As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on December 20, 2006

Registration Nos. 333-________


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

FORM S-3
REGISTRATION STATEMENT
UNDER
THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933

As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on October 23, 2006

Registration Statement No. 333-______

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

FORM S-3

REGISTRATION STATEMENT
UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933

BANNER CORPORATION


(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 
Washington91-1691604

(State or other jurisdiction of
incorporation or organization)
91-1691604
(I.R.S. Employer
Identification No.)

10 S.South First Avenue
Walla Walla, Washington 99362
(509) 527-3636

(Address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code, of registrant's principal executive offices)

 

Albert H. Marshall,
Vice President
Banner Corporation
10 S.South First Avenue
Walla Walla, Washington 99362
(509) 526-8894

527-3636
(Name, address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code, of agent for service)


CopiesCopy of communications to:

John F. Breyer, Jr., EsquireEsq.
Breyer & Associates PC
8180 Greensboro Drive, Suite 785
McLean, Virginia 22102
(703) 883-1100


(703) 883-2911 (fax)
Dave M. Muchnikoff, P.C.
Craig M. Scheer, P.C.
Silver, Freedman & Taff, L.L.P.
1700 Wisconsin Avenue, N.W.
Washington, D.C. 20007
(202) 295-4500
(202) 337-5502 (fax)

Approximate date of commencement of proposed sale to the public: >From From time to time after the effective date of this registration statement becomes effective, subject toRegistration Statement, as determined by market conditions and other factors.

If the only securities being registered on this Form are being offered pursuant to dividend or interest reinvestment plans, please check the following box:
9box. [__]

If any of the securities being registered on this Form are to be offered on a delayed or continuous basis pursuant to Rule 415 under the Securities Act of 1933, other than securities offered only in connection with dividend or interest reinvestment plans, check the following box:
:box. [X]

If this Form is filed to register additional securities for an offering pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act, please check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering:
9

<PAGE>offering.[__]

If this Form is a post-effective amendment filed pursuant to Rule 462(c) under the Securities Act, check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering:9offering. [__]

If this Form is a registration statement pursuant to General Instruction I.D. or a post-effective amendment thereto that shall become effective upon filing with the Commission pursuant to Rule 462(e) under the Securities Act, check the following box.
9 [__]

If this Form is a post-effective amendment to a registration statement filed pursuant to General Instruction I.D. filed to register additional securities or additional classes of securities pursuant to Rule 413(b) under the Securities Act, check the following box. [__]

9CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE


TITLE OF EACH CLASS OF
SECURITIES TO BE REGISTERED
AMOUNT
TO BE
REGISTERED(1)
PROPOSED
MAXIMUM
OFFERING PRICE
PER UNIT(1)(2)
PROPOSED
MAXIMUM
AGGREGATE
OFFERING PRICE(1)(2)
AMOUNT OF
REGISTRATION FEE(3)
 
    Debt Securities(4)
    Common Stock(5)
    Preferred Stock(6)
    Warrants(7)
    Units(8)
        Total

$100,000,000

100%

$100,000,000

$10,700


CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE(1)


In no event will the aggregate initial offering price of all securities issued exceed $100,000,000. The registered securities may be offered for U.S. dollars or the equivalent thereof in foreign currencies, currency units or composite currencies. The registered securities may be sold separately, together or as units with other registered securities.
Title of(2)Certain information as to each class of securities to be registered is not specified, in accordance with General Instruction II.D. to Form S-3 under the Securities Act.
(3)  Amount to be registered  
Proposed maximum offering price per unit 
ProposedThe proposed maximum aggregate offering price
Amount of
has been estimated solely to calculate the registration fee under Rule 457(o) of the Securities Act. The proposed maximum aggregate offering price, with respect to debt securities, is calculated excluding accrued interest and accrued amortization of discount, if any, to the date of delivery.

Common stock,
$.01 par value per share(4)

1,000,000Subject to note (1) above, we are registering an indeterminate principal amount of debt securities (which may be senior or subordinated). If any debt securities are issued at an original issue discount, then the offering price may be increased to the extent not to exceed the proposed maximum aggregate offering price less the dollar amount of any securities previously issued. Also, in addition to any debt securities that may be issued directly under this registration statement, we are registering an indeterminate amount of debt securities as may be issued upon the conversion or exchange of other debt securities or preferred stock, for which no consideration will be received by us, or upon exercise of warrants registered hereby.
(1)(5)
  $41.975(2)
$41,975,000.00
$4,492.00  
Subject to note (1)Together with above, we are registering an indeterminate number of additional shares which may be necessary to adjust theof common stock. We are also registering an indeterminate number of shares reserved for issuance pursuant to the Banner Corporation Dividend Reinvestment and Direct Stock Purchase and Sale Plan as a result of a stock split, stock dividend or similar adjustment of the outstanding common stock of the Registrant.
(2)Estimated in accordance with Rule 457(c), calculated on the basis of $41.975 per share, the average of the high and low share prices of the Registrant's common stock on the Nasdaq Global Select Market on October 19, 2006.        

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PROSPECTUS

BANNER CORPORATION
DIVIDEND REINVESTMENT AND DIRECT STOCK PURCHASE AND SALE PLAN

1,000,000 Shares of Common Stock, Par Value $.01 Per Share

         We are offering you the opportunity to participate in our Dividend Reinvestment and Direct Stock Purchase and Sale Plan. This prospectus describes and constitutes the Plan. Please read this prospectus carefully and keep it for future reference. Participation in this Plan is entirely voluntary and you can discontinue your participation at any time. Details of the Plan, including information on Computershare Trust Company, N.A., the Plan Administrator, are provided in this prospectus.

PLAN HIGHLIGHTS
  • If you are an existing shareholder, you may purchase additional shares of our common stock by reinvesting all or a portion of the cash dividends paid on your shares of common stock and by making optional cash paymentsas may be issuable upon conversion of not less than $50 and up to a maximumthe debt securities or the preferred stock or upon exercise of $40,000 per month. We may permit optional cash payments in excess of this maximum in some instances.

    warrants registered hereby.
    (6)Subject to note (1) above, we are registering an indeterminate number of shares of preferred stock as may be sold from time to time by us. We are also registering an indeterminate number of shares of preferred stock as shall be issuable upon exercise of warrants registered hereby. In addition, we are also registering such indeterminate number of shares of preferred stock, for which no consideration will be received by us, as may be issued upon conversion or exchange of debt securities of the Company.
  • (7)

    You may participate in the Plan regardlessSubject to note (1) above, we are registering an indeterminate number of whether you hold yourwarrants representing rights to purchase debt securities, shares directly,of common stock or they are held by a bank, broker or other nominee.

    preferred stock registered hereby.
    (8)
  • If youSubject to note (1) above, we are a new investor, you may join the Plan by makingregistering an initial investmentindeterminable number of not less than $250 and up to a maximumunits, which will be comprised of $40,000. We may permit initial investments in excess of this maximum in some instances.

  • As a participant in the Plan, you may authorize electronic deductions from your bank account for optional cash payments.

  • We may offer discounts ranging from 0% to 5% on dividend reinvestments and optional and initial cash investments. At our discretion, the discount may be offered at variable rates on one, alltwo or a combinationmore of the sources of investments, or not at all.

    securities registered hereby in any combination.

    _____________________

    The Registrant hereby amends this Registration Statement on such date or dates as may be necessary to delay its effective date until the Registrant shall file a further amendment which specifically states that this Registration Statement shall thereafter become effective in accordance with Section 8(a) of the Securities Act of 1933 or until the Registration Statement shall become effective on such date as the Commission, acting pursuant to said Section 8(a), may determine.


    PROSPECTUS

    $100,000,000

    [INSERT BANNER CORPORATION LOGO]

    Banner Corporation

    Debt Securities
    Common Stock
    Preferred Stock
    Warrants
    Units



              We may offer and sell from time to time, in one or more series, our debt securities, which may consist of notes, debentures, or other evidences of indebtedness, shares of our common stock or preferred stock, warrants representing rights to purchase these securities and units comprised of two or more of these securities in any combination. The debt securities and preferred stock may be convertible into or exchangeable for other securities of ours. This prospectus provides you with a general description of these securities. Each time we offer any securities pursuant to this prospectus, we will provide you with a prospectus supplement, and, if necessary, a pricing supplement, that will describe the specific amounts, prices and terms of the securities being offered. These supplements may also add, update or change information contained in this prospectus. To understand the terms of the securities offered, you should carefully read this prospectus with the applicable supplements, which together provide the specific terms of the securities we are offering.

              Our shares of common stock are quotedis traded on the Nasdaq Global Select Market under the symbol BANR. The last reported sales price of our common stock on October 19, 2006 was $41.58. Our executive offices are located at 10 S. First Avenue, Walla Walla, Washington 99362. You can also contact us by telephone at 1-509-527-3636, or through our website atwww.bannerbank.com. The information on our website is not part of this prospectus. Unless specifically noted otherwise in this prospectus, all references to “we,” “us,” “our,” or the “Company” refer to Banner Corporation and its subsidiaries."BANR."

              Investing in our shares of common stock involves risks. You should consider certain risk factors before enrolling in the Plan. See “Risk Factors” beginning on page 1 of this prospectus and the documents incorporated herein by reference for more information. We suggest you retain this prospectus for future reference.

             Shares of our common stockThese securities are not savingsdeposits or deposit accounts or other obligations of any of oura bank or non-bank subsidiaries,savings association and they are not insured or guaranteed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation the Deposit Insurance Fund or any other governmental agency.

              This prospectus may be used to offer and sell securities only if accompanied by the prospectus supplement for those securities.

    Neither the Securities and Exchange Commission nor any state securities commission has approved or disapproved of these securities or passed upondetermined that this prospectus or the accuracyaccompanying prospectus supplement is accurate or adequacy of this prospectus.complete. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.


    The date of this prospectus is October 23, 2006.________ __, 2007


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    TABLE OF CONTENTS



     Page  
    FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS    ii    
    OUR BUSINESS 1
    RISK FACTORS 1
    THE PLAN 6 
    What is the Plan? 6 
    What features does the Plan offer?7
    Who is the Plan Administrator and what does the Plan Administrator do? 7 
    How do I contact the Plan Administrator? 8
    Are there fees associated with participation in the Plan?   8 
    How do I purchase shares if I am not currently a Banner shareholder? 9
    How do I purchase additional shares if I am already a Banner shareholder?  9  
    How do I make cash investments in excess of $40,000?  10   
    How do I enroll to have my cash dividends reinvested?10   
    Must I reinvest dividends? 11   
    What is the price I will pay for shares for reinvested dividends and cash investments under $40,000?  11  
    What is the investment date for reinvested dividends and cash investments under $40,000?12  
    What is the price I will pay and what will be the investment date for cash investments over $40,000? 12  
    How do I keep track of the transactions in my account?    13   
    What is safekeeping of certificates and how do I submit my certificates?  14  
    How do I withdraw shares held in my Plan account?14  
    How do I transfer shares to another person?14  
    How do I sell shares held in my account? 14  
    How do I close my account? 15   
    Additional Information Regarding the Plan 15  
    Limitation of Liability16
    USE OF PROCEEDS  16  
    CERTAIN FEDERAL INCOME TAX CONSEQUENCES16
    Tax Consequences of Dividend Reinvestment  17
    Tax Consequences of Optional Cash Payments   17  
    Tax Consequences of Dispositions   18
    Backup Withholding and Information Reporting 18
    PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION18
    WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION 19
    INCORPORATION OF CERTAIN DOCUMENTS BY REFERENCE19
    DESCRIPTION OF SECURITIES20
    EXPERTS   21   
    SIGNATURES 21

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    <PAGE>                

    IMPORTANT NOTICE ABOUT INFORMATION PRESENTED IN THIS PROSPECTUS
    AND THE ACCOMPANYING PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT

              
        You should rely only onWe may provide information to you about the information containedsecurities we are offering in three separate documents that progressively provide more detail:
    • this prospectus, anywhich provides general information, some of which may not apply to your securities;
    • the accompanying prospectus supplement, which describes the terms of the securities, some of which may not apply to your securities; and
    • if necessary, a pricing supplement, which describes the specific terms of your securities.
              If the terms of your securities vary among the pricing supplement, the prospectus supplement and the documentsaccompanying prospectus, you should rely on the information in the following order of priority:
    • the pricing supplement, if any;
    • the prospectus supplement; and
    • the prospectus.
              We include cross-references in this prospectus and the accompanying prospectus supplement to captions in these materials where you can find further related discussions. The following table of contents and the table of contents included in the accompanying prospectus supplement provide the pages on which these captions are located.

              Unless indicated in the applicable prospectus supplement, we have incorporated by reference. We will disclosenot taken any material changesaction that would permit us to publicly sell these securities in our affairs inany jurisdiction outside the United States. If you are an amendmentinvestor outside the United States, you should inform yourself about and comply with any restrictions as to the offering of the securities and the distribution of this prospectus.









    TABLE OF CONTENTS


    Page
    Important Notice About Information Presented in This Prospectus and the Accompanying Prospectus Supplement2
    About This Prospectus4
    Where You Can Find More Information4
    Special Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements6
    Banner Corporation8
    Consolidated Ratios of Earnings to Fixed Charges8
    Use of Proceeds9
    Regulation and Supervision9
    Description of the Securities10
    Description of Debt Securities10
    Description of Common Stock and Preferred Stock25
    Description of Warrants32
    Description of Units32
    Plan of Distribution33
    Legal Opinion34
    Experts34










    ABOUT THIS PROSPECTUS

              This prospectus is part of a prospectus supplement or a future filingregistration statement that we filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, or the "SEC," utilizing a "shelf" registration process. Under this shelf registration process, we may from time to time offer and sell the securities described in this prospectus in one or more offerings, up to a total dollar amount for all offerings of $100,000,000. This prospectus provides you with a general description of the securities covered by it. Each time we offer these securities, we will provide a prospectus supplement that will contain specific information about the terms of the offer and include a discussion of any risk factors or other special considerations that apply to the securities. The prospectus supplement may also add, update or change information contained in this prospectus. You should read this prospectus, the applicable prospectus supplement and any pricing supplement together with the additional information described under the heading "Where You Can Find More Information."

              Unless otherwise indicated or unless the context requires otherwise, all references in this prospectus to "Banner Corporation," the "Company," "we," "us," "our" or similar references mean Banner Corporation and references to the "Bank" mean Banner Bank.

    WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION

              We have filed with the SEC a registration statement under the Securities Act of 1933, or the "Securities Act," that registers the offer and sale of the securities that we may offer under this prospectus. The registration statement, including the attached exhibits and schedules included or incorporated by reference in the registration statement, contains additional relevant information about us. The rules and regulations of the SEC allow us to omit certain information included in the registration statement from this prospectus. In addition, we file reports, proxy statements and other information with the SEC under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, or the "Exchange Act."

              You may read and copy this information at the Public Reference Room of the SEC, located at 100 F Street, N.E., Room 1580, Washington, D.C. 20549. You may also obtain copies of this information by mail from the Public Reference Room at prescribed rates. You may obtain information on the operation of the Public Reference Room by calling the SEC at 1-800-SEC-0330.

              The SEC also maintains an Internet world wide web site that contains reports, proxy statements and other information about issuers like us who file electronically with the SEC. The address of that site is:

    http://www.sec.gov

              The SEC allows us to "incorporate by reference" information into this prospectus. This means that we can disclose important information to you by referring you to another document that we file separately with the SEC. The information incorporated by reference is considered to be a part of this prospectus, except for any information that is superseded by information that is included directly in this document or in a more recent incorporated document.



              This prospectus incorporates by reference the documents listed below that we have previously filed with the SEC.

    SEC FilingsPeriod or Filing Date (as applicable)
    Annual Report on Form 10-KYear ended December 31, 2005
    Quarterly Report on Form 10-QQuarter ended March 31, 2006
    Quarterly Report on Form 10-QQuarter ended June 30, 2006
    Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q Quarter ended September 30, 2006
    Current Reports on Form 8-KJune 7, 2006, June 19, 2006, July 19, 2006, December 12, 2006 (two reports) and December 19, 2006 (two reports)
              This prospectus also incorporates by reference the description of our common stock set forth in the registration statement on Form 8-A (No. 0-26584) filed on August 8, 1995 and any amendment or report filed with the SEC for the purpose of updating such description.

              In addition, we incorporate by reference all future documents that we file with the SEC under Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act after the date of our initial registration statement relating to the securities until the completion of the offering of the securities covered by this prospectus or until we terminate this offering. These documents include periodic reports, such as annual reports on Form 10-K, quarterly reports on Form 10-Q and current reports on Form 8-K (other than current reports furnished under Items 2.02 or 7.01 of Form 8-K), as well as proxy statements.

              The information incorporated by reference contains information about us and our business, financial condition and results of operations and is an important part of this prospectus.

              You can obtain any of the documents incorporated by reference in this prospectus. No person has beendocument through us, or from the SEC through the SEC's Internet world wide web site at www.sec.gov. Documents incorporated by reference are available from us without charge, excluding any exhibits to those documents, unless the exhibit is specifically incorporated by reference in those documents. You can obtain documents incorporated by reference in this prospectus by requesting them in writing or by telephone from us at the following address:

                                               Banner Corporation
                                               Attention: Albert H. Marshall
                                               10 South First Avenue
                                               Walla Walla, Washington 99362
                                               509-526-8894

              In addition, we maintain a corporate website, www.bannerbank.com. We make available, through our website, our annual reports on Form 10-K, quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, current reports on Form 8-K, and any amendments to those reports filed or furnished pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Exchange Act as soon as reasonably practicable after we

    electronically file such material with, or furnish it to, the SEC. This reference to our website is for the convenience of investors as required by the SEC and shall not be deemed to incorporate any information on the website into this registration statement.

