent certified public accountant for the current year. KPMG performed the audit of the financial statements for the Company for the year ended December 31, 2004. Representatives of KPMG are expected to be present at the meeting and will have the opportunity to make a statement if they so desire. They also will be available to respond to appropriate questions.

Fees Billed By KPMG During Fiscal Years 2004 and 2003

     The following table itemizes fees billed the Company by KPMG for professional services to include the audit of the Company’s annual financial statements and internal control over financial reporting for fiscal 2004 and annual financial statements for fiscal 2003:

                 
    2004     2003  
Audit fees:
  $ 233,612     $ 129,000  
Audit related fees:
               
Audit of 401-k Plan
    12,750       12,000  
Other accounting services
           
Tax fees:
               
Tax return preparation
    36,685       36,150  
Assistance with IRS examination
          40,700  
Other tax consultation
           
All other fees:
          28,766  
 
  $ 283,047     $ 246,616  

 


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     The Company requires that all non-audit services rendered to the Company by KPMG be approved by the Audit Committee. The Audit Committee has delegated to its chairman the authority to address requests for pre-approval of services in an amount up to an aggregate of $25,000 and the chairman must report any pre-approval decisions to the Audit Committee at its next scheduled meeting. In all cases, the Committee considers whether the provision of such services would impair the independence of the Company’s auditors.

REPORT OF THE AUDIT COMMITTEE

     The following report of the Audit Committee is made pursuant to the rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the listing standards of the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. (the “NASD”). This report shall not be deemed incorporated by reference by any general statement incorporating by reference this proxy statement into any filing under the Securities Act or the Exchange Act, except to the extent that the Company specifically incorporates this information by reference, and shall not otherwise be deemed filed under such acts.

     The Audit Committee Charter of the Company and its subsidiaries specifies that the purpose of the Committee is to assist the Board in its oversight of:

  •   The integrity of the Company’s financial reporting process and financial statements and systems of internal controls;
 
  •   The Company’s accounting practices and internal controls;
 
  •   The independent auditor’s qualifications, independence and performance; and
 
  •   The performance of the Company’s internal audit function.

     The Audit Committee has reviewed and discussed the audited financial statements of the Company for the year ended December 31, 2004 with the Company’s management and has discussed with KPMG the matters required to be discussed by Statement on Auditing Standards No. 61 (Communications with Audit Committees). The Audit Committee discussed with the Company’s internal and independent auditors the overall scope and plans for their respective audits. The Audit Committee meets with the internal and independent auditors, with and without management present, to discuss the results of their examinations, the evaluations of the Company’s internal controls, and the overall quality of the Company’s financial reporting.

     The Audit Committee has received the written disclosures and the letter from the independent accountants required by Independence Standards Board Standard No. 1 (Independence Standards Board Standards No. 1, Independence Discussions with Audit Committees), as may be modified or supplemented, and has discussed with the independent accountant the independent accountant’s independence.

     Based on the review and discussions referred to above, the Audit Committee recommended to the Board of Directors that the audited financial statements for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2004, be included in the Company’s Annual Report—10-K for that year, for filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

     The Audit Committee does not believe the non-audit services provided by KPMG LLP called into question KPMG LLP’s independence.

Respectfully submitted by:

Audit Committee:
Mark G. Copeland, Chairman
Anthony Drabek
Richard L. Lowell

INFORMATION CONCERNING SHAREHOLDER PROPOSALS

     A shareholder proposing to transact business at the Company’s 2006 Annual Shareholders’ Meeting must provide notice of such proposal to the Company no later than January 30, 2006. For shareholder proposals to be considered for inclusion in the Company’s proxy statement and form of proxy relating to its Annual Shareholders’ Meeting, such proposals must be received by the Company no later than November 16, 2005. If the Company receives notice of a shareholder proposal after January 30, 2006,

 


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the persons named as proxies in the proxy statement and/or form of proxy will have discretionary authority to vote on such shareholder proposal.

2004 REPORT TO SHAREHOLDERS AND ANNUAL REPORT—10-K

     The Company’s 2004 Report to Shareholders (which is not part of the Company’s proxy soliciting materials), and 2004 Annual Report—10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2004, accompanies this proxy statement. Additional copies will be furnished to shareholders upon request to: Corporate Secretary, Northrim Bank, P.O. Box 241489, Anchorage, Alaska 99524-1489, or by telephone to (907) 562-0062, by fax to (907) 562-1758, or by e-mail to investors@nrim.com.

