Page 16 – River City Bank

July 1, 2019

River City Bank Sponsors EGACT Annual Dinner

River City Bank celebrated alongside the Elk Grove Adult Community Training (EGACT) at their annual dinner. As a proud sponsor of EGACT, members of the RCB Team lent their support to this non-profit organization that provides education and training for adults with developmental disabilities. Proceeds from the event help fulfill EGACT’s mission to ensure equality, dignity, and the fulfillment of rights of all program participants.

As an Elk Grove community stronghold, EGACT has served adults with developmental disabilities since 1972. They currently have program sites located in Elk Grove and Galt.

To learn more about EGACT, visit their website at www.egact.org.

July 1, 2019

Meet Pat Lewis

Pat Lewis is the EVP/Chief Operating Officer of River City Bank and is responsible for the daily operations of the Bank. Pat has been with the bank for over 17 years and appreciates the collaboration and strong work ethic of her colleagues at RCB. She spoke candidly with us about her ardent admiration for her father, her fondness for Beantown, and how a cheese board and a cool beverage can erase the stressors of a long day at work.

Hometown: Houston, TX is where I grew up, but I’ve spent most of my adult life in Sacramento. Home is where the heart is!

First Job: K-Mart Customer Service Desk. I learned some great customer service survival skills (listening, communication, multi-tasking, maintaining a poker face, etc.), especially the day after Christmas, and whenever I had to run the “Blue Light Special.” A flashing blue light still elicits a fight or flight response from me.

First Car: 1980 Firebird Formula with T-Top, until it was taken away. That’s a story for a different time and place.

Favorite Quote: “Be humble, be hungry, and be the hardest worker in the room.” Dwayne Johnson

Favorite Movie: Breakfast at Tiffany’s – Who doesn’t like the GOAT, Audrey Hepburn?

Favorite Song: Imagine by John Lennon – Sometimes the lyrics hit me just right and are so poignant that I get emotional with the hope that someday we could all imagine…

What are you reading right now? The Moment of Lift by Melinda Gates is next in queue.

Favorite place in Sacramento: Ella Dining Room & Bar – The Artisan Cheese Board paired with The Real Gin and Tonic make even the toughest days a bit easier.

First site or app you check in the morning: I literally start my day by rolling over and grabbing my phone to scan email and text messages. I assure you, there is no such thing as banker’s hours, and stuff happens 24×7 in banking!

Favorite city to visit: Boston – great history, lots of culture, awesome food & beverages, and who can resist Fenway!

If you have an extra hour in the day, how would you spend it? I would spend it having breakfast with my boys, listening to their stories, and laughing my booty off.

Who is your favorite hero/heroine of fiction? Katniss Everdeen because she stands up for her beliefs and is a real bad***.

What is something people would be surprised to know about you? I love to sing. Unfortunately, I can’t carry a tune, but I’m the best ever when I sing along with the radio in my car. Don’t be scared if you see me on the road, mouth moving fervently, and be-bopping along. It isn’t road rage. It’s just me thinking that I can win a Grammy someday.

What is your idea of perfect happiness? Playing games with my family & friends – This usually is accompanied by lots of eating, drinking, and merriment. I particularly enjoy that we can be obnoxiously competitive and still love each other when the game is over.

What did you want to be when you were a child? Foreign news correspondent – It seemed very adventurous, romantic, and most of all relevant. I loved watching Walter Cronkite and Barbara Walters with my parents and talking about world events.

What is your greatest fear? That it is my carpool day and I’ve forgotten the children.

Which living person do you most admire? I am wonderstruck by my father. He led six tours of duty, retired from the military with honors, completed his undergraduate degree (Phi Beta Kappa) and MBA while working full time, retired, again, from the private sector, and NEVER missed a family event. He is a fierce leader with a heart of gold, and I’m proud to be daddy’s girl!

What causes are you supporting at the moment? 1. Youth Sports – It builds character and teaches our young men and women quite a few life skills: working hard, leadership, being a team player, and overcoming adversity, just to name a few. I’ve watched my son and his teammates become fine young men because of their role models and experiences. 2. Climate Change – Let’s get real, and all do our part. If not, we won’t have a planet left for our youth to enjoy.