              We have not authorized anyone to give any information or to make any representations other thanrepresentation about us that is different from, or in addition to, those contained or incorporated in this prospectus and, if given or made, suchin any of the materials that we have incorporated into this prospectus. If anyone does give you information or representations mustof this sort, you should not be relied upon as having been authorized. This prospectus does not constitute an offerrely on it. If you are in a jurisdiction where offers to sell, or solicitations of offers to purchase, the securities offered by this document are unlawful, or if you are a solicitationperson to whom it is unlawful to direct these types of anactivities, then the offer to sell or to buy any securities other than those to which it relates, or an offer or solicitation with respect to those securities to which it relates to any personspresented in any jurisdiction where such offer or solicitation would be unlawful. The delivery of t his prospectus at any timethis document does not imply thatextend to you. The information contained in this document speaks only as of the date of this document unless the information contained or incorporated herein at itsspecifically indicates that another date is correct as of any time subsequent to its date.

    applies.

    SPECIAL NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS


              This prospectus, the applicable prospectus supplements and the other documents incorporated hereinwe incorporate by reference contain certain “forward-looking statements” concerningin this prospectus, may include forward-looking statements within the future operationsmeaning of Banner Corporation. Management desires to take advantageSection 27A of the “safe harbor” provisionsSecurities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Private Securities Litigation ReformExchange Act of 19951934.

              Forward-looking statements, which are based on certain assumptions and is including this statement for the express purpose of availing Bannerdescribe our future goals, plans, strategies, and expectations, are generally identified by use of the protections ofwords "anticipate," "believe," "estimate," "expect," "intend," "plan," "project," "seek," "strive," "try," or future or conditional verbs such safe harbor with respect to all “forward-looking statements” contained herein and in the documents incorporated by reference. We have used “forward-looking statements” to describe future plans and strategies, including our expectations of Banner's future financial results. Management'sas "will," "would," "should," "could," "may," or similar expressions. Our ability to predict results or the effectactual effects of futureour plans or strategies is inherently uncertain. Factors whichAlthough we believe that our plans, intentions and expectations, as reflected in these forward-looking statements are reasonable, we can give no assurance that these plans, intentions or expectations will be achieved or realized. Actual results, performance or achievements could differ materially from those contemplated, expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements contained in this prospectus, the applicable prospectus supplements or any document incorporated by reference. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from our forward-looking statements are set forth under Item 1A--"Risk Factors" in our most recent annual report on Form 10-K, under the caption "Risk Factors" in the applicable prospectus supplement, and in other reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Additional factors include, but are not limited to, regionalto:



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              Additionally, the timing and occurrence or non-occurrence of events may be subject to circumstances beyond our control.

              You should be considered in evaluating the “forward-looking statements,” andnot place undue reliance shouldon these forward-looking statements, which reflect our expectations only as of the date of this prospectus. We do not assume any obligation to revise forward-looking statements except as may be placed on such statements.required by law.







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    BANNER CORPORATION

              We undertake no responsibility to update or revise any “forward-looking statements.”

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    <PAGE>



    OUR BUSINESS


            Banner Corporation isare a bank holding company incorporated in the State of Washington. We areoperate primarily engaged in the business of planning, directing and coordinating the business activities ofthrough our wholly ownedwholly-owned subsidiary, Banner Bank. The Bank, is a Washington-chartered commercial bank thatwhich conducts business from its main office in Walla Walla, Washington and its 58 branch offices and 12 loan production offices located in 24 counties in Washington, Oregon and Idaho. We are subject to regulation by the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, and the Bank is subject to regulation by the State of Washington Department of Financial Institutions, Division of Banks and the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation. We had total consolidated assets of $3.041 billion and total stockholders' equity of $221.7 million at December 31, 2005.

            TheBanner Bank offers a wide variety of commercial banking services and financial products to individuals, businesses and public sector entities in its primary market areas. Theareas in the Northwest. Banner Bank's primary business is that of a traditional banking institution, accepting deposits and originating loans in locations surrounding its offices in portions of Washington, Oregon and Idaho. The Bank is also an active participant in the secondary market, engaging in mortgage banking operations largely through the origination and sale of one- to four-family residential loans.Northwest. Lending activities include commercial business and commercial real estate loans, agricultural business loans, construction and land development loans, one- to four-family residential loans and consumer loans. A portionAs of September 30, 2006, we had total consolidated assets of $3.453 billion, total deposits of $2.744 billion and total stockholders' equity of $241.7 million.

              Our common stock trades on the Bank's constructionNasdaq Global Select Market under the symbol "BANR."

              Banner Bank is subject to comprehensive regulation, examination and mortgage lending activities are conducted through its subsidiary, Community Financial Corporation, which is located in the Lake Oswego area of Portland, Oregon. In addition to loans, the Bank maintains a significant, although recently declining, portion of its assets in marketable securities. The securities portfolio is heavily weighted toward mortgage-backed securities securedsupervision by one- to four-family residential properties. This portfolio also includes U.S. Government agency (including government-sponsored enterprises) securities, as well as investment grade corporate debt securities and tax-exempt municipal securities primarily issued by entities located in the State of Washington.Washington Department of Financial Institutions, Division of Banks, or the "Division," and the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, or the "FDIC." Banner Corporation is subject to regulation, examination and supervision by the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, or the "FRB," as a bank holding company.

              OverOur principal executive offices are located at 10 South First Avenue, Walla Walla, Washington 99362. Our telephone number is (509) 527-3636.

              Additional information about us and our subsidiaries is included in documents incorporated by reference in this prospectus. See"Where You Can Find More Information" on page 4 of this prospectus.

    CONSOLIDATED RATIOS OF EARNINGS TO FIXED CHARGES

              Our consolidated ratios of earnings to fixed charges were as follows for the past two years,periods presented:

    Nine Months Ended
    September 30,

    Year Ended December 31,
    2006
    2005
    2005
    2004
    2003
    2002
    2001

    Ratio of earnings to fixed charges:
       Including interest on customer deposits1.29 x1.26 x1.15 x1.32 x1.27 x1.14 x1.09 x
       Excluding interest on customer deposits2.20 x1.69 x1.43 x1.78 x1.65 x1.35 x1.22 x


              For the purpose of computation, the term "earnings" represents earnings from continuing operations before taxes and interest expense. Fixed charges, excluding interest on customer deposits, represents interest expense on Federal Home Loan Bank advances and other borrowed


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    funds. Fixed charges, including interest on customer deposits, represent all of the foregoing items plus interest on deposits.

    USE OF PROCEEDS

              We intend to use the net proceeds from the sale of the securities for general corporate purposes unless otherwise indicated in the prospectus supplement relating to a specific issue of securities. Our general corporate purposes may include repurchasing our outstanding common stock, financing possible acquisitions of branches, other financial institutions, other businesses that are related to banking or diversification into other banking-relating businesses, extending credit to, or funding investments in, our subsidiaries and repaying, reducing or refinancing indebtedness.

              The precise amounts and the timing of our use of the net proceeds will depend upon market conditions, our subsidiaries' funding requirements, the availability of other funds and other factors. Until we have invested significantlyuse the net proceeds from the sale of any of our securities for general corporate purposes, we will use the net proceeds to reduce our indebtedness or for temporary investments. We expect that we will, on a recurrent basis, engage in expandingadditional financings as the need arises to finance our corporate strategies, to fund our subsidiaries, to finance acquisitions or otherwise.

    REGULATION AND SUPERVISION

              Our principal subsidiary, Banner Bank, is a Washington-chartered commercial bank and is subject to regulation and supervision by the Division and by the FDIC. As the holding company for Banner Bank, we are a bank holding company subject to regulation and supervision by the FRB.

              Because we are a holding company, our rights and the rights of our creditors, including the holders of the debt securities, preferred stock and common stock we are offering under this prospectus, to participate in the assets of any of our subsidiaries upon the subsidiary's liquidation or reorganization will be subject to the prior claims of the subsidiary's creditors, except to the extent that we may ourselves be a creditor with recognized claims against the subsidiary.

              In addition, dividends, loans and advances from Banner Bank are restricted by federal and state statutes and regulations. The FDIC and the Division can limit Banner Bank's branchpayment of dividends based on, among other factors, the maintenance of adequate capital for such subsidiary bank.

              In addition, there are various statutory and distribution systems with a primary emphasisregulatory limitations on the greater Boise, Idaho and Portland, Oregon markets and the Puget Sound region of Washington. This branch expansion is a significant element in our strategyextent to grow loans, deposits and customer relationships. This emphasis on growth has resulted in an elevated level of operating expenses; however, management believes that over time these new branches should help improve profitability by providing lower cost core deposits which will allow theBanner Bank can finance us or otherwise transfer funds or assets to proportionately reduce higher cost borrowings as a source of funds. We are committed to continuing this branch expansion strategy for the next two to three years and have plans and projects in process for four additional new offices expected to openus, whether in the next 12 monthsform of loans, extensions of credit, investments or asset purchases. These extensions of credit and other transactions involving Banner Bank and us are limited in amount to 10% of Banner Bank's capital and surplus and, with respect to us and any nonbanking subsidiaries, to an aggregate of 20% of Banner Bank's capital and surplus. Furthermore, loans and extensions of credit are required to be secured in specified amounts and are exploring other opportunities.required to be on terms and conditions consistent with safe and sound banking practices.



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              For additionala discussion of the material elements of the regulatory framework applicable to bank holding companies and their subsidiaries, and specific information about our business, seerelevant to us, you should refer to our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2005, our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarters ended March 31, 2006 and June 30, 2006 and the other documents we filesubsequent quarterly and current reports filed by us with the Securities andSEC pursuant to the Exchange Commission,Act, which are incorporated into this Registration Statement by reference. See “Where You Can Find More Information” on page 19.


    RISK FACTORS

    An investment in our common stock is subject to risks inherent to our business. Before you decide to participate in the Plan, you should carefully consider the risks and uncertainties described below together with all of the other information included or incorporated by reference in this prospectus. The risks and uncertainties described below are notThis regulatory framework is intended primarily for the only ones that affect us. Additional risks and uncertainties that management is not awareprotection of or focused on or that management currently deems immaterial may also impair our business operations. If any of the circumstances described in the following risk factors actually occur to a significant adverse degree, our financial condition and results of operations could be materially and adversely affected. If this were to happen, the value of our common stock could decline significantly, and you could lose all or part of your investment. In addition, you should consult your own financial and legal advisors before making an investment.

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    The maturity and repricing characteristics of our assets and liabilities are mismatched and subject us to interest rate risk which could adversely affect our net earnings and economic value.

            Our financial condition and operations are influenced significantly by general economic conditions, including the absolute level of interest rates as well as changes in interest ratesdepositors and the slopedeposit insurance funds that insure deposits of banks, rather than for the yield curve. Our profitability is dependent to a large extent on our net interest income, which is the difference between the interest received from our interest-earning assets and the interest expense incurred on our interest-bearing liabilities. Significant changes in market interest rates or errors or misjudgments in our interest rate risk management procedures could have a material adverse effect on our net earnings and economic value.protection of security holders.

              Our activities, like those of all financial institutions, inherently involve the assumption of interest rate risk. Interest rate risk is the risk that changes in market interest rates will have an adverse impact on our earnings and underlying economic value. Interest rate risk is determined by the maturity and repricing characteristics of our assets, liabilities and off-balance-sheet contracts. Interest rate risk is measured by the variability of financial performance and economic value resulting from changes in interest rates. Interest rate risk is the primary market risk affecting our financial performance.

            The greatest source of interest rate risk to us results from the mismatch of maturities or repricing intervals for our rate sensitive assets, liabilities and off-balance-sheet contracts. This mismatch or gap is generally characterized by a substantially shorter maturity structure for interest-bearing liabilities than interest-earning assets. Additional interest rate risk results from mismatched repricing indices and formulae (basis risk and yield curve risk), and product caps and floors and early repayment or withdrawal provisions (option risk), which may be contractual or market driven, that are generally more favorable to customers than to us.

            Our primary monitoring tool for assessing interest rate risk is asset/liability simulation modeling, which is designed to capture the dynamics of balance sheet, interest rate and spread movements and to quantify variations in net interest income resulting from those movements under different rate environments. The sensitivity of our net interest income to changes in the modeled interest rate environments provides a measurement of interest rate risk. We also utilize market value analysis, which addresses changes in estimated net market value of our equity arising from changes in the level of interest rates. The net market value of equity is estimated by separately valuing our assets and liabilities under varying interest rate environments. The extent to which assets gain or lose value in relationChanges to the gains or losses of liability values under the various interest rate assumptions determines the sensitivity of net equity value to changes in interest rateslaws and pr ovides an additional measure of interest rate risk.

            The interest rate sensitivity analysis we perform incorporates beginning-of-the-period rate, balance and maturity data, using various levels of aggregation of that data, as well as certain assumptions concerning the maturity, repricing, amortization and prepayment characteristics of loans and other interest-earning assets and the repricing and withdrawal of deposits and other interest-bearing liabilities into an asset/liability computer simulation model. We update and prepare simulation modeling at least quarterly for review by senior management and the directors. We believe the data and assumptions are realistic representations of our portfolio and possible outcomes under the various interest rate scenarios. Nonetheless, the interest rate sensitivity of our net interest income and net market value of our equity could vary substantially if different assumptions were used or if actual experience differs from the assumptions used and, as a result, our interest rate risk management strategies may prove to be inadequate.

            See Item 7, “Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2005 for a discussion of our balance-sheet restructuring transactions that were executed in the fourth quarter of 2005 and “Market Risk and Asset/Liability Management” for additional information concerning interest rate risk.

    Our loan portfolio includes loans with a higher risk of loss.

            We originate construction and land loans, commercial and multifamily mortgage loans, commercial loans, consumer loans, agricultural mortgage loans and agricultural loans as well as residential mortgage loans primarily within our market areas. Generally, the types of loans other than the residential mortgage loans have a higher risk of loss than

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    the residential mortgage loans. We had approximately $2.1 billion outstanding in these types of higher risk loans at December 31, 2005, which is a significant increase since December 31, 2004. Commercial and multifamily mortgage, commercial, and consumer loans may expose a lender to greater credit risk than loans secured by residential real estate because the collateral securing these loans may not be sold as easily as residential real estate. These loans also have greater credit risk than residential real estate for the following reasons and those discussed under Item 1, “Business-Lending Activities” of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2005:

    Construction and Land Loans. During the years ended December 31, 2005 and 2004, we significantly increased our origination of construction loans. This type of lending contains the inherent difficulty in estimating both a property's value at completion of the project and the estimated cost (including interest) of the project. If the estimate of construction cost proves to be inaccurate, we may be required to advance funds beyond the amount originally committed to permit completion of the project. If the estimate of value upon completion proves to be inaccurate, we may be confronted at, or prior to, the maturity of the loan with a project the value of which is insufficient to assure full repayment. In addition, speculative construction loans to a builder are often associated with homes that are not pre-sold, and thus pose a greater potential risk to us than construction loans to individuals on their personal residences. Loans on land under development or held for future constructi on also pose additional risk because of the lack of income being produced by the property and the potential illiquid nature of the security.

    Commercial and Multifamily Mortgage Loans. These loans typically involve higher principal amounts than other types of loans, and repayment is dependent upon income being generated from the property securing the loan in amounts sufficient to cover operating expenses and debt service.

    Commercial Loans. Repayment is dependent upon the successful operation of the borrower's business.

    Consumer Loans. Consumer loans (such as personal lines of credit) are collateralized, if at all, with assets that may not provide an adequate source of payment of the loan due to depreciation, damage, or loss.

    Agricultural Loans. Repayment is dependent upon the successful operation of the business, which is greatly dependent on many things outside the control of either us or the borrowers. These factors include weather, commodity prices, and interest rates among others.

    If our allowance for loan losses is not sufficient to cover actual loan losses, our earnings could decrease.

            We make various assumptions and judgments about the collectibility of our loan portfolio, including the creditworthiness of our borrowers and the value of the real estate and other assets serving as collateral for the repayment of many of our loans. In determining the amount of the allowance for loan losses, we review our loans and the loss and delinquency experience, and evaluate economic conditions. If our assumptions are incorrect, the allowance for loan losses may not be sufficient to cover losses inherent in our loan portfolio, resulting in the need for additions to our allowance. Material additions to the allowance could materially decrease our net income. Our allowance for loan losses was 1.27% of total loans and 296% of non-performing loans at December 31, 2005.

            In addition, bank regulators periodically review our allowance for loan losses and may require us to increase our provision for loan losses or recognize further loan charge-offs. Any increase in our allowance for loan losses or loan charge-offs as required by these regulatory authorities may have a material adverse effect on our financial condition and results of operations.

    There is no assurance that the change in the mix of our assets and liabilities will improve our operating results.

            In addition to lending and deposit gathering activities, we previously emphasized investments in government agency and mortgage-backed securities, funded with wholesale borrowings. This policy was designed to enhance profitability by allowing asset growth with low overhead expense, although securities generally have lower yields than loans, resulting in a lower interest rate spread. In recent years, we have pursued a strategy to change the mix of our assets and liabilities to have proportionately more loans and fewer securities and more customer deposits, particularly

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    transaction and savings deposits, and fewer borrowings. Our implementation of this strategy has included significant loan and deposit growth and was recently accelerated by a series of balance-sheet restructuring transactions which we executed in the fourth quarter of 2005. While the objective of this strategy, including the balance-sheet restructuring, is to improve our net interest income and net income in future periods through an enhanced net interest margin, there is no assurance that this strategy will succeed. See Item 7, “Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2005 for additional information concerning implementation of this strategy, including specifics with respect to the balance-sheet restructuring transactions described under “Recent Developments and Significant Events.”

    If we are not able to achieve profitability on new branches it may negatively affect our earnings.

            We have expanded our presence throughout the market area, and intend to pursue further expansion by opening additional new branches. The profitability of our expansion strategy will depend on whether the income that we generate from the new branches will offset the increased expenses resulting from operating these branches. Largely as a result of this de novo branching strategy, our operating expenses have increased faster than revenues, adversely affecting our operating efficiency. As a result, the efficiency ratio, which is the ratio of non-interest expense to net interest income and other income, is higher than many of our competitor institutions, although for the year ended December 31, 2005, the ratio was also adversely affected by our balance-sheet restructuring transactions. We expect that it may take a period of time before certain of these branches can become profitable, especially in areas in which we do not have an established presence. During this p eriod, the expense of operating these branches may negatively affect our net income.