OTHER MATTERS

     The Board of Directors knows of no other matters to be brought before the meeting. However, if other matters should properly come before the meeting, it is the intention of the persons named in the proxy to vote the proxy in accordance with the recommendations of management on such matters.

     WE URGE YOU TO SIGN AND RETURN THE ENCLOSED PROXY AS PROMPTLY AS POSSIBLE — WHETHER OR NOT YOU PLAN TO ATTEND THE MEETING IN PERSON. IF YOU ATTEND THE MEETING, YOU MAY THEN WITHDRAW YOUR PROXY AND VOTE AT THE MEETING, IF YOU WISH. THE PROXY MAY BE REVOKED AT ANY TIME PRIOR TO ITS EXERCISE.

 


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(NORTHRIM BANCORP, INC. LOGO)   VOTE BY MAIL-
Mark, sign, and date your proxy card and return it in the postage-paid envelope we’ve provided or return to Northrim BanCorp, Inc., c/o ADP, 51 Mercedes Way, Edgewood, NY 11717
3111 C STREET
ANCHORAGE, AK 99503
 

      







TO VOTE, MARK BLOCKS BELOW IN BLUE OR BLACK INK AS FOLLOWS:   KEEP THIS PORTION FOR YOUR RECORDS
 
THIS PROXY CARD IS VALID ONLY WHEN SIGNED AND DATED. DETACH AND RETURN THIS PORTION ONLY.

NORTHRIM BANCORP, INC.

     
ELECTION OF DIRECTORS. To elect eleven (11) directors for a term of one year or until their successors have been elected and qualified.
 
   
1.
  01) R. Marc Langland, 02) Larry S. Cash, 03) Mark G. Copeland,
 
  04) Frank A. Danner, 05) Ronald A. Davis, 06) Anthony Drabek,
 
  07) Christopher N. Knudson, 08) Richard L. Lowell,
 
  09) Irene Sparks Rowan, 10) John C. Swalling, 11) Joseph E. Usibelli
         
For
All
  Withhold
All
  For All
Except
 
       
o
  o   o
     
To withhold authority to vote, mark “For All Except” and write the nominee’s number on the line below.
 
   
 


     
2.
  In their discretion, upon such other business as may properly come before the Annual Meeting or any adjournment or postponement thereof.
 
   
 
   
THIS PROXY, WHEN PROPERLY EXECUTED, WILL BE VOTED AS SPECIFIED ABOVE. IF NO DIRECTION IS MADE, THIS PROXY WILL BE VOTED “FOR” THE ELECTION OF THE NOMINEES FOR DIRECTOR LISTED ABOVE.
 
   
 
   
Note: Signature(s) should agree with name(s) on Northrim stock certificate(s). Executors, administrators, trustees and other fiduciaries, and persons signing on behalf of corporations or partnerships, should so indicate when signing. All joint owners must sign.
           
           
Signature (PLEASE SIGN WITHIN BOX)
Date   Signature (Joint Owners) Date  

 


Table of Contents

 

NORTHRIM BANCORP, INC.

PROXY FOR ANNUAL SHAREHOLDERS’ MEETING
May 5, 2005

THIS PROXY IS SOLICITED ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF
NORTHRIM BANCORP, INC.

PLEASE SIGN AND RETURN IMMEDIATELY

     The undersigned shareholder of NORTHRIM BANCORP, INC. (the “Company”) hereby nominates, constitutes and appoints R. Marc Langland and Christopher N. Knudson, and each of them (with full power to act alone), the true and lawful attorneys and proxies, each with full power of substitution, for me and in my name, place and stead, to act and vote all the common stock of the Company standing in my name and on its books on March 9, 2005, at the Annual Shareholders’ Meeting to be held at the Hilton Anchorage Hotel, Anchorage, Alaska, on May 5, 2005, at 9A.M., and at any adjournment or postponement thereof, with all the powers the undersigned would possess if personally present, as outlined on the reverse side of this card.

     Management knows of no other matters that may properly be, or which are likely to be, brought before the Annual Meeting. However, if any other matters are properly presented at the Annual Meeting, this Proxy will be voted in accordance with the recommendations of management.

     The undersigned hereby acknowledges receipt of notice for the Annual Shareholders’ Meeting on May 5, 2005, and the accompanying documents forwarded therewith, and ratifies all lawful action taken by the above-named attorneys and proxies.