Our History

Banner Health celebrated its 10th year anniversary in 2009.

On Sept. 1, 1999, nonprofits Samaritan Health System and Lutheran Health Systems announced their merger.

Lutheran Health Systems had a long-standing history dating from 1938 as a respected health care provider in rural communities located across Western and Midwestern states. Samaritan Health System was formed in 1911 and provided clinical excellence in California and Arizona, primarily in the metro Phoenix market.

At the time of the merger, Banner Health was in 14 states, had 22,500 employees, with 32 hospitals and 2,882 beds.

Since then, Banner Health has grown into one of the largest health care systems in the country, and is in seven states and has 35,000 employees, 24 hospitals and 4,360 beds.