    If external funds were not available, this could adversely impact our growth and prospects.

            We rely on deposits and advances from the Federal Home Loan Bank of Seattle (“FHLB-Seattle”) and other borrowings to fund our operations. Although we have historically been able to replace maturing deposits and advances if desired, we might not be able to replace such funds in the future if our financial condition or the financial condition of the FHLB or market conditions were to change. Although we consider such sources of funds adequate for our liquidity needs, we may seek additional debt in the future to achieve our long-term business objectives. There can be no assurance additional borrowings, if sought, would be availableregulations applicable to us or if available, would be on favorable terms. If additional financing sources are unavailable or are not available on reasonable terms, our growth and future prospects could be adversely affected.

    Our profitability depends significantly on economic conditions insubsidiaries can affect the statesoperating environment of Washington, Oregon and Idaho.

            Our success depends primarily on the general economic conditions of the States of Washington, Oregon and Idaho and the specific local markets in which we operate. Unlike larger national or other regional banks that are more geographically diversified, we provide banking and financial services to customers located primarily in 24 counties of Washington, Oregon and Idaho. The local economic conditions in our market areas have a significant impact on the demand for our products and services as well as the ability of our customers to repay loans, the value of the collateral securing loans and the stability of our deposit funding sources. Adverse economic conditions unique to these Northwest markets could have a material adverse effect on our financial condition and results of operations. Further, a significant decline in general economic conditions, caused by inflation, recession, acts of terrorism, outbreak of hostilities or other international or domestic occurren ces, unemployment, changes in securities markets or other factors could impact these state and local markets and, in turn, also have a material adverse effect on our financial condition and results of operations.

    Strong competition within our market area may limit our growth and profitability.

            Competition in the banking and financial services industry is intense. We compete in our market areas with commercial banks, savings institutions, mortgage brokerage firms, credit unions, finance companies, mutual funds, insurancebank holding companies and brokerage and investment banking firms operating locally and elsewhere. Some of these competitors have substantially greater resources and lending limits than we do, have greater name recognition and market presence that benefit them in attracting business, and offer certain services that we do not or cannot provide. In addition, larger competitors may be able to price loans and deposits more aggressively than we do. Our profitability depends upon

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    our continued ability to successfully compete in our market areas. The greater resources and deposit and loan products offered by some of our competitors may limit our ability to increase our interest-earning assets.

    The loss of key members of our senior management team could adversely affect our business.

            We believe that our success depends largely on the efforts and abilities of our senior management. Their experience and industry contacts significantly benefit us. The competition for qualified personnel in the financial services industry is intense, and the loss of any of our key personnel or an inability to continue to attract, retain and motivate key personnel could adversely affect our business.

    We are subject to extensive government regulation and supervision.

            We are subject to extensive federal and state regulation and supervision, primarily through the Bank and certain non-bank subsidiaries. Banking regulations are primarily intended to protect depositors' funds, federal deposit insurance funds and the banking system as a whole, not shareholders. These regulations affect our lending practices, capital structure, investment practices, dividend policy and growth, among other things. Congress and federal regulatory agencies continually review banking laws, regulations and policies for possible changes. Changes to statutes, regulations or regulatory policies, including changes in interpretation or implementation of statutes, regulations or policies, could affect ustheir subsidiaries in substantial and unpredictable ways. SuchWe cannot accurately predict whether those changes could subject us to additional costs, limitin laws and regulations will occur, and, if those changes occur, the types of financial services and products we may offer and/ultimate effect they would have upon our or increase the ability of non-banks to offer competing financial services and products, among other things. Failure to comply with laws, regulations or policies could result in sanctions by regulatory agencies, civil money penalties and/or reputation damage, which could have a material adverse effect on our business,subsidiaries' financial condition and results of operations. While we have policies and procedures designed to prevent any such violations, there can be no assurance that such violations will not occur.

    Our information systems may experience an interruption or breach in security.

            We rely heavily on communications and information systems to conduct our business. Any failure, interruption or breach in security of these systems could result in failures or disruptions in our customer relationship management, general ledger, deposit, loan and other systems. While we have policies and procedures designed to prevent or limit the effect of the failure, interruption or security breach of our information systems, there can be no assurance that any such failures, interruptions or security breaches will not occur or, if they do occur, that they will be adequately addressed. The occurrence of any failures, interruptions or security breaches of our information systems could damage our reputation, result in a loss of customer business, subject us to additional regulatory scrutiny, or expose us to civil litigation and possible financial liability, any of which could have a material adverse effect on our financial condition and results of operations.

    DESCRIPTION OF THE SECURITIES

              This prospectus contains a summary of the debt securities, the common stock, the preferred stock, the warrants and the units. The following summaries are not meant to be a complete description of each security. However, this prospectus, the accompanying prospectus supplement and the accompanying pricing supplement, if applicable, describe the material terms and conditions for each security. You should read these documents as well as the documents filed as exhibits to the registration statement and the documents incorporated by reference. Capitalized terms used in this prospectus that are not defined will have the meanings given them in these documents.

    DESCRIPTION OF DEBT SECURITIES

    We rely on dividendsmay issue senior debt securities or subordinated debt securities. Senior debt securities will be issued under an indenture, referred to as the "senior indenture," between us and Wilmington Trust Company, as senior indenture trustee. Subordinated debt securities will be issued under a separate indenture, referred to as the "subordinated indenture," between us and Wilmington Trust Company, as subordinated indenture trustee. The senior indenture and the subordinated indenture are sometimes collectively referred to in this prospectus as the "indentures." The indentures will be subject to and governed by the Trust Indenture Act of 1939. A copy of the form of each of these indentures is an exhibit to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part.

              The following briefly describes the general terms and provisions of the debt securities which may be offered and the indentures governing them. The particular terms of the debt securities offered, and the extent, if any, to which these general provisions may apply to the debt securities so offered, will be described in a prospectus supplement relating to those securities. The following descriptions of the indentures are not complete and are subject to, and are qualified in their entirety by reference to, all the provisions of the respective indentures.

    General

              The indentures permit us to issue the debt securities from time to time, without limitation as to aggregate principal amount, and in one or more series. The indentures also do not limit or


    otherwise restrict the amount of other indebtedness which we may incur or other securities which we or our subsidiaries for mostmay issue, including indebtedness which may rank senior to the debt securities. Nothing in the subordinated indenture prohibits the issuance of securities representing subordinated indebtedness that is senior or junior to the subordinated debt securities.

              Unless we give you different information in the prospectus supplement, the senior debt securities will be unsubordinated obligations and will rank equally with all of our revenue.
    other unsecured and unsubordinated indebtedness. Payments on the subordinated debt securities will be subordinated to the prior payment in full of all of our senior indebtedness, as described under "Description of Debt Securities--Subordination" and in the applicable prospectus supplement.

              Banner CorporationWe may issue debt securities if the conditions contained in the applicable indenture are satisfied. These conditions include the adoption of resolutions by our board of directors that establish the terms of the debt securities being issued. Any resolution approving the issuance of any issue of debt securities will include the terms of that issue of debt securities, which may include:

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              The debt securities may be issued as "original issue discount securities" which bear no interest or interest at a rate which at the time of issuance is below market rates and which will be sold at a substantial discount below their principal amount. If the maturity of any original issue discount security is accelerated, the amount payable to the holder of the security will be determined by the applicable prospectus supplement, the terms of the security and the relevant indenture, but may be an amount less than the amount payable at the maturity of the principal of that original issue discount security. Special federal income tax and other considerations relating to original issue discount securities will be described in the applicable prospectus supplement.

              Under the indentures, the terms of the debt securities of any series may differ and we may, without the consent of the holders of the debt securities of any series, reopen a previous series of debt securities and issue additional debt securities of that series or establish additional terms of that series.

              Please see the prospectus supplement or pricing supplement you have received or will receive for the terms of the specific debt securities we are offering.

              You should be aware that special United States Federal income tax, accounting and other considerations may apply to the debt securities. The prospectus supplement relating to an issue of debt securities will describe these considerations.

    Ranking of Debt Securities; Holding Company Structure

    Senior Debt Securities. Payment of the principal of, premium, if any, and interest on senior debt securities will rank on a parity with all of our other unsecured and unsubordinated debt.

    Subordinated Debt Securities. Payment of the principal of, premium, if any, and interest on subordinated debt securities will be junior in right of payment to the prior payment in full of all of our senior indebtedness, including senior debt securities. We will state in the applicable prospectus supplement relating to any subordinated debt securities the subordination terms of the securities as well as the aggregate amount of outstanding debt, as of the most recent practicable date, that by its subsidiaries.terms would be senior to those subordinated debt securities. We receivewill also state in that prospectus supplement limitations, if any, on the issuance of additional senior indebtedness.

    Holding Company Structure. The debt securities will be our exclusive obligations. We are a holding company and substantially all of our revenue from dividends fromconsolidated assets are held by our subsidiaries. These dividendssubsidiary, Banner Bank. Accordingly, our cash flows and our ability to service our debt, including the debt securities, are dependent upon the principal sourceresults of operations of our subsidiaries and the distribution of funds by our subsidiaries to pay dividends on our common stockus. Various statutory and interest and principal on our debt. Various federal and/regulatory restrictions, however, limit directly or state laws and regulations limitindirectly the amount of dividends thatour subsidiaries can pay, and also restrict certain subsidiaries from making investments in or loans to us.

              Because we are a holding company, the Bankdebt securities will be effectively subordinated to all existing and certain non-bank subsidiaries may pay to Banner Corporation. Also,future liabilities, including indebtedness, customer deposits, trade payables,



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    guarantees and lease obligations, of our rightsubsidiaries. Therefore, our rights and the rights of our creditors, including the holders of the debt securities, to participate in a distributionthe assets of assetsany subsidiary upon athat subsidiary's liquidation or reorganization iswill be subject to the prior claims of the subsidiary's creditors and, if applicable, its depositors, except to the extent that we may ourselves be a creditor with recognized claims against the subsidiary, in which case our claims would still be effectively subordinate to any security interest in, or mortgages or other liens on, the assets of the subsidiary and would be subordinate to any indebtedness of the subsidiary senior to that held by us. If a receiver or conservator were appointed for Banner Bank, the Federal Deposit Insurance Act recognizes a priority in favor of the holders of withdrawable deposits (including the FDIC as subrogee or transferee) over general creditors. InClaims for customer deposits would have a priority over any claims that we may ourselves have as a creditor of Banner Bank. Unless otherwise specified in the applicable prospectus supplement, the indentures will not limit the amount of indebtedness or other liabilities that we and our subsidiaries may incur.

    Subordinated Debt Securities Intended to Qualify as Tier 2 Capital

              Unless otherwise stated in the applicable prospectus supplement, it is currently intended that the subordinated debt securities will qualify as Tier 2 Capital under the guidelines established by the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System for bank holding companies. The guidelines set forth specific criteria for subordinated debt to qualify as Tier 2 Capital. Among other things, the subordinated debt must:

    Registration and Transfer

              Holders may present debt securities in registered form for transfer or exchange for other debt securities of the same series at the offices of the applicable indenture trustee according to pay dividends to Banner Corporation,the terms of the applicable indenture and the debt securities.

              Unless otherwise indicated in the applicable prospectus supplement, the debt securities will be issued in fully registered form, and in denominations of $1,000 and any integral multiple thereof.



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              No service charge will be required for any transfer or exchange of the debt securities but we may not be ablerequire payment of a sum sufficient to servicecover any tax or other governmental charge payable in connection with any transfer or exchange.

    Payment and Place of Payment

              We will pay or deliver principal and any premium and interest in the manner, at the places and subject to the restrictions set forth in the applicable indenture, the debt pay obligations or pay dividends onsecurities and the applicable prospectus supplement. However, at our common stock. The inability to receive dividends from the Bank could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.

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    If we fail to maintain an effective system of internal control over financial reporting,option, we may notpay any interest by check mailed to the holders of registered debt securities at their registered addresses.

    Global Securities

              Each indenture provides that we may issue debt securities in global form. If any series of debt securities is issued in global form, the prospectus supplement will describe any circumstances under which beneficial owners of interests in any of those global debt securities may exchange their interests for debt securities of that series and of like tenor and principal amount in any authorized form and denomination.

    Redemption and Repurchase

              The debt securities of any series may be ableredeemable at our option, may be subject to accurately report our financial resultsmandatory redemption pursuant to a sinking fund or prevent fraud, and, as a result, investors and depositors could lose confidence in our financial reporting, which could adversely affect our business,otherwise, or may be subject to repurchase by us at the trading price of our stock and our ability to attract additional deposits.


            In connection with the enactmentoption of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002holders, in each case upon the terms, at the times and at the implementationprices set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement and pricing supplement, if any. Unless otherwise stated in the applicable prospectus supplement, however, we currently do not intend to issue subordinated debt securities with redemption or repurchase features to the extent these features would prevent the subordinated debt securities from qualifying as Tier 2 Capital under the guidelines of the rules and regulations promulgated by the Securities and Exchange Commission, we document and evaluate our internal control over financial reporting in order to satisfy the requirementsBoard of Section 404Governors of the Act. This requires usFederal Reserve System. See "--Subordinated Debt Securities Intended to prepare an annual management report on our internal control over financial reporting, including among other matters, management's assessment of the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting and an attestation report by our independent auditors addressing these assessments.Qualify as Tier 2 Capital."

    Conversion or Exchange Rights

              If we fail to identify and correct any significant deficiencies in the designdebt securities may be convertible into or operating effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting or fail to prevent fraud, current and potential shareholders and depositors could lose confidence in our internal controls and financial reporting, which could adversely affect our business, financial cond ition and results of operations, the trading price of our stock and our ability to attract additional deposits.

    You will not know the price of the shares you are purchasing under the Plan at the time you authorize the investment or elect to have your dividends reinvested.

            The price of our shares may fluctuate between the time you decide to purchase shares under the Plan and the time of actual purchase. In addition, during this time period, you may become aware of additional information that might affect your investment decision.

            The Plan Administrator administers the Plan. If you instruct the Plan Administrator to sell shares under the Plan, you will not be able to direct the time or price at which your shares are sold. The price of our shares may decline between the time you decide to sell shares and the time of actual sale.

    Future dividends and a return on your investment are not guaranteed.

            This prospectus does not represent a change in our dividend policy or a guarantee of future dividends, which will continue to depend upon our earnings, financial requirements, government regulations and other factors. We cannot assure you a profit, or protect you against losses, on shares purchased pursuant to the Plan. The market price of common stock can fluctuate substantially. You must accept the risks as well as the benefits of the Plan.

    THE PLAN


    What is the Plan?

          Our Dividend Reinvestment and Direct Stock Purchase and Sale Plan enables new investors to make an initial investment in our common stock and existing investors to increase their holdings of our common stock. Participants can purchase our common stock with optional cash investments and cash dividends.

            The Plan is designed for long-term investors who wish to invest and build their share ownership over time. The Plan is not intended to provide holders of shares of common stock with a mechanism for generating assured short-term profits through rapid turnover of shares acquired at a discount. The Plan's intended purpose precludes any person, organization or other entity from establishing a series of related accounts for the purpose of conducting arbitrage operations and/or exceeding the optional monthly cash investment limit. We accordingly reserve the right to modify, suspend or terminate participation by a shareholder who is using the Plan for purposes inconsistent with its intended purpose.

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    What features does the Plan offer?

    Initial investment. If you are not an existing shareholder, you can make an initial investment in our common stock, starting with as little as $250 and up to a maximum of $40,000. See“How do I purchase shares if I am not currently a Banner shareholder?” below for more information.

    Optional monthly cash investments. Once you are a shareholder, you can buy our common stock and pay fees and commissions lower than those typically charged by stockbrokers for small transactions. You can increase your holdings of our common stock through optional cash investments of $50 or more, up to a maximum of $40,000 per month. You can make optional cash investments by check or electronically with deductions from your personal bank account. If you wish to make optional cash investments in excess of $40,000 in any month or an initial investment in excess of $40,000, see“How do I make cash investments in excess of $40,000?” below for more information.

    Automatic dividend reinvestment. You can also increase your holdings of our common stock through automatic reinvestment of your cash dividends. You will also be credited with dividends on fractions of shares you hold in the Plan. You can elect to reinvest all or a portion of your dividends on your shares. You can receive dividends electronically or by check. See“How do I purchase additional shares if I am already a Banner shareholder?” below for more information.

    Share safekeeping. You can deposit your stock certificate(s) representing shares of our common stock for safekeeping with the Plan Administrator. See“What is safekeeping of certificates and how do I submit my certificates?” below for more information.

    Automated transactions. Unless you are participating through your bank, broker or nominee, you can execute many of your Plan transactions online via the Plan Administrator's website atwww.computershare.com. The information on the Plan Administrator's website is not part of this prospectus. See instructions below describing how to purchase and sell shares for more information. Refer to “What are the fees associated with participation?” below for details on fees charged for these transactions and services.

    Who is the Plan Administrator and what does the Plan Administrator do?

            Computershare Trust Company, N.A. (“Computershare”) currently is the Plan Administrator, registered transfer agent, and designated agent for each participating shareholder. Computershare, as Plan Administrator, administers the Plan, purchases and holds shares acquired for you under the Plan, keeps records, sends statements of account activity and performs other duties related to the Plan. The Plan Administrator holds for safekeeping the shares purchased for you together with shares forwarded by you to the Plan Administrator for safekeeping until termination of your participation in the Plan or receipt of your request for a certificate for all or part of your shares. Shares purchased under the Plan and held by the Plan Administrator will be registered in the Plan Administrator's name or the name of its nominee, in either case as your agent. In the event that the Plan Administrator should resign or otherwise cease to act as agent, we will appoint a new a dministrator to administer the Plan. The Plan Administrator also acts as dividend disbursing agent, transfer agent and registrarexchangeable for shares of our common stock.equity securities or other securities, the terms and conditions of conversion or exchange will be stated in the applicable prospectus supplement. The terms will include, among others, the following:



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    Absence of Limitation on Indebtedness and Liens; Absence of Event Risk Protection

              WeUnless otherwise stated in the prospectus supplement relating to a series of debt securities, the indentures will not limit the amount of indebtedness, guarantees or other liabilities that we and our subsidiaries may incur and will not prohibit us or our subsidiaries from creating or assuming liens on our properties, including the capital stock of Banner Bank and any other subsidiary. Unless otherwise provided in the related prospectus supplement, the indentures will not require us to maintain any financial ratios or specified levels of net worth, revenues, income, cash flow or liquidity, and will not contain provisions which would give holders of the debt securities the right to require us to repurchase their debt securities in the event we undergo a takeover, recapitalization or similar restructuring or change in control.