What is your greatest extravagance? Sleeping in, which doesn’t really happen with my schedule.

What is your current state of mind? Blessed – Not to be cliché, but it’s a wonderful life. I’ve got a supportive and loving family, fantastic friends, and a career that still keeps me jazzed every day.

What do you consider the most overrated virtue? Patience – If it needs to be done, just do it.

What was the best piece of business advice you were given when you were starting out? Be a duck and let it roll off your back. You can’t please all people, you won’t always be right, and things sometimes don’t go your way. Shake it off and move on.

What do you like best about working at River City Bank? I appreciate that I get to work with the best bankers in the business. We’re all built with the same value structure, and we’re drivers that propagate River City Bank’s vision to be the premier commercial bank in California. My colleagues are collaborative, supportive, and competitive. We’re a team that loves to win!

July 1, 2019

Customer Alert: Social Security Number Scam

A nice sounding professional calls from the government and reports that your Social Security number has been suspended, and with a little bit of information, they will reactivate it for you. Sounds okay right?

Wrong!

This is a common phone scam that people have been receiving lately. A caller or robocall will pretend to be a government official and state that your Social Security number has been suspended or deactivated due to fraudulent or criminal activity. The fraudster will then ask you to call a phone number to clear up the situation by simply providing some personal information. The fraudsters are trying to trick you into providing information such as your birth date, bank account numbers, social security numbers, and other sensitive information.

While the initial call may sound scary, remember your Social Security number cannot be suspended or deactivated. Below are a few tips to protect you from this phone scam and other variations of this scheme.

Your Social Security number cannot be suspended or deactivated.
The Social Security Administration will never threaten to arrest you.
Never give out or confirm your personal information over the phone, via email, or on a website until you have fully verified who is asking for the information. Contact government agencies directly using phone numbers and website addresses you know to be legitimate.
Remember, the government normally contacts people via postal mail. Unfortunately, mail scams are a common occurrence as well, and the same security precautions should be used with postal mail. Mail should be scrutinized and information validated before calling a phone number or visiting a website listed on the letter.
Do not trust a name, phone number, or email address just because it sounds connected to the government. Fraudsters use sophisticated tools, such as fake caller ID and email addresses, to impersonate government officials.

Should you receive a scam phone call, do not provide any information and hang up immediately. You can report the call to the Federal Trade Commission at www.ftc.gov, so they are aware of current phone scams taking place.

Safeguarding your personal information is not just important, it’s vital to your business and ours. Should you have any questions about phone scams or protecting your financial information, please do not hesitate to reach out to a Customer Service Representative at (916) 567-2899 or (800) 564-7144 or by email at [email protected].

July 1, 2019

RCB Charity of Choice: The Sacramento Tree Foundation

In connection with our biennial Client Appreciation event in September, River City Bank selects one organization as the focus for our charitable fundraising, the Charity of Choice. The Charity of Choice receives a $5,000 donation from the Bank plus proceeds raised by RCB employees through fundraising activities including Jeans Day and bake sales. This year, we are pleased to announce the Sacramento Tree Foundation is the Bank’s Charity of Choice. The Sacramento Tree Foundation is a community benefit organization working to build healthy, livable communities in the Sacramento region by growing the best urban forest in the nation.

Recently, Sacramento Tree Foundation’s Executive Director, Ray Tretheway, stopped by RCB’s Corporate office to give a brief presentation on the foundation and the impact they have on our community. He discussed the organization’s current plans to plant and steward 5 million new trees region-wide. Of which, one million trees are targeted for under-resourced, low tree canopy neighborhoods. For nearly 40 years, the Sacramento Tree Foundation has witnessed and fostered what Tretheway has called, “a community-wide renaissance on how residents see and value trees.” It’s continuing work will be felt for generations to come.

To find out how you can volunteer or learn more about the Sacramento Tree Foundation, visit their website at www.sactree.com.

