8-K

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C.  20549

FORM 8-K

CURRENT REPORT

Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the

Securities Exchange Act of 1934

Date of Report (Date of Earliest Event Reported):  April 21, 2015

Banner Corporation

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

Washington	0-26584	91-1691604
(State or other jurisdiction  of incorporation)	(Commission File  Number)	(I.R.S. Employer  Identification No.)

10 S. First Avenue

Walla Walla, Washington  99362

(Address of principal executive offices and zip code)

(509) 527-3636

(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions.

[  ]  Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)

[  ]  Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)

[  ]  Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR

       240.14d-2(b))

[  ]  Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR

       240.13e-4(c))

Item 5.07  Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders

(a)   The Annual Meeting of Banner Corporation (the “Company”) was held on April 21, 2015 (“Annual Meeting”).

(b)   There were a total of 19,518,976 shares of the Company’s common stock outstanding and entitled to vote at the Annual Meeting. At the Annual Meeting, 18,633,615 shares of common stock were represented in person or by proxy, therefore, a quorum was present. The following proposals were submitted by the Company’s Board of Directors to a vote of shareholders:

Proposal 1.  Election of Directors.  The following individuals were elected as directors for three year terms:

	FOR		WITHHELD		Broker Non- Votes
	Number of votes	Percentage of shares present	Number of votes	Percentage of  shares present	Number of votes
Gordon E. Budke	17,248,239	88%	365,408	2%	1,019, 968
Constance H. Kravas	17,125,585	88%	488,061	3%	1,019, 968
John R. Layman	17,334,808	89%	278,839	1%	1,019, 968
Michael M. Smith	17,249,337	88%	364,310	2%	1,019, 968

Based on the votes set forth above, Messrs. Budke, Layman and Smith and Ms. Kravas were duly elected to serve as directors of the Company for a three year term expiring at the annual meeting of shareholders in 2018, and until their respective successors have been duly elected and qualified.

The terms of Directors Robert D. Adams, Connie R. Collingsworth, Gary Sirmon, Brent A. Orrico, Jesse G. Foster, Mark J. Grescovich, D. Michael Jones and David A. Klaue continued.

Proposal 2.  An advisory (non-binding) vote to approve our executive compensation.  This proposal received the following votes:

For	Against	Abstain	Broker Non-Vote
15,444,074	2,045,650	123,922	1,019,968

Based on the votes set forth above, the compensation of the Company’s named executive officers was approved by shareholders.

Proposal 3.  Ratification of the Audit Committee’s selection of Moss Adams LLP as the Company’s independent auditors for the year ending December 31, 2015.  This proposal received the following votes:

For	Against	Abstain	Broker Non-Vote
18,392,745	216,382	24,487	--

Based on the votes set forth above, the appointment of Moss Adams LLP as the Company’s independent auditors to serve for the year ended December 31, 2015 was duly ratified by the shareholders.

(c)           None.

(d)           Not applicable.

Item 9.01 Financial Statements and Exhibits

(d)           Exhibits

The following exhibits are being filed herewith and this list shall constitute the exhibit index:

99.1      Press Release of Banner Corporation dated April 22, 2015

SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, hereunto duly authorized.

	BANNER CORPORATION
Date:  April 22, 2015	By:  /s/ Lloyd W. Baker
	Lloyd W. Baker
	Executive Vice President and          Chief Financial Officer

EX-99

Exhibit 99.1

		Contact: Mark J. grescovich,           President & CEO           Lloyd W. Baker, CFO           (509) 527-3636
		News Release

Banner Corporation Announces Results of Annual Meeting,

Shareholders Approve All Proposals and Confirm All Nominated Directors to Board

Walla Walla, WA – April 22, 2015 – Banner Corporation (NASDAQ GSM: BANR), the parent company of Banner Bank and Islanders Bank, today announced that shareholders approved all proposals and re-elected all director nominees at its 2015 Annual Meeting held April 21, 2015 in Walla Walla, Washington.

About the Company

Banner Corporation is a $5.2 billion bank holding company operating two commercial banks in Washington, Oregon and Idaho.  Banner serves the Pacific Northwest region through a network of 103 branches with a full range of deposit services and business, commercial real estate, construction, residential, agricultural and consumer loans.  Visit Banner Bank on the Web at www.bannerbank.com.

This press release contains statements that the Company believes are “forward-looking statements.” These statements relate to the Company’s financial condition, results of operations, plans, objectives, future performance or business. You should not place undue reliance on these statements, as they are subject to risks and uncertainties, and actual results and performance in future periods may be materially different from any future results or performance suggested by the forward-looking statements in this release. Factors that might cause such differences include, but are not limited to, those identified in our risk factors contained in Banner Corporation’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2014.  Such forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of this release. Banner Corporation expressly disclaims any obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements found herein to reflect any changes in the Company’s expectations of results or any change in events.