    Events of Default

              Unless otherwise indicated in the applicable prospectus supplement, the following are events of default under the senior indenture with respect to the senior debt securities and under the subordinated indenture with respect to the subordinated debt securities:
              Unless otherwise indicated in the applicable prospectus supplement, if an event of default occurs and is continuing for any series of senior debt securities, unless the principal amount of all senior debt securities of that particular series has already become due and payable, the indenture trustee or the holders of not less than 25% in aggregate principal amount or, under certain circumstances, issue price of the outstanding senior debt securities of that series may declare all amounts, or any lesser amount provided for in the senior debt securities of that series, to be immediately due and payable.

              Unless otherwise indicated in the applicable prospectus supplement, no event of default described in the first, second, third, fourth or sixth bullet points above will permit acceleration of the payment of the principal of the subordinated debt securities. Unless otherwise indicated in



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    the applicable prospectus supplement, if an event of default described under the fifth bullet point above shall have occurred and be continuing, unless the principal amount of all the subordinated debt securities of a particular series has already become due and payable, the indenture trustee or the holders of not less than 25% in aggregate principal amount or, under certain circumstances, issue price of the subordinated debt securities of that series may declare all amounts or any lesser amount provided for in the subordinated debt securities of that series to be immediately due and payable. The limitation on acceleration described above is intended to permit the subordinated debt securities to qualify as Tier 2 Capital under the guidelines established by the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System for bank holding companies.

              At any time after the applicable indenture trustee or the holders have accelerated a series of debt securities, but before the applicable indenture trustee has obtained a judgment or decree for payment of money due, the holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of outstanding debt securities of that series may rescind and annul that acceleration and its consequences, provided that all payments and/or deliveries due, other than those due as a result of acceleration, have been made and all events of default have been remedied or waived.

              The holders of a majority in principal amount or aggregate issue price of the outstanding debt securities of any series may waive any default with respect to that series, except a default:
              The holders of a majority in principal amount or, under certain circumstances, issue price of the outstanding debt securities of a series may direct the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the applicable indenture trustee or exercising any trust or power conferred on the indenture trustee with respect to debt securities of that series, provided that any direction is not in conflict with any rule of law or the applicable indenture and the Plan Administratortrustee may take other actions, other than those that might lead to personal liability, not inconsistent with the direction. Subject to the provisions of the applicable indenture relating to the duties of the indenture trustee, before proceeding to exercise any right or power under the indenture at the direction of the holders, the indenture trustee is entitled to receive from those holders reasonable security or indemnity against the costs, expenses and liabilities which it might incur in complying with any direction.

              A holder of any debt security of any series will not be liable in administeringhave the Plan for any act done in good faith or as required byright to institute a proceeding with respect to the applicable securities lawsindenture or for any good faith omissionremedy under the indenture, if:



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              However, the holder of any debt security or coupon has the right to receive payment of the principal of (and premium or make-whole amount, if any) and interest on, and any additional amounts in respect of, such debt security or payment of such coupon on the respective due dates (or, in the case of redemption, on the redemption date) and to institute suit for the enforcement of any such payment.

              We are required to furnish to the indenture trustees annually a statement as to the performance of our obligations under the indentures and as to any default in that performance of which we are aware.

    Modification and Waiver

              Unless otherwise indicated in the applicable indenture supplement, the Company and the applicable indenture trustee may amend and modify each indenture or debt securities under that indenture with the consent of holders of at least a majority in principal amount or, under certain circumstances, issue price of each series of all outstanding debt securities then outstanding under the indenture affected. However, without limitation,the consent of each holder of any claimdebt security issued under the applicable indenture, we may not amend or liabilitymodify that indenture to:



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              The holders of at least a majority in principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of any series issued under that indenture may, with respect to that series, waive past defaults under the indenture, except as described under "--Events of Default."

              Unless otherwise indicated in the applicable prospectus supplement, we and the applicable indenture trustee may also amend and modify each indenture without the consent of any holder for any of the following purposes:



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    Voting

              The indentures contain provisions for convening meetings of the holders of debt securities of a series. A meeting will be permitted to be called at any time by the applicable trustee, and also, upon request, by us or the holders of at least 25% in principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of such series, in any such case upon notice given as provided in such indenture. Except for any consent that must be given by the holder of each debt security affected by the modifications and amendments of an indenture described above, any resolution presented at a meeting or adjourned meeting duly reconvened at which a quorum is present may be adopted by the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the aggregate principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of that series represented at such meeting.

              Notwithstanding the preceding paragraph, except as referred to above, any resolution relating to a request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other action that may be made, given or taken by the holders of a specified percentage, which is less than a majority, of the aggregate principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of a series may be adopted at a meeting or adjourned meeting duly reconvened at which a quorum is present by the affirmative vote of such specified percentage.

              Any resolution passed or decision taken at any properly held meeting of holders of debt securities of any series will be binding on all holders of such series. The quorum at any meeting called to adopt a resolution, and at any reconvened meeting, will be persons holding or representing a majority in principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of a series. However, if any action is to be taken relating to a consent or waiver which may be given by the holders of at least a specified percentage in principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of a series, the persons holding such percentage will constitute a quorum.

              Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions, the indentures provide that if any action is to be taken at a meeting with respect to any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other action that such indenture expressly provides may be made, given or taken by the holders of a specified percentage in principal amount of all outstanding debt securities affected by such action, or of the holders of such series and one or more additional series:



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    Consolidation, Merger and Sale of Assets

              Unless otherwise indicated in the applicable prospectus supplement, we may consolidate or merge with or into any other corporation, and we may sell, lease or convey all or substantially all of our assets to any corporation, provided that the resulting corporation, if other than the Company, is a corporation organized and existing under the laws of the United States of America or any U.S. state and assumes all of our obligations to:

              (1) pay or deliver the principal and any premium or make-whole amount, if any, and any interest on, the debt securities;

              (2) perform and observe all of our other obligations under the indentures and supplemental indentures; and

              (3) we are not, or any successor corporation, as the case may be, is not, immediately after any consolidation or merger, in default under the indentures.

              The indentures do not provide for any right of acceleration in the event of a consolidation, merger, sale of all or substantially all of the assets, recapitalization or change in our stock ownership. In addition, the indentures do not contain any provision which would protect the holders of debt securities against a sudden and dramatic decline in credit quality resulting from takeovers, recapitalizations or similar restructurings.

    Regarding the Indenture Trustee

              The indenture trustee provides trust services to us and our affiliates in connection with certain trust preferred securities and related junior subordinated debentures that we currently have outstanding.

              The occurrence of any default under either the senior indenture, the subordinated indenture or the indenture between the Company and the indenture trustee relating to our junior subordinated debentures could create a conflicting interest for the indenture trustee under the Trust Indenture Act. If that default has not been cured or waived within 90 days after the indenture trustee has or acquired a conflicting interest, the indenture trustee would generally be required by the Trust Indenture Act to eliminate that conflicting interest or resign as indenture trustee with respect to the debt securities issued under the senior indenture or the subordinated indenture, or with respect to the pricesjunior subordinated debentures issued to certain Delaware statutory trusts of ours under separate indentures. If the indenture trustee resigns, we are required to promptly appoint a successor trustee with respect to the affected securities.

              The Trust Indenture Act also imposes certain limitations on the right of the indenture trustee, as a creditor of ours, to obtain payment of claims in certain cases, or to realize on certain



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    property received in respect of any cash claim or otherwise. The indenture trustee will be permitted to engage in other transactions with us, provided that, if it acquires a conflicting interest within the meaning of Section 310 of the Trust Indenture Act, it must generally either eliminate that conflict or resign.

    International Offering

              If specified in the applicable prospectus supplement, we may issue debt securities outside the United States. Those debt securities will be described in the applicable prospectus supplement. In connection with any offering outside the United States, we will designate paying agents, registrars or other agents with respect to the debt securities, as specified in the applicable prospectus supplement.

              We will describe in the applicable prospectus supplement whether our debt securities issued outside the United States: (1) may be subject to certain selling restrictions; (2) may be listed on one or more foreign stock exchanges; and (3) may have special United States tax and other considerations applicable to an offering outside the United States.

    Defeasance

              We may terminate or "defease" our obligations under the applicable indenture with respect to the debt securities of any series by taking the following steps:

              (1) depositing irrevocably with the indenture trustee an amount, which through the payment of interest, principal or premium, if any, will provide an amount sufficient to pay the entire amount of the debt securities:
              (2) delivering:



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              (3) paying all other amounts due under the indenture.
              Further, the defeasance cannot cause an event of default under the indenture or any other agreement or instrument and no default under the indenture or any such other agreement or instrument can exist at which shares are purchasedthe time the defeasance occurs.

    Subordination

              The subordinated debt securities will be subordinated in right of payment to all "senior debt," as defined in the subordinated indenture. In certain circumstances relating to our liquidation, dissolution, receivership, reorganization, insolvency or sold for your account andsimilar proceedings, the times when such purchases or sales are made orholders of all senior debt will first be entitled to receive payment in full before the holders of the subordinated debt securities will be entitled to receive any payment on the subordinated debt securities.

              If the maturity of any subordinated debt securities is accelerated, we will have to repay all senior debt before we can make any payment on the subordinated debt securities.

              In addition, we may make no payment on the subordinated debt securities in the event:
              By reason of this subordination in favor of the holders of senior indebtedness, in the market value after purchaseevent of an insolvency our creditors who are not holders of senior indebtedness or salethe subordinated debt securities may recover less, proportionately, than holders of shares. Neither we norsenior indebtedness and may recover more, proportionately, than holders of the Plan Administrator shall have any duties, responsibilities or liabilities except such as are expressly set forthsubordinated debt securities. Unless otherwise specified in the Plan.

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    How do I contactprospectus supplement relating to the Plan Administrator?

            Unless you are participatingparticular series of subordinated debt securities, "senior debt" is defined in the Plan through your bank, brokersubordinated indenture as the principal, premium, if any, unpaid interest (including interest accruing on or nominee, if you have questions regardingafter the Plan, please writefiling of any petition in bankruptcy or for reorganization relating to the Plan Administrator atCompany whether or not a claim for post-filing interest is allowed in such proceeding), fees, charges, expenses, reimbursement and indemnification obligations, and all other amounts payable under or in respect of the following address:indebtedness of the Company for money borrowed, whether any such indebtedness exists as of the date of the indenture or is created, incurred, assumed or guaranteed after such date:

              Banner Corporation
                    c/o Computershare Trust(i)          any debt (a) for money borrowed by the Company, N.A.
                    P.O. Box 43078
                    Providence, RI 02940-3078or (b) evidenced by a bond, note, debenture, or similar instrument (including purchase money obligations) given in connection with the acquisition of any business, property or assets, whether by purchase, merger, consolidation or otherwise, but shall not include any account payable or other obligation created or

    or call the Plan Administrator at 1-800-697-8924 within the United States and Canada or 1-312-360-5219 outside the United States and Canada.  Include your name, address, daytime telephone number, account number and reference Banner on all correspondence.  All transaction requests should be directed to the Plan Administrator at P.O. Box 43078, Providence, RI 02940-3078.


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            In addition, you may visit the Plan Administrator's website atwww.computershare.com. At this website, you can enroll
    assumed in the Plan, obtain information and perform certain transactions for your Plan account (unless you are participatingordinary course of business in the Plan through your bank, broker or nominee) via the “Investor Centre” on the website.

            If you participate in the Plan through your bank, broker or nominee, you must contact your bank, broker or nominee for all information regarding the Plan and all Plan transactions.

    Are there fees associated with participation in the Plan?

            Yes. The following fees apply to your participation in the Plan:          

     

    Fees


    Transaction
    If Purchases Are Made Directly From Us
    If Purchases Are Made in the Open Market
       
    Enrollment fee for new investorsNoneNone
       
    Service fee for optional cash investments made via check or
       Internet payment
    $5.00$5.00
       
    Service fee for optional cash investments made via recurring
       automatic monthly investment
    NoneNone
       
    Service fee for dividend reinvestmentNoneNone
       
    Processing fee (including any brokerage commissions the Plan
       Administrator is required to pay)
    None$0.12 per share
       
    Fee for safekeepingNoneNone
       
    Service fee for sale of shares (partial or full)$15.00$15.00
       
    Service fee for sale of a fractional share at termination or
       withdrawal
    Up to $15.00Up to $15.00
       
    Processing fee for sale of shares$0.12 per share$0.12 per share
       
    Returned check or failed electronic payment fee$25.00$25.00

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            Thus for example, if 20 shares were acquired by the Plan Administrator on your behalf in the open market, you would
            pay the Plan Administrator $7.40 for the transaction consisting of a check payment service fee of $5.00 and a per share
            commission of $0.12 per share.

            We can change the fee structure of the Plan at any time. We will give you notice of any fee changes prior to the changes becoming effective.

    How do I purchase shares if I am not currently a Banner shareholder?

            To make an investment online, log on towww.computershare.com, click “Investment Plans,” then select “All Plans” under “Quick Search.” Select “Banner Corporation.” Then select “Buy Now” and follow the enrollment wizard, which will guide you through the simple investment process. You will be prompted to provide your banking account number and ABA routing number to allow for the direct debit of funds from your savings or checking account. You will receive an email confirming receipt of your transaction as soon as you complete the investment process, as well as a subsequent statement in the mail confirming the number of shares purchased and their price.

            To invest by mail, simply fill out an Initial Enrollment Form, which can be obtained by calling the Plan Administrator at 1-800-697-8924, and enclose a check (minimum $250) made payable to “Computershare” for the value of your investment. The Initial Enrollment Form may also be downloaded from the Plan Administrator's website (www.computershare.com) and mailed to the Plan Administrator.

            Your cash payment, less applicable service charges and commissions, will be used to purchase shares for your account. Both full and fractional shares up to six decimal places (if applicable) will be credited to your Plan account. The Plan Administrator will commingle net dividend funds (if applicable) with cash payments from all participants to purchase shares either directly from Banner or on the open market.

            You may also purchase your initial shares by authorizing the Plan Administrator, on the Direct Debit Authorization Form or through the Plan Administrator's website, to make monthly purchases of a specified dollar amount, paid for by automatic withdrawal from your U.S. bank account if at least $50 a month for five consecutive months. Funds will be withdrawn from your bank account, via electronic funds transfer, or EFT, on the fourth day of each month (or the next business day if the fourth is not a business day). To terminate monthly purchases by automatic withdrawal, you must send the Plan Administrator written, signed instructions. It is your responsibility to notify the Plan Administrator if your direct debit information changes.

    How do I make optional cash investments of $40,000 or less if I am already a Banner shareholder?

             If you are a registered holder (i.e., your shares of Banner common stock are registered in the stock transfer books of Banner in your name), to make an investment online, log on towww.computershare.com and select “Investor Centre” and follow the online instructions. Optional cash investments may also be mailed to the Plan Administratorconnection with the tear-off portionobtaining of your account statementmaterials or via detailed written instructions.

            You may also authorize the Plan Administrator, onservices, or (c) which is a Direct Debit Authorization Formdirect or the Plan Administrator's website, to make monthly purchases of a specified dollar amount, paid for by automatic withdrawal from your U.S. bank account. Funds will be withdrawn from your bank account, via EFT, on the fourth day of each month (or the next business day if the fourth is not a business day). To terminate monthly purchases by automatic withdrawal, you must send the Plan Administrator written, signed instructions. It is your responsibility to notify the Plan Administrator if your direct debit information changes.

            In the event that any check, draft or electronic funds transfer you may tender or order as payment to the Plan Administrator to purchase Banner common stock is dishonored, refused or returned, you agree that the purchased shares when credited to your account may be sold, on the Plan Administrator's order without your consent or approval, to satisfy the amount owing on the purchase. The “amount owing” will include the purchase price paid, any purchase and sale transaction fees, any brokerage commissions and the Plan Administrator's returned check or failed electronic payment fee of $25.00. If the sale proceeds of purchased shares are insufficient to satisfy the amount owing, you authorize the

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    Plan Administrator to sell additional shares then credited to your account as necessary to cover the amount owing, without your further consent or authorization. The Plan Administrator may sell shares to cover an amount owingindirect obligation which arises as a result of your order inbanker's acceptances or bank letters of credit issued to secure obligations of the Company, or to secure the payment of revenue bonds issued for the benefit of the Company whether contingent or otherwise;

              (ii)          any manner consistent with applicable securities laws. Any sale for that purpose on a national securities market, such as the Nasdaq Global Select Market, will be considered to be commercially reasonable. You grant the Plan Administrator a security interest in all shares credited to your account including securities subsequently acquired and held or tendered for deposit, for purposesdebt of securing any amount owing asothers described in this paragraph.the preceding clause (i) which the Company has guaranteed or for which it is otherwise liable;

              If you are a beneficial owner (i.e., you are a beneficial owner(iii)          the obligation of Banner shares that are registered in a name other than your own, suchthe Company as lessee under any lease of property which is reflected on the Company's balance sheet as a bank, brokercapitalized lease; and

              (iv)          any deferral, amendment, renewal, extension, supplement or other nominee) and wish to purchase additional Banner shares, you must either become a registered holder by having your shares transferred into your own name and following the instructions above, or you must instruct your bank, broker or other nominee to invest on your behalf.

