HEPPNER – US Banker magazine has ranked three Oregon banks – including Heppner-based BEO Bancorp – among the top 200 community banks in the country. The others are Siuslaw Financial Group of Florence and Corvallis-based Citizens Bancorp.

The trade magazine based its selections on average return of shareholder equity between 2008 and 2010. Banks with less than $2 billion in assets were eligible.

At 12.23 percent average return, Siuslaw ranked No. 40, BEO ranked No. 90 at 9.93 percent, and Citizens ranked No. 155 at 8.29 percent.

BEO Bancorp is the holding company for Bank of Eastern Oregon, which has 12 branches in nine Eastern Oregon counties. In Grant County, branches are in John Day and Prairie City.

Jeff Bailey, president and CEO of Bank of Eastern Oregon, said the recognition “is testimony to the dedication of our employees and the tremendous support of our customer base.”