July 1, 2019

Client Profile: The Sacramento SPCA

With leashes in hand and shoes laced up, River City Bank joined the Sacramento SPCA at their 2019 Doggy Dash. A beautiful spring day accompanied RCB employees and their families as they came out in full force to show their support. The event drew more than 5,000 participants, and RCB was proud to be one of the largest groups in attendance. The event raised more than $164,000 to help provide direct care and safe refuge for thousands of animals. However, this event is just a small part of what the SPCA contributes to our community. We sat with Kenn Altine, Chief Executive Officer of the Sacramento SPCA, to find out more about this worthwhile organization that not only shelters and cares for animals, but one that is also helping people who love animals.

The SPCA has been around for 127 years. How much has changed since they opened their doors in 1892?

The SPCA was founded in the late 1800s and incorporated as a non-profit organization in 1927. Though the role of the Sacramento SPCA in our community has evolved over the years (from originally being involved in investigating and enforcing laws surrounding animal cruelty cases and complaints), our mission has remained the same – providing homeless animals with individual comfort, shelter, and love. We provide compassionate medical care to tens of thousands of animals annually and offer a variety of programs and services designed to keep people and pets together for life.

The Sacramento SPCA provides more than shelter and medical services to animals. What services do you offer that most folks would be surprised to hear?

Most people identify animal shelters as a place where stray and homeless animals are housed and also adopted to new families. While we certainly do house stray and homeless animals, as well as find them new homes, we do give much more than shelter to the animals and people in our community. We serve the entire Sacramento region as a premier provider of low-cost spay/neuter services, collaborating with local rescue groups, feral cat caregivers, those in need, and the public to alter more than 18,300 animals in 2018. Additionally, 16,200 low-cost and no-cost vaccinations were provided to the community, 1,200 animals received low-cost veterinary exams and more than 3,600 sick, injured, and homeless animals found new homes through the shelter’s adoption facility. An active humane education program reaches over 7,000 children each year, and a dog training program gives advice and training to more than 3,000 adults each year. We reach out to seniors as hundreds are visited under the pet-facilitated visitation program, and thousands receive free vaccinations for their pets. Over 800 volunteers augment the care for the thousands of unwanted, abused and injured animals that seek shelter at the Society and help with special events

Sacramento SPCA CEO, Kenn Altine, enjoys a comforting moment with cat Tomasina prior to her surgery in the shelter’s spay & neuter clinic.

Sacramento SPCA CEO, Kenn Altine, enjoys a comforting moment with Tomasina prior to her surgery in the shelter’s spay & neuter clinic.

Where do most of your animals come from?

Because we are the only owner-surrender facility in the Sacramento region, the majority of animals housed and adopted through the Sacramento SPCA begin their journey with us after being surrendered by their owner(s). There are many reasons why an individual or family would decide to surrender their animal, most of which are related to housing, veterinary costs, other financial reasons, pet behavior, separation/divorce, or original owner passed away, and the other family members cannot care for the pet.

To help more animals in our region and the surrounding communities, the Sacramento SPCA also regularly transfers animals in from other overburdened shelters. The relocation of these pets not only allows the overburdened shelter to have open kennels for incoming animals but gives the pets transferred the opportunity to find loving homes in a new environment. In 2018, the Sacramento SPCA transferred in 438 animals from other shelters, including animals from the Sacramento City & County shelters, as well as areas impacted by Hurricane Michael and the Camp Fire. So far this year, we have already transferred in more than 300 animals, putting us on track for 600 transfers in 2019.

Team River City Bank at the 2019 Doggy Dash

Team RCB at the 2019 Doggy Dash (photo credit: [email protected])

Besides the Doggy Dash, what other fundraising events happen throughout the year?

We host three signature events annually, more than a dozen smaller events, and participate in a multitude of other community partner-hosted events throughout the region. Our signature events consist of: The Doggy Dash 2k/5k walk and pet festival each April, held at William Land Park; our fall gala, held at the Sacramento SPCA (this year on October 26th) and the Jingle Bell Pup Crawl in December (December 14th this year), which begins at Midtown’s Truitt Bark Park in partnership with a handful of local breweries.