    How do I make cash investments in excessrefunding of $40,000?

           If you want to make optional cash investments in excess of $40,000 in any month or an initial investment in excess of $40,000, you must receive our written approval. To obtain our written approval, you must submit a request for waiver form. You can obtain a request for waiver form by contacting Banner directly by calling us at 1-509-526-8894. We have the sole discretion to approve or refuse any request to make an optional cash investment or initial investment in excessliability of the maximum amount and to set the terms of any such optional cash investment or initial investment.

            If we approve your request for waiver, the Plan Administrator will notify you promptly. In deciding whether to approve a request for waiver, we will consider relevant factors, including, but not limited to, the following:

    If requests for waiver are submitted for an aggregate amount in excess of the amount we are then willing to accept, we may honor such requests in order of receipt, pro rata or by any other method that we determine to be appropriate. We may determine, in our discretion, the maximum amount that an existing shareholder or new investor may invest pursuant to the Plan or the maximum number of shares that may be purchased pursuant to a request for waiver.

    How do I enroll to have my cash dividends reinvested?

            If you are the registered holder of shares, you may chose to reinvest all, a portion or none of the cash dividends paid on your shares reinvested under the Plan in additional shares by accessing your account online atwww.computershare.com or by completing an enrollment form and returning it to the Plan Administrator. You can change your dividend reinvestment election at any time by accessing the Plan Administrator's website atwww.computershare.com or by completing and signing a new enrollment form and returning it to the Plan Administrator. For your new or changed participation to be effective for a particular dividend, your notification must be received on or before the record date for that dividend.

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    You must choose one of the following when completing the enrollment form:

    (a)Full Dividend Reinvestment –If you select this option, the Plan Administrator will reinvest all cash dividends paid on all of the Banner shares registered in your name and you will be able to make optional cash payments for the purchase of additional shares in accordance with the Plan.

    Or

    (b)Partial Dividend Reinvestment– If you select this option, the Plan Administrator will pay you dividends in cash on the number of shares of Banner common stock that you specify in the appropriate space on the enrollment form and apply the balance of your dividends toward the purchase of additional shares in accordance with the Plan. This option also permits you to make optional cash payments for the purchase of additional shares in accordance with the Plan.

    Or

    (c)Voluntary Cash Payments Only (No Dividend Reinvestment) – If you select this option, your dividends will not be reinvested. Instead, you will receive payment by check or automatic deposit for all of your cash dividends. This option also permits you to make optional cash payments for the purchase of additional shares in accordance with the Plan.

    You may select any of the above investment options. If no option is selected by you on the enrollment form which you return, you will be enrolled in the Full Dividend Reinvestment Option. Regardless of your investment choice, all shares purchased for you through the Plan will be credited to your account by the Plan Administrator until you direct that these shares be sold or issued to you in certificate form.preceding clauses (i), (ii) and (iii).

              If you are a beneficial owner of Banner shares, you must instruct your bank, broker or nominee regarding reinvestment of dividends.

    Must I reinvest dividends?

            No. Dividend reinvestment is an option offered under the Plan. When you enroll in the Plan by filling out the enrollment form, you may indicate whether you want cash dividends on your shares reinvested. If you do"Senior debt" does not indicate a preference, however, all cash dividends on your Plan shares will be reinvested.

            If you choose to receive cash dividends on some or all of your shares, your cash dividend can be deposited directly to your bank account. If you are interested in this option, contact the Plan Administrator or your bank, broker or nominee, as appropriate, and request forms for Authorization for Electronic Direct Deposit. Alternatively, if you are a registered holder, you may enroll to receive your cash dividends via direct deposit by accessing the Plan Administrator's website atwww.computershare.com. Select “Investor Centre” and follow the online instructions. If you elect to receive cash dividends, and do not enroll in the direct deposit option or do not enroll in the Plan at all, your dividend payments will continue to be sent, by check, to the address of record on the account.

    What is the price I will pay for shares for reinvested dividends and cash investments under $40,000?

             If we direct the Plan Administrator to purchase shares of common stock directly from us with respect to reinvested dividends or optional cash investments of $40,000 or less, the purchase price of shares of common stock purchased will be the average of the closing sales prices of the shares of common stock as reported on the Nasdaq Global Select Market for the five trading days immediately preceding the investment date, less the Plan discount, if any, then in effect. A “trading day” is any day on which trades are reported on the Nasdaq Global Select Market. We may offer discounts ranging from 0% to 5%. At our discretion, the discount may be offered at variable rates on one, all or a combination of the sources of investments, or not at all.

            If the Plan Administrator purchases shares of common stock in market transactions, then your share price will be the weighted average price of all shares purchased for that investment. The share price is the same for all participants

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    in a given investment (i.e., initial investors, current investors sending optional cash payments and participants reinvesting their dividends).

    What is the investment date for reinvested dividends and cash investments under $40,000?

            The “Purchase Date” is the date or dates on which the Plan Administrator purchases shares of our common stock for the Plan, as described below.

            Dividend Reinvestments. If the Plan Administrator acquires shares directly from us, it will combine the dividend funds of all Plan participants whose dividends are automatically reinvested and will generally invest such dividend funds on the dividend payment date (and any succeeding trading days necessary to complete the order). If the dividend payment date falls on a day that is not a Nasdaq Global Select Market trading day, then the investment will occur on the next trading day. In addition, if the dividend is payable on a day when optional cash payments are to be invested, dividend funds may be commingled withinclude (1) any such pending cash investments and a combined order may be executed. If the Plan Administrator acquires shares from parties other than us through open market transactions, such purchases will occur during a period beginning on the day that would be deemed the Purchase Date if the shares were acquired directly from us and ending no later than 3 0 days following the date on which we paid the applicable cash dividend, except where completion at a later date is necessaryindebtedness, obligation or advisable under any applicable federal or state securities laws or regulations. The record date associated with a particular dividend isliability referred to in this Planclauses (i) through (iv) above as a “dividend record date.”

            Initial and Optional Cash Investments up to $40,000. Ifwhich, in the Plan Administrator acquires shares directly from us, theninstrument creating or evidencing the Purchase Date for optional cash investments upsame or pursuant to $40,000 will be onwhich the tenth calendar day of each month,same is outstanding, it is provided that such indebtedness, obligation or the next trading day if the tenth dayliability is not a trading day. Ifsuperior in right of payment to the Plan Administrator acquires shares from third parties other than us through open market transactions, it will attemptsubordinated debt securities, or ranks pari passu with the subordinated debt securities, (2) any such indebtedness, obligation or liability which is subordinated to buy our common stock inindebtedness of the open market through a registered broker-dealer. Such purchases will begin onCompany to substantially the day that would be deemed the Purchase Date if the shares were acquired directly from us and will be completed no later than 35 days following such date, except where completion at a later date is necessarysame extent as or advisable under any applicable federal or state securities laws or regulations.

            If you are investing by mail, the Plan Administrator must receive your physical check at least two business days prior to a Purchase Date. Initial and optional cash investments received aftergreater extent than the applicable investment date deadline will be applied to purchase shares on the following Purchase Date. If yousubordinated debt securities are investing online, please refer to your confirmation page for the estimated debit date for your one-time deduction. The Plan Administrator will commingle all funds received from participants. Once you have placed your order, you may not request a cash refund or otherwise change your order. No interest will be paid on funds pending investment held by the Plan Administrator.

    What is the price I will pay and what will be the investment date for cash investments of more than $40,000?

             Shares of Banner common stock purchased pursuantsubordinated, (3) any indebtedness to a request for waiver for optional cash investmentssubsidiary of more than $40,000 will be acquired at a price to you equalthe Company and (4) the subordinated debt securities.

              The subordinated indenture does not limit or prohibit the incurrence of additional senior indebtedness, which may include indebtedness that is senior to the averagesubordinated debt securities, but subordinate to our other obligations. Any prospectus supplement relating to a particular series of subordinated debt securities will set forth the aggregate amount of our indebtedness senior to the subordinated debt securities as of a recent practicable date.

              The prospectus supplement may further describe the provisions, if any, which may apply to the subordination of the high and low sales prices, computed upsubordinated debt securities of a particular series.

    Restrictive Covenants

              The subordinated indenture does not contain any significant restrictive covenants. The prospectus supplement relating to six decimal places,a series of subordinated debt securities may describe certain restrictive covenants, if necessary, of Banner's common stock on the Nasdaq Global Select Market for each trading day during the pricing period. The pricing period for optional investments made pursuantany, to an approved request for waiver will be the day or days set forth in the request for waiver, which we may be bound under the investment date or up to ten trading days prior to and including an investment date. A request for waiver may specify one or more investment dates. Shares purchased with optional cash investments of more than $40,000 pursuant to a request for waiver may be purchased at a discount from the purchase price and may be subject to a threshold price and will only be purchased directly from us, and not through open market transactions .subordinated indenture.

    Governing Law

              Unless we waive our right to do so, we may establish for any investment date a minimum price (the “threshold price”) for purchasing shares with optional cash investments made pursuant to written requests for waiver. We will, at least two business days prior to the commencement of the pricing period for an investment date, determine whether to establish a threshold price and, if a threshold price is established, its amount and so notify the Plan Administrator. The determination whether to establish a threshold price and, if a threshold price is established, its amount will be made by us in our discretion after a review of current market conditions, the level of participation in the Plan, and current and projected capital needs.

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            The threshold price for optional cash investments made pursuant to written requests for waiver, if established for any investment date, will be a stated dollar amount that the average of the high and low sales prices of Banner's common stock on the Nasdaq Global Select Market for each trading day of the relevant pricing period (not adjusted for discounts, if any) must equal or exceed. If the threshold price is not satisfied for a trading day in the pricing period, then that trading dayindentures and the trading prices for that daydebt securities will be excluded from that pricing period and a pro rata portion of the participant's cash will be returned, without interest. Thus, for example, if an approved request for waiver specifies that the pricing period is one day (that is, the investment date) and the threshold price is not satisfied on that day, then no investment will be made and the participant's cash will be returned in full. Likewise, if the thre shold price is not satisfied for two of the five trading days in a particular pricing period, then the average sales price for purchases and the amount of optional cash investments which may be invested will be based upon the remaining three trading days when the threshold price is satisfied. In such case, for each trading day on which the threshold price is not satisfied, one-fifth of the optional cash investment made by a participant pursuant to a request for waiver would be returned to such participant, without interest, as soon as practicable after the applicable investment date. Similarly, a pro rata portion of the participant's cash will be returned if there are fewer trading days prior to the investment date than are specified as the pricing period in the request for waiver or if no trades in Banner common stock are reported on the Nasdaq Global Select Market for a trading day during the pricing period, due to a market disruption or for any other reason.

            We may elect to activate for any particular pricing period the pricing period extension feature, which will provide that the initial pricing period will be extended by the number of days during such period that the threshold price is not satisfied, or on which there are no trades of our common stock reported by the Nasdaq Global Select Market, subject to a maximum of five trading days. If we elect to activate the pricing period extension feature and the threshold price is satisfied for any additional day that has been added to the initial pricing period, then that day will be included as one of the trading days for the pricing period in lieu of the day on which the threshold price was not met or trades of our common stock were not reported. For example, if the determined pricing period is ten days, and the threshold price is not satisfied for three out of those ten days in the initial pricing period, and we had previously announced at the time of the request for w aiver acceptance that the pricing period extension feature was activated, then the pricing period will automatically be extended, and if the threshold price is satisfied on the next three trading days (or a subset thereof), then those three days (or a subset thereof) will be included in the pricing period in lieu of the three days on which the threshold price was not met. As a result, the purchase price will be based upon the ten trading days of the initial and extended pricing period on which the threshold price was satisfied and all of the cash investment will be invested (rather than 30% being returned).

            The threshold price and pricing period extension concepts and return procedure discussed above apply only to optional cash investments made pursuant to written requests for waiver. Setting a threshold price for an investment date shall not affect the setting of a threshold price for any subsequent investment date.

             For any particular investment date, we may waive our right to set a threshold price for optional cash investments that exceed $40,000. Neither Banner nor the Plan Administrator shall be required to provide any written notice to participants as to the threshold price for any investment date. Participants, however, may ascertain whether the threshold price applicable to an investment date pursuant to a request for waiver has been set or waived, as applicable, by telephoning Banner at 1-509-526-8894.

            The purchase price will not be known until the purchase is completed. Participants should be aware that the price may fluctuate during the period between submission of a purchase request, its receipt by the Plan Administrator, and the ultimate purchase on the open market.

    How do I keep track of the transactions in my account?

             If you are a registered holder, the Plan Administrator will mail a year-to-date summary plan statement after each cash dividend. In addition, a statement will be mailed to you after each purchase, which statement will include the number of shares purchased and the purchase price. You may also view your transaction history online by logging into your account on the Plan Administrator's website atwww.computershare.com. Details available online include share price, commission and fees paid, and transaction type and date.

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            If you are a beneficial owner, you must contact your bank, broker or nominee for information regarding transactions in your account.

    What is safekeeping of certificates and how do I submit my certificates?

            If you own shares of Banner common stock in stock certificate form, you may elect to deposit the shares represented by those stock certificates into your Plan account for safekeeping with the Plan Administrator. The Plan Administrator will credit these shares to your Plan account. You may later request issuance of a certificate from the Plan Administrator at any time.        

            To deposit shares with the Plan Administrator, send your stock certificates to the Plan Administrator at the address listed on page 8. We recommend that you send your certificates via registered mail and insured for 3% of the total value of the shares to protect against loss in transit.

    How do I withdraw shares held in my Plan account?

            You may request that the Plan Administrator issue a certificate for some or all of the shares held in your Plan account by doing any of the following: 


    The Plan Administrator will issue a certificate in the exact registered name shown on your Plan statement. Certificates will be sent by first class mail, generally within a few days of receiving your request. There is no charge to you for this service.

    How do I transfer shares to another person?

            You may transfer ownership of some or all of your Plan shares to another person, whether by gift, private sale, or otherwise. In order to transfer some or all of your shares, you must properly complete a Transfer of Ownership Form, or an executed stock power, and return it to the Plan Administrator. Transfers may be made in book-entry or certificated form.

            Requests for transfer of book-entry shares held under the Plan are subject to the same requirements as the transfer of our common stock certificates, including the requirement of a medallion signature guarantee. You may request a copy of the Transfer of Ownership Form by contacting the Plan Administrator at 1-800-697-8924 or by downloading the forms from the Plan Administrator's website atwww.computershare.com.

    How do I sell shares held in my account?

            You may instruct the Plan Administrator to sell shares held in your Plan account by doing any of the following:

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    If there is more than one individual owner on the Plan account, all participants must authorize the transaction and sign the instruction.

            If you want to sell any shares through the Plan that are held in certificate form, the shares must first be deposited and converted into book-entry shares.

            Upon receipt of your request to sell Plan shares, the Plan Administrator will make every effort to process your order on the day it is received. To do so, your sale instructions must be received by 1:00 p.m. Eastern time on a business day during which the Administrator and the Nasdaq Global Select Market are open. Sales will be made through an independent brokerage organization at the then-current market price. The Plan Administrator will promptly mail you a check for the proceeds, less an administrative fee of $15 and commissions of $0.12 per share sold. Computershare has sole discretion in all matters related to the sale. You cannot specify a price or time to sell your book-entry Plan shares.

            The selling price will not be known until the sale is completed. Participants should be aware that the price may fluctuate during the period between a request for sale, its receipt by the Plan Administrator, and the ultimate sale on the open market. Instructions sent to the Plan Administrator may not be rescinded.

            All sale requests having an anticipated market value of $25,000 or more must be submitted in written form. In addition, all sale requests within thirty (30) days of an address change to your account must be submitted in written form.

    How do I close my account?

            If you are a registered holder, you may terminate Plan participation by directing the Plan Administrator to sell all of the shares in your account. You may submit a signed written instruction to the Plan Administrator, complete the tear-off form from your account statement, or you may utilize the Plan Administrator's website. Follow the sales procedure outlined under “How do I sell shares held in my account?” above, making certain to elect the sale of all Plan shares.

            Alternatively, you may elect to receive a certificate for the full shares held in your Plan account and to sell any fractional share remaining. In such case, a certificate will be issued for the whole shares and a cash payment will be made for any remaining fractional share. That cash payment will be based upon the current market price of the common stock, less any service fee, any applicable brokerage commission and any other costs of sale.

            You must specifically inform the Plan Administrator that you wish to terminate participation in the Plan (which option is listed separately on the tear-off form attached to Plan statements). If you fail to do so, future dividends on non-Plan shares will continue to be reinvested in accordance with your pre-termination instructions, until you direct the Plan Administrator otherwise.

            If you are a beneficial owner, you must contact your bank, broker or nominee to close your account.

    Additional Information Regarding the Plan

           We reserve the right to curtail or suspend transaction processing until the completion of any stock dividends, stock splits or other corporate actions. Any stock dividends, distributions or stock split shares distributed on stock held by the Plan Administrator for the participant in the Plan will be credited directly into the participant's account.

            Plan participants may vote all shares (full and fractional) held in their Plan account.

          Neither Banner nor the Plan Administrator will be liable for any act performed in good faith or for any good faith omission to act, including, without limitation, any claim of liability (i) arising out of failure to terminate a participant's account, sell stock held in the Plan, or invest optional cash payments or dividends or (ii) with respect to the prices at which stock is purchased or sold for the participant's account and the time such purchases or sales are made.

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            If, at any time, the total number of shares in the participant's account is less than one share, any remaining fraction may be sold and the account closed. See“What are the fees associated with participation?” above for applicable fees associated with the sale of shares.

            We reserve the right to modify the terms of the Plan, including applicable fees, or to terminate the Plan at any time. In addition, we reserve the right to interpret and regulate the Plan as we deem necessary or desirable in connection with its operation. The Plan is generally not for use by institutional investors or financial intermediaries. The Plan shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the laws of the State of Washington. Participation in the Plan, via any of the means outlined herein, shall constitute an offer by the participant to establish an agency relationship with the Plan Administrator and shall be governed by the terms and conditions of the Plan.New York.

