Workers protest at Bank of the West

Farm-labor activists passed out leaflets outside Bank of the West's branch in Salem on Thursday, part of a campaign to put pressure on Threemile Canyon Farms, a large dairy and potato-growing operation near Boardman.

Bank of the West provides a line of credit to Threemile Canyon Farms.

The United Farm Workers of America has accused Threemile Canyon of intimidating pro-union workers and discriminating against women, charges the farm denies. The leaflets urged Bank of the West to take immediate steps to stop what union leaders call "blatant sex discrimination" by Threemile Canyon, one of the bank's largest clients.

Similar demonstrations occurred at other other Bank of the West branches in Oregon, Washington and California, union officials said.

In Salem, the farmworkers union was joined by Woodburn-based Northwest Treeplanters and Farmworkers United, better known by its Spanish acronym PCUN, in handing out leaflets.

About two dozen people took part in the Salem demonstration, union leaders said.

What are people saying about mortgages today:

Rates on 30-year mortgages edged down last week to a seven-month low. Mortgage-giant Freddie Mac reported Thursday that 30-year, fixed-rate mortgages fell to 6.3 percent, down slightly from 6.31 percent two weeks ago. It put rates at the lowest level since they were at 6.24 percent the first week of March.

Bank of Hawaii, Central Pacific Bank, Territorial Savings Bank and Wells Fargo Home Mortgages all cut their 30-year mortgage rates to 5.75 percent this week.

Most people think of a mortgage as a means to an end. After all, you buy a house, not a home loan. But a mortgage is much more than the path to homeownership. It is a financial instrument that must be managed, just like any other financial investment.