We also regularly host “Yappy Hours” at local breweries throughout Sacramento. These are great opportunities for the community to join us with their pup to enjoy brews, food, raffle prizes and fun (including meeting adoptable dogs) – all to benefit the animals at the Sacramento SPCA. In addition, during the summer months, we host several “Splashy Hours” at The Animal Den Pet Resort & Spa, where people and their pups can have fun escaping the summer heat.

For more information about all our events, visit sspca.org/events.

What advice would you give someone looking to adopt a pet?

If you are like most of us, falling in love with a pet is easy. Pets give us unconditional love and loyalty, and they provide constant companionship. Adopting a pet, however, is a big decision. Dogs, cats, and small animals are living beings that require a considerable amount of time, money, and commitment — more than 15 years’ worth in many cases. Pet ownership can be rewarding, but only if you think through your decision before you adopt. Things to consider before adopting would be:

How much time do you have for a pet?
Can you afford a pet?
Can you have pets where you currently live?
What pet is right for you?
Other Considerations – Depending on the age and behavior of the animal, can you commit your time and money to support ongoing training? Also, who will care for the pet while you are away on vacation or business?

Why did the Sacramento SPCA choose River City Bank?

When we decided to change banks, we had three “set-in-stone” requirements. The first is that the bank had to be financially strong with a track record of managing the accounts and activities of a business. In addition to being a non-profit, we are also a medium-sized employer, run a retail store (our Adoptable Goods thrift store) and have all the accounts payable and receivable associated with any business. Second, we wanted the bank to be local. We are a local organization (not affiliated with the ASPCA or other regional and national groups) and wanted a local partner. Finally, we needed the bank to be invested in the community – not necessarily through donations to animal groups (although that is a plus), but involved in giving their time and their donations to the Sacramento region.

RCB hit all three of those with a proven track record in each, while also aligning with our organization’s mission and core values. While other banks we interviewed offered low or no fees on the services we needed, RCB took the approach of helping us succeed as a business. They also came up with a proposal to help make our money work harder for the animals. We could not be happier with the choice nor the experience we have had as a member of the RCB business family.

April 22, 2019

River City Bank reports a quarterly cash dividend of $0.28 per common share

SACRAMENTO, CA— Steve Fleming, President and CEO of River City Bank (the Bank), announced that the Bank’s board of directors has approved, in connection with the Bank’s recently reported net income of $5.9 million, or $4.07 diluted earnings per share, for the quarter ending March 31, 2019, a cash dividend of $0.28 per common share to shareholders of record as of April 30, 2019, and payable on May 14, 2019.

April 22, 2019

River City Bank reports 2019 first quarter net income of $5.9 million

SACRAMENTO, CA — River City Bank (the Bank) reported record net income of $5.9 million, or $4.07 per diluted share, for the quarter ending March 31, 2019. This compares favorably to the $5.5 million, or $3.82 per diluted share, for the same period in 2018. The improved net income versus the prior year quarter was driven by higher loan balances.

“We experienced solid growth of $67 million, or 4.2 percent, during the first quarter,” said Steve Fleming, President and CEO of River City Bank. “We are also pleased with the progress of our Clean Energy Division, which continues to open up new opportunities for us to expand our customer base. Our asset quality continues to be exceptional, with the ratio of nonperforming loans and Other Real Estate Owned to total gross loans of only 0.05 percent as of March 31, 2019.”

The loan growth has also been sufficient to mitigate the negative impact of the rise in short term interest rates over the last year and the flattening of the interest rate yield curve. The Bank’s net interest margin declined from 2.75 percent to 2.67 percent for the quarters ending March 31, 2018 and 2019, respectively.

“Operational efficiency remains a core competency for the Bank, as evidenced by our 42 percent efficiency ratio for the quarter ending March 31, 2019,” said Anker Christensen, Chief Financial Officer of River City Bank. “Though our total non-interest expense has increased over the prior year quarter, our focus on managing expenses continues to be made evident by our continued low-efficiency ratio. This demonstrates our ability to grow profitably even though we are experiencing some net interest margin compression.”