    Neither Banner nor the Plan Administrator will provide any advice, make any recommendations, or offer any opinion with respect to whether or not you should purchase or sell shares or otherwise participate under the Plan. You must make independent investment decisions based on your own judgment and research. The shares held in Plan accounts are not subject to protection under the Securities Investor Protection Act of 1970.


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    Limitation of Liability

            The Plan provides that neither we nor the Plan Administrator, nor any agent will be liable in administering the Plan for any act done in good faith or any omission to act in good faith in connection with the Plan. This limitation includes, but is not limited to, any claims of liability relating to:

    The foregoing limitation of liability does not represent a waiver of any rights you may have under applicable securities laws.

    USE OF PROCEEDS

            We will receive proceeds from purchases of our common stock through the Plan only if the purchases are made directly from us. We have no current specific plan for the use of any such proceeds other than for general business purposes. The purpose for offering our shares through the Plan is to provide a benefit to our shareholders while potentially increasing the capitalization of Banner Corporation. We will not receive any proceeds from shares purchased by the Plan Administrator in open market or negotiated purchases. We do not know the number of shares that participants will purchase under the Plan or the prices at which the shares will be sold to participants.

    CERTAIN FEDERAL INCOME TAX CONSEQUENCES

            The following is a brief summary of certain federal income tax considerations of participation in the Plan. This summary is for general information only and does not constitute tax advice. The information in this section is based on the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”), Treasury Regulations thereunder, current administrative interpretations and practices of the Internal Revenue Service (the “IRS”), and court decisions, all as of the date of this prospectus. Future legislation, Treasury Regulations, administrative interpretations and practices or court decisions could significantly change the current law or adversely affect existing interpretations of current law. Any change could apply retroactively to transactions preceding the date of the change.

            The tax consequences for participants who do not reside in the United States will vary from jurisdiction to jurisdiction. In the case of a foreign shareholder whose distributions are subject to U.S. income tax withholding, the amount of the tax to be withheld will be deducted from the amount of the distribution and the balance will be reinvested.

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    You are urged to consult your tax advisor to determine the particular tax consequences that may result from your participation in the Plan.

    Tax Consequences of Dividend Reinvestment

            In the case of shares of common stock purchased by the Plan Administrator from us, you will be treated, for federal income tax purposes, as having received a distribution equal to the fair market value, as of the investment date, of the shares of common stock purchased with your reinvested dividends. This amount includes the discount, if any, on reinvestment provided for by the Plan. The fair market value should generally equal the average of the daily high and low sale prices of our shares of common stock, as quoted by the Nasdaq Global Select Market for the investment date.

            In the case of shares (including any fractional shares) purchased in market transactions or in negotiated transactions with third parties, you will be treated as having received a distribution equal to the amount of cash dividends used to make those purchases, plus the amount of any brokerage fees paid by us in connection with those purchases.

            The distributions described above will constitute taxable dividend income to you to the extent of our current and accumulated earnings and profits allocable to the distributions.  Under current law, which is scheduled to sunset at the end of 2008, dividend income will generally be taxed to you (if you are an individual) at the rates applicable to long-term capital gains, provided that a minimum holding period and other requirements are satisfied. Dividends received after 2008 will be taxable to you at ordinary income rates. Any distributions in excess of our current and accumulated earnings and profits will constitute a return of capital that will reduce the basis of your shares of common stock by the amount of the excess distribution, but not below zero. To the extent that excess distributions exceed the tax basis in your shares, and provided that you have held your shares as capital assets, you will recognize capital gain, which will be taxable as long-ter m capital gain if you have held your shares for more than one year.

            The tax basis of your shares of stock purchased with reinvested dividends will generally equal the total amount of distributions you are treated as having received, as described above. Your holding period in shares of common stock (including fractional shares) acquired pursuant to the Plan will generally begin on the day after the date of the dividend.

    Tax Consequences of Optional Cash Payments

             Participants who choose to purchase additional shares by electing optional cash payments, and who have also elected to have their dividends reinvested, will be treated as having received a distribution equal to the excess, if any, of the fair market value on the investment date of the shares of common stock purchased over the amount of the cash payment made by the participant. The fair market value should generally equal the average of the daily high and low sale prices of our shares of common stock, as quoted by the Nasdaq Global Select Market for the investment date. Any such distributions will be subject to tax in accordance with the rules described above under “Tax Consequences of Dividend Reinvestment.” The tax treatment of participants who purchase shares by electing optional cash payments or as an initial cash investment, but who have not elected to have their dividends reinvested, is not entirely clear under existing law. However, t he IRS has indicated in certain private letter rulings that such individuals will not be treated as having received a taxable distribution with respect to any discount in purchase price offered pursuant to the Plan. Private letter rulings are not binding on the IRS and cannot be relied upon by any taxpayer other than those to whom the ruling is addressed. Nevertheless such rulings often reflect the current thinking of the IRS. Therefore, the tax treatment of a purchase of shares under the Plan with an initial cash investment or an optional cash investment may differ depending on whether you are participating in the dividend reinvestment feature of the Plan.

            The tax basis of shares of common stock acquired by optional cash payments or as an initial investment will generally equal the total amount of distribution you are treated as having received, as described above, plus the amount of the cash payment. Your holding period in such shares (including fractional shares) generally begins on the day after the date the Plan makes the purchase.

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    Tax Consequences of Dispositions

            You may realize gain or loss when shares of common stock are sold or exchanged, whether the sale or exchange is made at your request upon withdrawal from the Plan or takes place after withdrawal from or termination of the Plan and, in the case of a fractional share, when you receive a cash payment for a fraction of a share of common stock credited to your account. Assuming that shares have been held as capital assets, such gain or loss will be capital in nature. The amount of the capital gain or loss will be the difference between the amount that you receive for the shares of common stock (including fractional shares) and your tax basis in such shares or fraction thereof. Capital gains of individuals derived with respect to capital assets held for more than one year are generally eligible for reduced rates of taxation. The deductibility of capital losses is subject to limitations.

    Backup Withholding and Information Reporting

            Under certain circumstances described below, we, or the Plan Administrator may be required to deduct backup withholding on distributions paid to a shareholder, regardless of whether those distributions are reinvested. Similarly, the Plan Administrator may be required to deduct backup withholding from all proceeds of sales of common shares held in a Plan account. A participant will be subject to backup withholding if: (1) the participant has failed to properly furnish us and the Plan Administrator with its taxpayer identification number; (2) the IRS notifies us or the Plan Administrator that the identification number furnished by the participant is incorrect; (3) the IRS notifies us or the Plan Administrator that backup withholding should be commenced because the participant has failed to report properly distributions paid to it; or (4) when required to do so, the participant has failed to certify, under penalties of perjury, that the participant is not subject to b ackup withholding.

            Backup withholding amounts will be withheld from dividends before those dividends are reinvested under the Plan. Therefore, only this reduced amount will be reinvested in Plan shares. Withheld amounts will generally constitute a tax payment credited on such participant's federal income tax return.

            The Plan Administrator will report to you the amount of any dividends credited to your account as well as any brokerage trading fees or other related charges paid by us on your behalf. Such information will also be furnished to the IRS to the extent required by law.


    PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION

            Subject to the discussion below, we may, at our sole discretion, distribute newly issued shares of our common stock sold under the Plan. Alternatively, we may purchase shares on the open market to be distributed pursuant to the Plan. You will be responsible for certain fees, commissions and expenses in connection with such transactions. The following is a summary of fees for which you will be responsible:

    Dividend Reinvestment   None  
    Optional Cash Payments $5.00 fee for investments made via check or Internet payment (no fee per transaction for investments made via recurring automatic investments )      
    Sale/Termination$15 per transaction  
    SafekeepingNone
    Purchase Commissions$0.12 per share on purchases (including reinvestment purchases) for shares purchased on the open market, in addition to the applicable fees above        
     Sale Commissions $0.12 per share sold

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            In connection with the administration of the Plan, we may be requested to approve investments made pursuant to requests for waiver by or on behalf of existing shareholders and new investors who may be engaged in the securities business.

            Persons who acquire shares of our common stock through the Plan and resell them shortly after acquiring them, including coverage of short positions, under certain circumstances, may be participating in a distribution of securities that would require compliance with Regulation M under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, and may be considered to be underwriters within the meaning of the Securities Act of 1933. We will not extend to any such person any rights or privileges other than those to which he, she or it would be entitled as a participant, nor will we enter into any agreement with any such person regarding the resale or distribution by any such person of the shares of our common stock so purchased. We may, however, accept optional cash payments and initial investments made pursuant to requests for waiver by such persons.

            From time to time, financial intermediaries, including brokers and dealers, and other persons may engage in positioning transactions in order to benefit from any waiver discounts applicable to optional cash payments and initial investments made pursuant to requests for waiver under the Plan. Those transactions may cause fluctuations in the trading volume of our common stock. Financial intermediaries and such other persons who engage in positioning transactions may be deemed to be underwriters. We have no arrangements or understandings, formal or informal, with any person relating to the sale of shares of our common stock to be received under the Plan. We reserve the right to modify, suspend or terminate participation in the Plan by otherwise eligible persons to eliminate practices that are inconsistent with the purposes of the Plan.

    WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION

            We file annual, quarterly and current reports, proxy statements and other information with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”). You may read and copy materials that we have filed with the SEC at the SEC's public reference room located at 100 F Street, N.E., Washington, D.C. 20549. Please call the SEC at 1-800-SEC-0330 for further information on the public reference room. Our SEC filings also are available to the public on the SEC's website atwww.sec.gov, which contains reports, proxies and information statements and other information regarding issuers that file electronically. In addition, our filings are available on our website atwww.bannerbank.com.

    INCORPORATION OF CERTAIN DOCUMENTS BY REFERENCE

            We are incorporating by reference certain documents we file with the Securities and Exchange Commission, which means that we can disclose important information to you by referring you to those documents. Any information that we reference this way is considered part of this prospectus.

            We incorporate by reference into this prospectus the documents listed below and any future filings we make with the SEC under sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 after the date of this prospectus. These additional documents include periodic reports, such as annual reports on Form 10-K, quarterly reports on Form 10-Q and current reports on Form 8-K (other than information furnished under Items 2.02 and 7.01, which is deemed not to be incorporated by reference in this prospectus). You should review these filings as they may disclose a change in our business, prospects, financial condition or other affairs after the date of this prospectus.

            This prospectus incorporates by reference the documents listed below that we have filed with the SEC but have not been included or delivered with this document:

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    These documents contain important information about us and our financial condition. Information contained in this prospectus supersedes information incorporated by reference that we have filed with the SEC prior to the date of this prospectus, while information that we file with the SEC after the date of this prospectus that is incorporated by reference will automatically update and supersede this information.

            Our filings are available on our website,www.bannerbank.com. Information contained in or linked to our website is not a part of this prospectus. You may also request a copy of these filings, at no cost, by writing or telephoning us at:

                            Banner Corporation
                            Attention: Albert H. Marshall
                            10 S. First Avenue
                            Walla Walla, Washington 99362
                            (509) 526-8894


    DESCRIPTION OF SECURITIESCOMMON STOCK AND PREFERRED STOCK

            Immediately after the closing of this offering, our


              Our authorized capital stock will consist of consists of:
              As of June 30,December 13, 2006, there were outstanding 12,269,57812,313,290 shares of our common stock heldissued and outstanding and no shares of recordour preferred stock issued and outstanding.

              In this section we describe the material features and rights of our capital stock. The summary does not purport to be exhaustive and is qualified in its entirety by approximately 949 shareholders. There were also outstanding optionsreference to purchase 764,898our Articles of Incorporation, Bylaws, and to applicable Washington law.

    Common Stock

              We may issue, either separately or together with other securities, shares of common stock. There were no sharesUpon our receipt of preferredthe full specified purchase price, the common stock issued will be fully paid and nonassessable. A prospectus supplement relating to an offering of common stock, or options to purchase preferredother securities convertible or exchangeable for, or exercisable into, common stock, outstanding.

    Common Stockwill describe the relevant offering terms, including the number of shares offered, the initial offering price, and market price and dividend information, as well as, if applicable, information on other related securities.

              EachExcept as described below under"--Anti-takeover Effects - Restrictions on Acquisitions of Securities," each holder of common stock is entitled to one vote for each share on all matters to be voted upon by the shareholders. There are no cumulative voting rights. Subject to preferences to which holders of any shares of preferred stock issued after the sale of the common shares in this offering may be entitled, holders of common stock will be entitled to receive ratably any dividends that may be declared from time to time by the Board of Directors out of funds legally available for that purpose. In the event of our liquidation, dissolution or winding up, holders of common stock will be entitled to share in our assets remaining after the payment of liabilities and the satisfaction of any liquidation preference granted to the holders of any shares of preferred stock that may be outstanding. Holders of common stock have no preemptive or conversion rights or other subscription rights. There are no redemption or sinking fund provisions that apply to the common stock. All shares of c ommon stock outstanding are, and the shares of common stock offered in this offering, when theycurrently outstanding are issued and paid for, will be, fully paid and nonassessable. The rights, preferences and privileges of the holders of common stock are subject to, and may be adversely affected by, the rights of the holders of shares of any series of preferred stock that we may designate in the future.

    Preferred Stock

              The Boardfollowing summary contains a description of Directors is authorized, subjectthe general terms of the preferred stock that we may issue. The specific terms of any series of preferred stock will be described in the prospectus supplement relating to that series of preferred stock. The terms of any limitations imposed by law, without shareholder approval,series of preferred stock may differ from timethe terms described below. Certain provisions of the preferred stock described below and in any prospectus supplement are not complete. You should refer to time



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    the amendment to issueour Articles of Incorporation, with respect to the establishment of a series of preferred stock which will be filed with the SEC in connection with the offering of such series of preferred stock.

    General. Our Articles of Incorporation permits our board of directors to authorize the issuance of up to a total of 500,000 shares of preferred stock, par value $0.01, per share, in one or more series, without shareholder action. The board of directors can fix the designation, powers, preferences and rights of each series. Therefore, without shareholder approval (except as may be required by the rules of The Nasdaq Stock Market or any other exchange or market on which our securities may then be listed or quoted), our board of directors can authorize the issuance of preferred stock with voting, dividend, liquidation and conversion and other rights that could dilute the voting power of the common stock and may assist management in impeding any unfriendly takeover or attempted change in control. See"--Anti-Takeover Effects - Authorized Shares."

              The preferred stock has the terms described below unless otherwise provided in the prospectus supplement relating to a particular series of the preferred stock. You should read the prospectus supplement relating to the particular series of the preferred stock being offered for specific terms, including:
              Upon our receipt of the full specified purchase price, the preferred stock will, when issued, be fully paid and nonassessable. Unless otherwise specified in the prospectus supplement, each series of the preferred stock will rank equally as to dividends and liquidation rights in all respects with each other series of preferred stock. The rights of holders of shares of each series of preferred stock will be subordinate to those of our general creditors.

              We may, at our option, with respect to any series of the preferred stock, elect to offer fractional interests in shares of preferred stock. The fractional interest will be specified in the prospectus supplement relating to a particular series of the preferred stock.



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    Rank. Any series of the preferred stock will, with respect to the priority of the payment of dividends and the priority of payments upon liquidation, winding up and dissolution, rank:
    Dividends. Holders of the preferred stock of each series will be entitled to receive, when, as and if declared by our board of directors, cash dividends at such rates and on such dates described, if any, in the prospectus supplement. Different series of preferred stock may be entitled to dividends at different rates or based on different methods of calculation. The dividend rate may be fixed or variable or both. Dividends will be payable to the holders of record as they appear on our stock books on record dates fixed by our board of directors, as specified in the applicable prospectus supplement.

              Dividends on any series of the preferred stock may be cumulative or noncumulative, as described in the applicable prospectus supplement. If our board of directors does not declare a dividend payable on a dividend payment date on any series of noncumulative preferred stock, then the holders of that noncumulative preferred stock will have no right to receive a dividend for that dividend payment date, and we will have no obligation to pay the dividend accrued for that period, whether or not dividends on that series are declared payable on any future dividend payment dates. Dividends on any series of cumulative preferred stock will accrue from the date we initially issue shares of such series or such other date specified in the applicable prospectus supplement.

              No full dividends may be declared or paid or funds set apart for the payment of any dividends on any parity securities unless dividends have been paid or set apart for payment on the preferred stock. If full dividends are not paid, the preferred stock will share dividends pro rata with the parity securities. No dividends may be declared or paid or funds set apart for the payment of dividends on any junior securities unless full cumulative dividends for all dividend periods terminating on or prior to the date of the declaration or payment will have been paid or declared and a sum sufficient for the payment set apart for payment on the preferred stock.

              Our ability to pay dividends on our preferred stock is subject to policies established by the FRB.

    Rights Upon Liquidation. If we dissolve, liquidate or wind up our affairs, either voluntarily or involuntarily, the holders of each series of preferred stock will be entitled to receive, before any payment or distribution of assets is made to holders of junior securities, liquidating distributions in the amount described in the prospectus supplement relating to that



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    series of the preferred stock, plus an amount equal to accrued and unpaid dividends and, if the series of the preferred stock is cumulative, for all dividend periods prior to that point in time. If the amounts payable with respect to the preferred stock of any series and any other parity securities are not paid in full, the holders of the preferred stock of that series and of the parity securities will share proportionately in the distribution of our assets in proportion to the full liquidation preferences to which they are entitled. After the holders of preferred stock and the parity securities are paid in full, they will have no right or claim to any of our remaining assets.

              Because we are a bank holding company, our rights, the rights of our creditors and preferences,of our shareholders, including the holders of the preferred stock offered by this prospectus, to participate in the assets of any subsidiary upon the subsidiary's liquidation or recapitalization may be subject to the prior claims of the subsidiary's creditors except to the extent that we may ourselves be a creditor with recognized claims against the subsidiary.

