BANKING / FINANCE : Irvine Publishing Firm Purchases Western Banker Trade Magazine

An Irvine publishing firm has bought Western Banker, a small monthly trade magazine founded in 1908.

Harris Communications, which paid just under $100,000 for the magazine, will increase staff and expand coverage, according to R. Daniel Harris Jr., the company’s publisher.

“Our circulation is about 10,000, and we expect to build up to 15,000 in the next year to year and a half,” Harris said. “Most of the circulation is in California, about 6,000, but we’re in all 13 Western states and we plan to expand into Texas.”

Western Banker was essentially a one-man operation, that of its previous owner, Gregory Saffell of St. Helena in Northern California, Harris said. The new owner said that he already has six editorial and advertising staff members who will go to work on Western Banker and that he will hire three more.

Harris said he plans to continue covering banking topics affecting operations and profitability and to focus new attention on stories about the Pacific Rim, bank automation and personnel.

The headquarters for the publication is being moved to Harris Communications. The first issue to be published by the new owner will be the March issue, which will be redesigned and will roll off the presses in late February, Harris said.

Harris also publishes Cleaning Management, a monthly trade magazine for building-maintenance operators. It has a nationwide circulation of 45,000, he said.