Shareholders’ equity for River City Bank on March 31, 2019, increased $7.1 million to $216 million, when compared to the $209 million as of December 31, 2018. The growth was driven by increased retained earnings. The Bank’s capital ratios remain well above the regulatory definitions for being Well Capitalized. Common Equity Tier 1, Tier 1 Leverage and Total Risk-based capital ratios were 11.6 percent, 9.7 percent and 12.9 percent, respectively, as of March 31, 2019.

March 28, 2019

Clean Power Alliance: Providing clean energy and empowering communities

Established in 2017, Clean Power Alliance (CPA) has quickly become the largest CCA in the nation. CPA currently serves over 900,000 homes and roughly 3.5 million people throughout Southern California. Beginning in May 2019, CPA will also provide clean energy to approximately 130,000 businesses as well.

As a Community Choice Aggregator (CCA), Clean Power Alliance is a government entity that purchases clean power directly on the open energy market and delivers it to consumers on existing Southern California Edison (SCE) power lines. Originally established as a joint powers authority with unincorporated Los Angeles County, Rolling Hills Estates, and South Pasadena as founding members, it quickly grew to a coalition of 31 agencies across Los Angeles and Ventura Counties.

Choice and Growth

For more than a century, Southern California Edison had been the region’s dominant electric utility. But for nearly a million homes across Southern California, the days of Edison’s monopoly are coming to an end. Clean Power Alliance and other CCAs are offering a cleaner option and bringing competition on a larger scale. CPA offers consumers three energy options at three price points: Green (100 percent renewables), Clean (50 percent renewables), and Lean (36 percent renewables.) Consumers can decide their level of investment in clean energy.

Communities join because it is a platform for environmental protection and combatting climate change, and because cities have their own local sustainability goals. They also join because they are given a choice on how their energy is sourced. Clean Power Alliance also reinvests funds in innovative projects and programs within the communities they serve.

“The benefits of removing the monopoly system are that it brings innovation and lower rates,” said Ted Bardacke, Executive Director of Clean Power Alliance. “People want choice and the idea that if they can save money and be a little greener, or pay a bit more and be a lot greener, appeals to consumers.”

Creating a Strong Foundation

Before Clean Power Alliance was born, Bardacke knew there were things he needed to get right to build a thriving CCA. Although CCAs have been around Northern California since 2010, they are a relatively new concept in Southern California. Ensuring there was a robust infrastructure in place, the organization set high standards for its employees, officers, and directors. Along with strong corporate governance, Bardacke and his team took their time hiring experienced staff and figuring out how the agency is organized to ensure a secure future.

“We spent a lot of time hiring staff who knew what they are doing and to keep the place running,” said Bardacke.

According to Bardacke, by 2020 the Clean Power Alliance is set to take in over $800M in annual revenue. He attributes this success to applying the organization’s best practices and creating a framework of tools and techniques that identify, assess, mitigate, and monitor risk within the organization. Nothing is built at breakneck speed, and policies are carefully and thoughtfully considered.

“We want to make sure that we don’t get out over our skis,” said Bardacke. “It requires a lot of work to be conservative and disciplined.”

CPA turned to River City Bank for its financial needs. Bardacke knew that River City Bank has taken a bold lead in the clean energy space, supporting CCA clients throughout California with their depository, cash management, and lending needs. He has seen RCB provide other CCA clients with custom-tailored solutions spanning start-up capital, lines of credit, renewable energy project financing, and custodian “lockbox” accounts.

“We know that River City Bank understands the CCA business and is comfortable in the space,” said Bardacke. “They are entrepreneurial without being bureaucratic. They understand what it takes to start this type of business, and we appreciate working with people who get that mindset. I know that I can call Steve Fleming directly and get something done.”

What’s In Store for Clean Energy

With talks about a “Green New Deal” which includes a 100% reliance on renewable energy, mitigation of climate change, and increasing green jobs, CCAs like Clean Power Alliance will be right in the middle of the action.

“There will be a change in a systemic and personal level when it comes to where Californians get their energy,” says Bardacke.