    Redemption. We may provide that a series of the preferred stock may be redeemable, in whole or in part, at our option with prior FRB approval. In addition, a series of preferred stock may be subject to mandatory redemption pursuant to a sinking fund or otherwise. The redemption provisions that may apply to a series of preferred stock, including the redemption dates and the redemption prices for that series, will be described in the prospectus supplement.

              In the event of partial redemptions of preferred stock, whether by mandatory or optional redemption, our board of directors will determine the method for selecting the shares to be redeemed, which may be by lot or pro rata or by any other method determined to be equitable.

              On or after a redemption date, unless we default in the payment of the redemption price, dividends will cease to accrue on shares of preferred stock called for redemption. In addition, all rights of holders of the shares will terminate except for the right to receive the redemption price.

              Unless otherwise specified in the applicable prospectus supplement for any series of preferred stock, if any dividends on any other series of preferred stock ranking equally as to payment of dividends and liquidation rights with such series of preferred stock are in arrears, no shares of any such series of preferred stock may be redeemed, whether by mandatory or optional redemption, unless all shares of preferred stock are redeemed, and we will not purchase any shares of such series of preferred stock. This requirement, however, will not prevent us from acquiring such shares pursuant to a purchase or exchange offer made on the same terms to holders of all such shares outstanding.

    Voting Rights. Unless otherwise described in the applicable prospectus supplement, holders of the preferred stock will have no voting rights dividend rights, conversion rights, redemption privilegesexcept as otherwise required by law or in our Articles of Incorporation.

              Under regulations adopted by the FRB, if the holders of any series of the preferred stock are or become entitled to vote for the election of directors, such series may then be deemed a "class of voting securities" and liquidation preferences,a holder of 10% or more of such series may then be subject to regulation as a bank holding company. In addition, at such time as such series is deemed a class of voting securities, (a) any other bank holding company may be required to obtain the approval of the FRB to acquire or retain 5% or more of that series and (b) any person other than a bank



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    holding company may be required to obtain the approval of the FRB to acquire or retain 10% or more of that series.

    Exchangeability. We may provide that the holders of shares of preferred stock of any series may be required at any time or at maturity to exchange those shares for our debt securities. The applicable prospectus supplement will specify the terms of any such exchange.

    Anti-takeover Effects

              The provisions of our Articles of Incorporation, our Bylaws, and Washington law summarized in the following paragraphs may have anti-takeover effects and may delay, defer, or prevent a tender offer or takeover attempt that a shareholder might consider to be in such shareholder's best interest, including those attempts that might result in a premium over the market price for the shares held by shareholders, and may make removal of management more difficult.

    Authorized Shares. Our Articles of Incorporation authorize the issuance of 25,000,000 shares of common stock and 500,000 shares of preferred stock. These shares of common stock and preferred stock provide our Board of Directors with as much flexibility as possible to effect, among other transactions, financings, acquisitions, stock dividends, stock splits and the exercise of employee stock options. However, these additional authorized shares may also be used by the Board of Directors may determine.consistent with its fiduciary duty to deter future attempts to gain control of us. The issuanceBoard of Directors also has sole authority to determine the terms of any one or more series of preferred stock, while providing desirable flexibilityincluding voting rights, conversion rates, and liquidation preferences. As a result of the ability to fix voting rights for a series of preferred stock, the Board has the power to the extent consistent with its fiduciary duty to issue a series of preferred stock to persons friendly to management in connectionorder to attempt to block a tender offer, merger or other transaction by which a third party seeks control of us, and thereby assist members of management to retain their positions.

    Restrictions on Acquisitions of Securities. Our Articles of Incorporation provide for restrictions on voting rights of shares owned in excess of 10% of any class of our equity security. Specifically, our Articles of Incorporation provide that if any person acquires the beneficial ownership of more than 10% of any class of our equity security without the prior approval by a two-thirds vote of our "Continuing Directors," then, with possible acquisitionsrespect to each share in excess of 10%, such person shall be entitled to cast only one-hundredth of one vote per share. An exception from the restriction is provided for any proxy granted to one or more of our "Continuing Directors" and for our employee benefit plans. Under the Articles of Incorporation, the restriction on voting shares beneficially owned in violation of the foregoing limitations is imposed automatically. This provision would operate to restrict the voting by beneficial owners of more than 10% of our common stock in a proxy contest or any other corporate purposes, couldcontested matter.

    Board of Directors. Our Board of Directors is divided into three classes, each of which contains approximately one-third of the members of the Board. The members of each class are elected for a term of three years, with the terms of office of all members of one class expiring each year so that approximately one-third of the total number of directors is elected each year. The classification of directors, together with the provisions in our Articles of Incorporation and



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    Bylaws described below that limit the ability of shareholders to remove directors and that permit the remaining directors to fill any vacancies on the Board of Directors, have the effect of making it more difficult for shareholders to change the composition of the Board of Directors. As a third partyresult, at least two annual meetings of shareholders will be required for the shareholders to acquire, or of discouraging a third party from attempting to acquire,change a majority of the directors, whether or not a change in the Board of Directors would be beneficial and whether or not a majority of shareholders believe that such a change would be desirable. Our Articles of Incorporation provides that the size of the Board shall be not less than five or more than 25 as set in accordance with the Bylaws. In accordance with the Bylaws, the number of directors is currently set at twelve. The Articles of Incorporation provide that any vacancy occurring in the Board, including a vacancy created by an increase in the number of directors, shall be filled by a vote of two-thirds of the directors then in office and any director so chosen shall hold office for a term expiring at the annual meeting of shareholders at which the term of the class to which the director has been chosen expires. The classified Board is intended to provide for continuity of the Board of Directors and to make it more difficult and time consuming for a shareholder group to fully use its voting power to gain control of the Board of Directors without the consent of incumbent members of the Board. The Articles of Incorporation further provide that a director may be removed from the Board of Directors prior to the expiration of his term only for cause and only upon the vote of 80% of the outstanding shares of voting stock. In the absence of this provision, the vote of the holders of a majority of the shares could remove the entire Board, but only with cause, and replace it with persons of such holders' choice.

    Cumulative Voting, Special Meetings and Action by Written Consent. Our Articles of Incorporation do not provide for cumulative voting for any purpose. Moreover, the Articles of Incorporation provide that special meetings of shareholders may be called only by our Board of Directors. In addition, our Bylaws require that any action taken by written consent must receive the consent of all of the outstanding voting stock entitled to vote on the action taken.

    Shareholder Vote Required to Approve Business Combinations with Principal Shareholders. The Articles of Incorporation require the approval of the holders of at least 80% of our outstanding shares of voting stock.stock to approve certain "Business Combinations" (as defined therein) involving a "Related Person" (as defined therein) except in cases where the proposed transaction has been approved in advance by two-thirds of those members of Banner Corporation's Board of Directors who are unaffiliated with the Related Person and were directors prior to the time when the Related Person became a Related Person. The term "Related Person" is defined to include any individual, corporation, partnership or other entity (other than tax-qualified benefit plans of Banner Corporation) which owns beneficially or controls, directly or indirectly, 10% or more of the outstanding shares of voting stock of Banner Corporation or an affiliate of such person or entity. This provision of the Articles of Incorporation applies to any "Business Combination," which is defined to include: (i) any merger or consolidation of Banner Corporation with or into any Related Person; (ii) any sale, lease, exchange, mortgage, transfer, or other disposition of 25% or more of the assets of Banner Corporation or of a subsidiary of Banner Corporation to a Related Person; (iii) any merger or consolidation of a Related Person with or into Banner Corporation or a subsidiary of Banner Corporation; (iv) any sale, lease, exchange, transfer, or other disposition of 25% or more of the assets of a Related Person to Banner Corporation or a subsidiary of Banner Corporation; (v) the issuance of any securities of Banner Corporation or a subsidiary of Banner Corporation to a Related Person; (vi) the



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    acquisition by Banner Corporation or a subsidiary of Banner Corporation of any securities of a Related Person; (vii) any reclassification of common stock of Banner Corporation or any recapitalization involving the common stock of Banner Corporation; or (viii) any agreement or other arrangement providing for any of the foregoing.

              Washington law imposes restrictions on certain transactions between a corporation and certain significant shareholders. Chapter 23B.19 of the Washington Business Corporation Act prohibits a "target corporation," with certain exceptions, from engaging in certain "significant business transactions" with an "Acquiring Person" who acquires 10% or more of the voting securities of a target corporation for a period of five years after such acquisition, unless the transaction or acquisition of shares is approved by a majority of the members of the target corporation's board of directors prior to the date of the acquisition. The prohibited transactions include, among others, a merger or consolidation with, disposition of assets to, or issuance or redemption of stock to or from, the Acquiring Person, termination of 5% or more of the employees of the target corporation as a result of the Acquiring Person's acquisition of 10% or more of the shares, or allowing the Acquiring Person to receive any disproportionate benefit as a shareholder. After the five-year period during which significant business transactions are prohibited, a transaction may occur if certain "fair price" criteria or shareholder approval requirements are met. Target corporations include all publicly-traded corporations incorporated under Washington law, as well as publicly traded foreign corporations that meet certain requirements.

    Amendment of Articles of Incorporation and Bylaws. Amendments to our Articles of Incorporation must be approved by a majority vote of our Board of Directors and also by a majority of the outstanding shares of our voting stock, provided, however, that an affirmative vote of at least 80% of the outstanding voting stock entitled to vote (after giving effect to the provision limiting voting rights) is required to amend or repeal certain provisions of the Articles of Incorporation, including the provision limiting voting rights, the provisions relating to the removal of directors, shareholder nominations and proposals, the approval of certain business combinations, calling special meetings, director and officer indemnification by us and amendment of our Bylaws and Articles of Incorporation. Our Bylaws may be amended by a majority vote of our Board of Directors, or by a vote of 80% of the total votes eligible to be voted at a duly constituted meeting of shareholders.

    Shareholder Nominations and Proposals. Our Articles of Incorporation generally require a shareholder who intends to nominate a candidate for election to the Board of Directors, or to raise new business at a shareholder meeting to give not less than 30 nor more than 60 days' advance notice to the Secretary of Banner Corporation. The notice provision requires a shareholder who desires to raise new business to provide certain information to us concerning the nature of the new business, the shareholder and the shareholder's interest in the business matter. Similarly, a shareholder wishing to nominate any person for election as a director must provide us with certain information concerning the nominee and the proposing shareholder.

              The cumulative effect of the restrictions on a potential acquisition of us that are contained in our Articles of Incorporation and Bylaws, and federal and Washington law, may be to discourage potential takeover attempts and perpetuate incumbent management, even though



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    certain shareholders may deem a potential acquisition to be in their best interests, or deem existing management not to be acting in their best interests.

    Transfer Agent

              The transfer agent and registrar for our common stock is Computershare.

    DESCRIPTION OF WARRANTS

              We may issue warrants for the purchase of common stock, preferred stock and debt securities. Warrants may be issued separately or together with common stock, preferred stock or debt securities offered by any prospectus supplement and may be attached to or separate from common stock, preferred stock or debt securities. Each series of warrants will be issued under a separate warrant agreement to be entered into between us and a bank or trust company, as warrant agent, all as set forth in the prospectus supplement relating to the particular issue of offered warrants. The warrant agent will act solely as our agent in connection with the warrants and will not assume any obligation or relationship of agency or trust for or with any holders of warrants or beneficial owners of warrants.The description of the warrants set forth above and in any prospectus supplement is not complete.You should refer to the form of warrant agreement which will be filed with the SEC in connection with the offering of the warrants.

    DESCRIPTION OF UNITS

              We may issue units comprised of two or more of the other securities described in this prospectus in any combination. Each unit will be issued so that the holder of the unit is also the holder of each security included in the unit. Thus, the holder of a unit will have no present plansthe rights and obligations of a holder of each included security. The unit agreement under which a unit is issued may provide that the securities included in the unit may not be held or transferred separately, at any time or at any time before a specified date.

              The applicable prospectus supplement may describe:
              The preceding description and any preferred stock.

    20

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    description of units in the applicable prospectus supplement does not purport to be complete and is subject to and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the form of unit agreement which will be filed with the SEC in connection with the



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    offering of such units, and, if applicable, collateral arrangements and depositary arrangements relating to such units.

    PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION

              We may sell our securities in any of three ways (or in any combination):
    • through underwriters or dealers;
    • through agents; or
    • directly to purchasers or to a single purchaser.
              Each time that we use this prospectus to sell our securities, we will also provide a prospectus supplement that contains the specific terms of the offering. The prospectus supplement will set forth the terms of the offering of such stock, including:
    • the name or names of any underwriters, dealers or agents and the type and amounts of securities underwritten or purchased by each of them; and
    • the public offering price of the securities and the proceeds to us and any discounts, commissions or concessions allowed or reallowed or paid to dealers.
              Any public offering price and any discounts or concessions allowed or reallowed or paid to dealers may be changed from time to time.

              If underwriters are used in the sale of any securities, the securities will be acquired by the underwriters for their own account and may be resold from time to time in one or more transactions, including negotiated transactions, at a fixed public offering price or at varying prices determined at the time of sale. The securities may be either offered to the public through underwriting syndicates represented by managing underwriters, or directly by underwriters. Generally, the underwriters' obligations to purchase the securities will be subject to certain conditions precedent. The underwriters will be obligated to purchase all of the securities if they purchase any of the securities.

              We may sell the securities through agents from time to time. The prospectus supplement will name any agent involved in the offer or sale of our securities and any commissions we pay to them. Generally, any agent will be acting on a best efforts basis for the period of its appointment.

              We may authorize underwriters, dealers or agents to solicit offers by certain purchasers to purchase our securities at the public offering price set forth in the prospectus supplement pursuant to delayed delivery contracts providing for payment and delivery on a specified date in the future. The contracts will be subject only to those conditions set forth in the prospectus supplement, and the prospectus supplement will set forth any commissions or discounts we pay for solicitation of these contracts.



              Agents and underwriters may be entitled to indemnification by us against certain civil liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or to contribution with respect to payments which the agents or underwriters may be required to make in respect thereof. Agents and underwriters may be customers of, engage in transactions with, or perform services for us in the ordinary course of business.

              We may enter into derivative transactions with third parties, or sell securities not covered by this prospectus to third parties in privately negotiated transactions. If the applicable prospectus supplement so indicates in connection with those derivatives, then the third parties may sell securities covered by this prospectus and the applicable prospectus supplement, including in short sale transactions. In that event, the third party may use securities pledged by us or borrowed from us or others to settle those sales or to close out any related open borrowings of stock, and may use securities received from us in settlement of those derivatives to close out any related open borrowings of securities. The third party in such sale transactions will be an underwriter and will be identified in the applicable prospectus supplement (or a post-effective amendment).

    LEGAL OPINION

              The validity of the securities offered hereby will be passed upon for us by Breyer & Associates PC, McLean, Virginia.

    EXPERTS


              The consolidated statements of financial condition of Banner Corporation and subsidiaries as of December 31, 2005 and 2004, and the related consolidated statements of income, comprehensive income, changes in stockholders' equity, and cash flows for each of the years in the two-year period ended December 31, 2005, management's assessment of the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2005, and the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2005, have been incorporated in this prospectus by reference to the Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2005, in reliance on the reports of Moss Adams LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm, given on the authority of said firm as experts in auditing and accounting.

              The consolidated financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2003 incorporated in this prospectus by reference from the Company'sBanner Corporation's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2005 have been audited by Deloitte & Touche LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm, as stated in their report, which is incorporated herein by reference, and has been so incorporated in reliance upon the report of such firm given upon their authority as experts in accounting and auditing.





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    Banner Corporation LOGO



    Up to a Maximum Aggregate Offering Price of



    $100,000,000



    Debt Securities

    Common Stock

    Preferred Stock

    Warrants

    Units



    Prospectus



    ________ __, 2007



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    PART II

    INFORMATION NOT REQUIRED IN THE PROSPECTUS

    Item 14. Other Expenses of Issuance and Distribution

    Distribution.

                 The following table sets forth the estimated expenses, other than underwriting compensation, expected to be incurred in connection with the issuanceregistration and distributionsale of the securities covered by thethis Registration Statement of which this prospectus is a part.We will bear all of these expenses.
    Statement.

    RegistrationSEC registration fee under the Securities Act$ 4,49210,700
    Blue Sky fees and expenses10,000
    Rating agency fees25,000
    Legal fees and expenses*expenses$    25,000250,000
    Accounting fees and expenses*expenses$     5,000 70,000
    Trustee fees and expenses30,000
    Printing and other miscellaneousengraving fees and expenses*expenses $      6,00060,000
    Miscellaneous100,000
    Total$    40,492555,700

    *Estimated solely forAll of the purpose of this Item. Actual expenses may be more or less.

    above amounts, other than the SEC registration fee, are estimates.

    Item 15. Indemnification of OfficersDirectors and Directors

    Officers

                Article XIV of the Registrant's Articles of Incorporation requires indemnification of directors and officers to the fullest extent permitted by Washington law, except for (i) acts or omissions finally adjudged to violate law; (ii) conduct finally adjudged to violate Section 23B.08.310 of the Washington Business Corporation Act (relating to unlawful distributions by the corporation), or (iii) any transaction with respect to which it was finally adjudged that the director or officer personally received a benefit in money, property or services to which that person was not legally entitled

    entitled. Sections 23B.08.500 through 23B.08.600 of the Washington Business Corporation Act authorize a court to award, or a corporation's board of directors to grant, indemnification to directors and officers on terms sufficiently broad to permit indemnification under certain circumstances for liabilities arising under the Securities Act of 1933.

                Section 23B08.320 of the Washington Business Corporation Act authorizes a corporation, in its articles of incorporation, to limit a director's personal liability to the corporation or its shareholders for monetary damages for acts ofor omissions as a director, except in certain circumstances involving intentional misconduct, self-dealing or illegal corporate loans ora knowing violation of law, unlawful distributions by the corporation, or any transactions from which the director personally receives a benefit in money, property or services to which the director is not entitled. The Registrant's articles of incorporation limit a director's liability to full extent permitted by Section 23B08.320.

    21            Under a directors' and officers' liability insurance policy, directors and officers of the Registrant are insured against certain liabilities.

