Chelle Davis

"She has taken time to really understand our beneficial waste management business and has also invested in our family on a personal level. She is the heart of what it means to be part of a small town and farming community."
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Chelle Davis, Vice President, Branch Manager & Senior Commercial Loan Officer, Citizens Bank, Lebanon/Albany

For more than three decades in banking — and over 21 years at Citizens Bank — Chelle Davis has built her career around one core belief: community banks thrive when their customers and employees thrive. As Branch Manager for both Lebanon and West Albany and a Senior Commercial Loan Officer specializing in agricultural lending, she wears many hats. But whether she’s supporting her staff, structuring loans or meeting a customer in a field to sign paperwork, her philosophy is simple: lead with honesty, hard work and open communication.

“I consider myself a relationship officer,” she says. “I’ve known most of my customers for many years and have watched them grow businesses, families and futures. What I enjoy most is seeing people succeed.”

One business that highlights her approach is Horner Enterprises, Inc., a Sweet Home-based waste management company owned by Jay and Kellie Horner. For more than 20 years, Citizens Bank has supported the Horners as they expanded operations, weathered setbacks, and positioned their children to carry the business forward.
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The road hasn’t always been smooth. Some jobs promised growth but required equipment purchases that didn’t always pay off as expected. In those times, the Horners scaled back, regrouped, and pressed on. Chelle stood beside them, helping with equipment loans, lines of credit, and, just as importantly, serving as a sounding board.

“I’ve always tried to make banking a positive experience for Jay and Kellie,” she says. “We’ve signed documents in the field, discussed budgets, and reviewed opportunities together. My goal is that when they come to the bank for support, they feel confident I’ll do my best to help and provide honest guidance — even if the right answer is sometimes no.”

Her dedication goes beyond typical banking hours or locations. Whether meeting early mornings, late evenings, or wherever it’s convenient for the Horners, she ensures the business keeps moving smoothly. That personal touch has helped Horner Enterprises grow steadily, creating local jobs and welcoming the couple’s children into the business with an eye toward the next generation of ownership.

Jay and Kellie say the difference has been clear:

“Chelle has a great knowledge of agricultural businesses, and it has been a privilege to work with her over our 21-year relationship with Citizens Bank. She has taken time to really understand our beneficial waste management business and has also invested in our family on a personal level. She is the heart of what it means to be part of a small town and farming community. Her belief in our business and our vision for it has been a tremendous help aiding in our success.”

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Chelle with Jay and Kellie Horner, owners of Sweet Home–based waste management company Horner Enterprises, Inc.

Beyond her work with customers, Chelle is deeply woven into her community. She currently serves on the Lebanon Chamber of Commerce Board, the Lebanon Strawberry Festival Committee, SafeHaven Humane Society and the Agricultural Research Foundation. She has also held leadership roles with Oregon Women for Agriculture, the Oregon Seed Growers League and Soroptimist International of Albany, among others. Her long history of volunteer leadership reflects the same values she brings to banking: open communication, concern for people, teamwork and pride.

Rooted in her own upbringing on a family farm in Shedd, she sees her role as an extension of the close-knit community she grew up in. “I want my fellow neighbors to be successful, which then helps others in our local communities,” she says. “Early in my career, I realized I most enjoyed helping small businesses and agricultural communities — they’re the heart and soul of our towns, showing up when work needs to be done and supporting others in times of hardship.”