Since 2010, CCAs have given customers the ability to directly influence their community’s energy options by giving them the power to choose how and where they buy their electricity and natural gas. In light of California’s Senate Bill 100 which requires California to get 60% of its electricity from renewable sources by 2030 and to eliminate the burning of fossil fuels for electricity by 2045, CCAs are very likely to grow in prominence in the coming years. Gradually, it could mean incentives for customers to install electric water or space heaters, reducing the need to burn natural gas. It might pave the way for free or discounted electric vehicle chargers or special electricity rates that encourage people to charge their electric vehicles at home.

In the clean energy arena, there will be new players and opportunities. The state continues to be open to innovation and technology that will help eliminate the use of fossil fuels in the next few decades.

“In California, this idea of bold and ambitious goals based on local priorities has been successful across the board,” Bardacke says. “Everything we’re experiencing right now is what the other CCAs (community choice aggregators) have experienced around the state.”

To learn more about Clean Power Alliance visit their website at www.cleanpoweralliance.org.

March 27, 2019

Consumer Card Controls and Alerts

Your car, phone, house, and valuables are locked when not in use. What about your debit card? With the new Card Controls and Alerts feature in consumer Mobile Banking, you can control how, when, and where you use your River City Bank Debit Mastercard. It’s a simple, secure way to manage and monitor your payment and transaction activity. Best of all, River City Bank debit cardholders will have access to this feature at no additional cost!

24/7 Control Right at Your Finger Tips:

Turn your cards on and off in real-time
Control where your debit card can be used by selecting authorized zip codes or blocking international transactions
Control the types of merchants where you use your card, such as in-store or online
Receive instant push notification alerts on your phone when your debit card is used

Did you forget your debit card at a store? Turn it off.

Are you shopping around the neighborhood? Set the debit card to only work in the region where you are shopping.

Someone in another state or overseas just used your debit card? Turn it off and then immediately notify River City Bank of the fraud.

A simple and secure way to protect you from fraudulent transactions, the alert feature provides real-time transaction alerts with a whole new level of control.

For existing consumer mobile banking users, enable these features through the “More” button at the bottom of the app. Not a Mobile user? Download the River City Bank consumer app today from the Apple App Store, or the Google Play Store.

At River City Bank, your personal and financial security is our top priority. If you have questions or concerns, please call a customer service representative at (916) 567-2899 or (800) 564-7144 or visit your nearest branch.

To learn more, read the FAQs about Card Controls and Alerts.

March 27, 2019

2019 Regional Business Outlook

Regional-Business-Outlook-Crowd-e1556819814445

River City Bank hosted business clients and community leaders at its annual Regional Business Outlook Event on February 6th. The exclusive event featured presentations on key business topics from noted business leaders and industry experts. River City Bank President and CEO, Steve Fleming, also shared a look at the Bank’s 2018 successes and his perspective on the local economy. 2019 marks the 10th year of this highly-anticipated event as it continues to provide industry and local insight on a variety of topics.

Discussion topics included eCommerce, real estate, and the medical biotechnology industry, and this year’s panel of speakers included: Benjamin Conwell, Senior Managing Director and Global Practice Leader of Cushman Wakefield; Cate Dyer, Founder and CEO of StemExpress; and Greg Paquin, Founder and President of the Gregory Group.

RCB is excited to see what the upcoming year brings. Plans for the 2020 event are already in the works.

River City Bank’s Pat Lewis with Toni Dwyer of DesCor Builders

Regional Business Outlook Speakers: Greg Paquin of the Gregory Group, Cate Dyer of StemExpress, Steve Fleming, and Benjamin Conwell of Cushman & Wakefield

Lina Fat of Fat Family Restaurant Group with Stacy Paragary of Paragary Restaurant Group

Charice Huntley of River City Bank

Steve Fleming addresses the crowd

A question from Samuel Smalls of George K. Baum & Company

Nitish Sharma of the City of Davis, Steve Fleming, Dennis Kauffman and Scott Alvord of the City of Roseville, with River City Bank’s Janette Moynier and Rosa Cucicea

Rick Wylie of Villara Building Systems, Jim Hendersen of Cardinal Realty Finance, and Mike Paris of BlackPine Communities

Steve Bender of Bender Insurance Solutions with River City Bank’s Chairman of the Board, Shawn Devlin, and Steve Boutin of Boutin Jones