    <PAGE>

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    Item 16. Exhibits

                The following exhibits are filed with or incorporated by reference into this Registration Statement:

    ExhibitEXHIBIT NO.
    Number


    Description of Document    DESCRIPTION
    1.1Form of Underwriting Agreement for any offering of securities(1)
    4.1Articles of Incorporation of the Registrant(1) (attached as an exhibit to the Registrant's definitive proxy statement filed on June 10, 1998 (File No. 0-26584) and incorporated herein by reference)
    4.2Bylaws of the Registrant(2) (filed as an exhibit to the Registrant's Current Report on Form 8-K (File No. 0-26584) and incorporated herein by reference)
    4.3Form of Senior Indenture
    4.4Form of Subordinated Indenture
    4.5Form of Senior Debt Securities(1)
    4.6Form of Subordinated Debt Securities(1)
    4.7Form of Certificate of Designation for Preferred Stock(1)
    4.9Form of Warrant Agreement(1)
    4.10Form of Unit Agreement(1)
    5.1Opinion of Breyer & Associates PC as to the legality of the securities being registered
    12.1Computation of Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges
    23.1Consent of Moss Adams LLP
    23.2
    23.2 Consent of Deloitte & Touche LLP
    23.3
    23.3 Consent of Breyer & Associates PC (contained in its opinion filed as(see Exhibit 5) 5.1)
    24.1
    24PowerPowers of attorney (contained in theon signature page of the Registration Statement) 
    _________page)
    (1)25.1Incorporated by reference to Exhibit B toForm T-1 Statement of Eligibility of Trustee under the Proxy Statement for the Annual Meeting of Stockholders dated June 10, 1998.Senior Indenture
    (2)25.2Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.2 filed withForm T-1 Statement of Eligibility of Trustee under the Current Report on Form 8-K dated July 24, 1998.Subordinated Indenture

    (1) To be filed as an exhibit to a document to be incorporated by reference in this Registration Statement.

                 (b) Financial Statement Schedules:

                              Not Applicable.

    Item 17. Undertakings
    Undertakings.

                 (a)             The undersigned Registrant hereby undertakes:

                         1.             (1) To file, during any period in which offers or sales are being made a post-effective amendment to this Registration Statement:

    registration statement:

                              (i)             toTo include any prospectus required by Section 10(a)(3) of the Securities Act of 1933;

                              (ii)             toTo reflect in the prospectus any facts or events arising after the effective date of the Registration Statementregistration statement (or the most recent post-effective amendment thereof) which, individually or in the aggregate, represent a fundamental change in the information set forth in the registration statement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any increase or decrease in volume of securities offered (if the total dollar value of securities offered would not exceed that which was registered) and any deviation from the low or high end of the estimated maximum offering range may be reflected in the form of prospectus filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) if, in the aggregate, the changes in volume and price represent no more than a 20 percent change in the maximum aggregate offering price set forth in the "Calculation of Registration Statement;Fee" table in the effective registration statement; and

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                              (iii)             toTo include any material information with respect to the plan of distribution not previously disclosed in the Registration Statementregistration statement or any material change into such information in the Registration Statement;

    Provided,registration statement;

    provided, however, that the undertakings set forth in paragraphs (a)(1)(i), (1)(ii) and (a)(1)(ii)(iii) do not apply if the information required to be included in a post-effective amendment by those paragraphs is contained in periodic reports filed with or furnished to the Securities and Exchange Commission by the Registrantregistration pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 that are incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement.

                         2.registration statement, or is contained in a form of prospectus filed pursuant to Rule 424(b) that is part of the registration statement;

                 (2)             That, for the purpose of determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, each such post-effective amendment shall be deemed to be a new Registration Statementregistration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initialbona fide offering thereof.

                        3.thereof;

                 (3)             To remove from registration by means of a post-effective amendment any of the securities being registered which remain unsold at the termination of the offering.offering;

    22             (4)             That, for the purpose of determining liability under the Securities Act of 1933 to any purchaser:

    <PAGE>

                              (i)             Each prospectus filed by the registrant pursuant to Rule 424(b)(3) shall be deemed to be part of the registration statement as of the date the filed prospectus was deemed part of and included in the registration statement; and

                              (ii)             Each prospectus required to be filed pursuant to Rule 424(b)(2), (b)(5), or (b)(7) as part of a registration statement in reliance on Rule 430B relating to an offering made pursuant to Rule 415(a)(1)(i), (vii), or (x) for the purpose of providing the information required by section 10(a)of the Securities Act of 1933 shall be deemed to be part of and included in the registration statement as of the earlier of the date such form of prospectus is first used after effectiveness or the date of the first contract of sale of securities in the offering described in the prospectus. As provided in Rule 430B, for liability purposes of the issuer and any person that is at that date an underwriter, such date shall be deemed to be a new effective date of the registration statement relating to the securities in the registration statement to which that prospectus relates, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initialbona fide offering thereof. Provided, however, that no statement made in a registration statement or prospectus that is part of the registration statement or made in a document incorporated or deemed incorporated by reference into the registration statement or prospectus that is part of the registration statement will, as to a purchaser with a time of contract of sale prior to such effective date, supersede or modify any statement that was made in the registration statement or prospectus that was part of the registration statement or made in any such document immediately prior to such effective date.

                 (5)             That, for the purpose of determining any liability of the Registrant under the Securities Act to any purchaser in the initial distribution of the securities:

                 The undersigned Registrant hereby undertakes that in a primary offering of securities of the Registrant pursuant to this registration statement, regardless of the underwriting method used to sell the securities to the purchaser, if the securities are offered or sold to such purchaser by means of any of the following communications, the Registrant will be a seller to the purchaser and will be considered to offer or sell such securities to such purchaser:

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                              (i)             Any preliminary prospectus or prospectus of the Registrant relating to the offering required to be filed pursuant to Rule 424;

                              (ii)             Any free writing prospectus relating to the offering prepared by or on behalf of the Registrant or used or referred to by the Registrant;

                              (iii)             The portion of any other free writing prospectus relating to the offering containing material information about the Registrant or its securities provided by or on behalf of the Registrant; and

                              (iv)             Any other communication that is an offer in the offering made by the Registrant to the purchaser.

                 (6)             That, for the purposes of determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, each filing of the Registrant's annual report pursuant to Section 13(a) or Section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (and, where applicable, each filing of an employee benefit plan's annual report pursuant to Section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934) that is incorporated by reference in the Registration Statementthis registration statement shall be deemed to be a new Registration Statementregistration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initialbona fide offering thereof;

                 (7)             That:

                              (i)             For purposes of determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, the information omitted from the form of prospectus filed as part of this registration statement in reliance upon Rule 430A and contained in a form of prospectus filed by the registrant pursuant to Rule 424(b)(1) or (4) or 497(h) under the Securities Act shall be deemed to be part of this registration statement as of the time it was declared effective.

                              (ii)             For the purposes of determining of determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, each post-effective amendment that contains a form of prospectus shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.

                (c)

                 (8)             To file an application for the purpose of determining the eligibility of the trustee to act under subsection (a) of Section 310 of the Trust Indenture Act in accordance with the rules and regulations prescribed by the Commission under Section 305(b)(2) of the Trust Indenture Act.

                 Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act of 1933 may be permitted to directors, officerofficers and controlling persons of the Registrant pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or otherwise, the Registrant has been advised that in the opinion of the Securities and Exchange Commission such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act of 1933 and is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a claim for indemnification against such liabilities (other than the payment by the Registrantregistrant of expenses incurred or paid by a director, officer or controlling person of the Registrantregistrant in the successful defense of any action, suit or proceeding) is asserted by such director, officer or controlling person in connection with the securities being registered, the Registrant will, unless in the opinion of its counsel the matter has been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction the question whether such indemnification by it is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act of 1933 and will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.

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    SIGNATURES

    23

    <PAGE>

    SIGNATURES


                 Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the Registrant certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all of the requirements for filing on Form S-3 and has duly caused this Registration Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized in the City of Walla Walla, State of Washington, on the 23rd20th day of October,December, 2006.

    BANNER CORPORATION


    BANNER CORPORATION


    By:/s/ D. Michael Jones
    D. Michael Jones
    President and Chief Executive Officer
    (Duly Authorized Representative)

                                                                                                            By:/s/D. Michael Jones                                                         
                                                                                                                  D. Michael Jones
                                                                                                                  President and Chief Executive Officer
                                                                  ��                                              (Duly Authorized Representative)

    POWER OF ATTORNEY

                 Each person whose signature appears below appoints D. Michael Jones, as his true and lawful attorney-in-fact and agent, for him and in his name, place and stead, in any and all capacities, to sign any and all amendments (including post-effective amendments) to this Registration Statement and any Registration Statement (including any amendment thereto) for this offering that is to be effective upon filing pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and to file the same, with all exhibits thereto, and all other documents in connection therewith, with the Securities and Exchange Commission, granting unto said attorney-in-fact and agent full power and authority to do and perform each and every act and thing requisite and necessary to be done, as fully to all intents and purposes as he might or would do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that said attorney-in fact and agent may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.

    Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this Registration Statement has been signed by the following persons in the capacities and on the dates indicated.

    /s/D. Michael Jones
    /s/Lloyd W. Baker
    D. Michael JonesLloyd W. Baker
    President and Chief Executive Officer; DirectorExecutive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
    (Principal Executive Officer)(Principal Financial and Accounting Officer)
    Date: October 23, 2006 Date: October 23, 2006   
     
    Date: December 20, 2006Date: December 20, 2006


    /s/David Casper
    /s/Robert D. Adams
    David CasperRobert D. Adams
    DirectorDirector
     
    Date: December 20, 2006Date: December 20, 2006


    /s/ Edward L. Epstein
    /s/ Jesse G. Foster
    Edward L. EpsteinJesse G. Foster
    DirectorDirector
     
    Date: October 23,December 20, 2006Date: October 23,December 20, 2006


    II-5
    Next Page
     
    /s/Edward L. Epstein 
     /s/Jesse G. Foster  
    Edward L. Epstein Jesse G. Foster  
    Director Director   
    Date: October 23, 2006 Date: October 23, 2006  

    24

    <PAGE>

    /s/Gary Sirmon
     /s/Dean/s/ Deam W. Mitchell
    Gary SirmonDean W. Mitchell
    Chairman of the BoardDirector
    Date: October 23, 2006Date: October 23, 2006    
     
    Date: December 20, 2006Date: December 20, 2006


    /s/Brent A. Orrico
    /s/Wilber Pribilisky
    Brent A. OrricoWilber Pribilisky
    DirectorDirector
    Date: October 23, 2006Date: October 23, 2006 
     
    Date: December 20, 2006Date: December 20, 2006


    /s/Michael M. Smith
    /s/Gordon E. Budke
    Michael M. SmithGordon E. Budke
    DirectorDirector
    Date: October 23, 2006  Date: October 23, 2006  
     
    Date: December 20, 2006Date: December 20, 2006


    /s/Constance H. Kravas
    Constance H. Kravas
    Director
     
    Constance H. Kravas  Date: December 20, 2006
    II-6
    Next Page

    EXHIBIT INDEX

    EXHIBIT NO.DESCRIPTION
    Director      1.1Form of Underwriting Agreement for any offering of securities(1)
    Date: October 23, 2006 



        25

    <PAGE>       

    EXHIBIT INDEX

    Exhibit4.1
    Number


    Description of Document  
    4.1Articles of Incorporation of the Registrant(1) (attached as an exhibit to the Registrant's definitive proxy statement filed on June 10, 1998 (File No. 0-26584) and incorporated herein by reference)
    4.2Bylaws of the Registrant(2) (filed as an exhibit to the Registrant's Current Report on Form 8-K (File No. 0-26584) and incorporated herein by reference)
    4.3Form of Senior Indenture
    4.4Form of Subordinated Indenture
    4.5Form of Senior Debt Securities(1)
    4.6Form of Subordinated Debt Securities(1)
    4.7Form of Certificate of Designation for Preferred Stock(1)
    4.9Form of Warrant Agreement(1)
    4.10Form of Unit Agreement(1)
    5.1Opinion of Breyer & Associates PC as to the legality of the securities being registered
    12.1Computation of Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges
    23.1Consent of Moss Adams LLP
    23.2
    23.2 Consent of Deloitte & Touche LLP
    23.3
    23.3Consent of Breyer & Associates PC (contained in its opinion filed as(see Exhibit 5)  5.1)
    24.1
    24 PowerPowers of attorney (contained in theon signature page of the Registration Statement) 
    _______page)
    (1)25.1Incorporated by reference to Exhibit B toForm T-1 Statement of Eligibility of Trustee under the Proxy Statement for the Annual Meeting of Stockholders dated June 10, 1998.Senior Indenture
    (2)25.2Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.2 filed withForm T-1 Statement of Eligibility of Trustee under the Current Report on Form 8-K dated July 24, 1998.Subordinated Indenture

    <PAGE>

    Exhibit 5

    Opinion of Breyer & Associates PC

    <PAGE>


    [Letterhead of Breyer & Associates PC]



    October 23, 2006


    Board of Directors
    Banner Corporation
    10 S. First Avenue
    Walla Walla, Washington 99362

    Ladies and Gentlemen:

                We have acted as special counsel to Banner Corporation, a Washington corporation (the “Company”), in connection with the preparation of the Registration Statement on Form S-3(1) To be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“Registration Statement”) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, relating to shares of common stock, $0.01 par value per share (the “Common Stock”) of the Company, to be offered upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in the Banner Corporation Dividend Reinvestment and Direct Stock Purchase and Sale Plan (the “Plan”) included in the Registration Statement. The Registration Statement also registers an indeterminate number of additional shares which may be necessary to adjust the number of shares registered thereby for issuance as the result of a stock split, stock dividend or similar adjustment of the number of issued and outstanding shares of Common Stock. You have requested t he opinion of this firm with respect to certain legal aspects of the proposed offering.

                We have reviewed the Registration Statement, the Articles of Incorporation and Bylaws of the Company, the Plan, a specimen stock certificate evidencing the Common Stock and such other documents and records as we have deemed necessary for purposes of this opinion. We are relying upon the originals, or copies certified or otherwise identified to our satisfaction, of the corporate records of the Company and such other instruments, certificates and representations of public officials, officers and representatives of the Company as we have deemed applicable or relevant as a basis for the opinions set forth below. In addition, we have assumed, without independent verification, the genuineness of all signatures and the authenticity of all documents furnished to us and the conformance in all respects of copies to originals, the legal capacity of all persons or entities executing the same, the lack of any undisclosed termination, modification, waiver or amendment to any document reviewed by us and the due authorization, execution and delivery of all documents where due authorization, execution and delivery are prerequisites to the effectiveness thereof. We have also assumed that the certificates representing the Common Stock will be when issued, properly signed by authorized officers of the Company or their agents. Furthermore, we have made such factual inquiries and reviewed such laws as we determined to be relevant for the purposes of this opinion.

                We are admitted to practice law in the District of Columbia, and we render this opinion only with respect to, and express no opinion herein concerning the application or effect of the laws of any jurisdiction other than, the existing laws of the United States of America and of the State of Washington.

                In connection with our opinion expressed below, we have assumed that, at or prior to the time of the delivery of any shares of Common Stock under the Plan, the Registration Statement will have been declared effective under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, that the registration will apply to such shares of Common Stock and will not have been modified or rescinded and that there will not have occurred any change in law affecting the validity of the issuance of such shares of Common Stock.

                Based on the foregoing, and subject to the assumptions set forth herein, we are of the opinion as of the date hereof that the shares of Common Stock that may be issued pursuant to the Plan, upon receipt by the Company of any consideration required thereby, as applicable, will be legally issued, fully paid and non-assessable shares of Common Stock.

    <PAGE>

    Board of Directors
    Banner Corporation
    October 23, 2006
    Page 2

                We consent to the use of this opinion as an exhibit to the Registration Statement and further consent to all references to us, if any, in the Registration Statement, the Prospectus constituting a part thereof and any amendments thereto. This opinion is intended solely for use in connection with issuance and sale of shares subject to the Registration Statement and is notdocument to be relied upon for any other purpose. We assume no obligation to advise you of any fact, circumstance, event or change in the law or the facts that may hereafter be brought to our attention whether or not such occurrence would affect or modify the opinions expressed herein.


                We hereby consent to the filing of this opinion as an exhibit to the Registration Statement on Form S-3.

                                                                                                Sincerely,

                                                                                               /s/ Breyer & Associates PC

                                                                                               BREYER & ASSOCIATES PC

    <PAGE>

    Exhibit 23.1

    Consent of Moss Adams LLP

    <PAGE>


    Consent of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm




    The Board of Directors
    Banner Corporation
    Walla Walla, Washington

    We consent to incorporation by reference in the Registration Statement on Form S-3 of Banner Corporation, relating to the Banner Corporation Dividend Reinvestment and Direct Stock Purchase and Sale Plan, of our reports dated March 13, 2006, with respect to the consolidated statements of financial condition of Banner Corporation and subsidiaries as of December 31, 2005 and 2004, and the related consolidated statements of income, comprehensive income, changes in stockholders' equity, and cash flows for each of the years in the two-year period ended December 31, 2005, management's assessment of the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2005, and the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2005, which reports appear in the December 31, 2005, annual report on Form 10-K of Banner Corporation.

    /s/Moss Adams LLP

    Spokane, Washington
    October 23, 2006

    <PAGE>

    Exhibit 23.2

    Consent of Deloitte & Touche LLP


    CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

    We consent to the incorporationincorporated by reference in this Registration Statement on Form S-3 of our report dated March 11, 2004, relating to the financial statements of Banner Corporation and subsidiaries, for the year ended December 31, 2003 appearing in the Annual Report on Form 10-K of Banner Corporation and subsidiaries for the year ended December 31, 2005 and to the reference to us under the heading “Experts” in the Prospectus, which is part of this Registration Statement.

    End


    /s/Deloitte & Touche LLP

    Seattle, Washington
    October 23, 2006

    <PAGE>