December 23, 2020

Freezing Your Credit

Close up of credit cards frozen in a block of ice

What is a credit freeze?

Also known as a security freeze, a credit freeze is a tool that lets you restrict access to your credit report, making it more difficult for identity thieves to open new accounts in your name. Most creditors need to see your credit report before they approve a new account, if they can’t review your report, they may not extend the credit. A credit freeze gives you more control over the release of your financial information.

Does a credit freeze affect my credit score?

No. A credit freeze does not affect your credit score. A credit freeze also does not prevent the following:

  • Prevent you from getting a free annual credit report
  • Keep you from opening a new account. To open a new account, you’ll need to lift the freeze temporarily. You can lift the freeze or thaw credit anytime you need to access your credit.
  • Prevent a criminal from making charges to your existing accounts. You still need to monitor all bank, credit card, and insurance statements for fraudulent transactions. We recommend that you monitor your accounts daily.

Is there a cost to freeze/unfreeze my credit?

No.

How do I place a freeze on my credit reports?

You need to contact each of the nationwide credit bureaus. You will need to supply your name, address, date of birth, Social Security number, and other personal information. After receiving the freeze request, each credit bureau will provide you with a unique PIN (personal identification number) or password. Keep the PIN or password in a safe place. You will need it if you choose to lift the freeze.

Equifax

Freeze your Equifax credit report
(800) 685-1111

Experian

Place a security freeze through Experian
888-EXPERIAN | (888) 397-3742

TransUnion

Freeze your TransUnion credit report
888-EXPERIAN | (888) 397-3742

How do I lift a freeze?

A freeze remains in place until you ask the credit bureau to temporarily lift it or remove it altogether. Contact the credit bureau to temporarily lift or remove the freeze.

If you opt for a temporary lift because you are applying for credit or a job, and you can find out which credit bureau the business will contact for your file, you can save some time by lifting the freeze only at that particular credit bureau. Otherwise, you need to make the request with all three credit bureaus.

Should you have questions about freezing credit, visit a credit bureau website or the Federal Trade Commission – www.consumer.ftc.gov/topics/identity-theft. The Federal Trade Commission is a valuable resource to learn more about protecting your personal and financial information from identity thieves and cyber criminals.

For additional information, contact one of our Customer Service Representative at (916) 567-2899 or (800) 564-7144 or via email at [email protected].

December 23, 2020

Holiday Season Phone and Email Scams

Mobile phone with Amazon logo on the screen

The busy holiday season is here, and while this season may look different due to the pandemic, online shopping is at an all-time high. The increase in online shopping means cyber criminals are busier than ever.

There is a popular scam making its way across the country right now where scammers, purportedly from Amazon or Apple, call or email people conning them out of money or their banking credentials. Below are common variations of this scam and ways you can avoid being a victim.

A phone , green, decorative

Phone Scam Variations

  1. You receive a call and a recorded message says it’s Amazon. The message says there’s something wrong with your account. It could be a suspicious purchase, a lost package, or an order they can’t fulfill.
  2. In another twist on this scam, you get a recorded message that says there’s been suspicious activity in your Apple iCloud account or your account has been breached.

If you get an unexpected call or message about a problem with any of your accounts, hang up.

  • Do not press 1 to speak with customer support.
  • Do not call a phone number they gave you.
  • Do not give out your personal information.

If you think there may actually be a problem with one of your accounts, contact the company directly using a phone number or website you have verified.

Email green, Decorative

Email Scam

You receive an email that appears to be from Amazon notifying you of a problem with your account. The scammer asks for your Amazon login information with the goal of accessing your account. The scammer will then order items and gain personal information.

If you receive an email asking you to click on a link or enter login information, do not take the bait.

  • Do not click on links provided in emails. Instead, open a new web browser window to visit a verified site.
  • Do not enter personal information, including username and password.
  • Do not call phone numbers given in the email. Look for a phone number on the verified website.

To learn more about cyber security and best practices, visit our Safety & Security page. If you feel you may be a victim of a cyber scam, contact our Customer Service team at (916) 567-2899 or (800) 564-7144 or by email at [email protected].

December 23, 2020

Meet Carolyn Turner

Head shot of Carolyn Turner

Carolyn Turner is a Senior Vice President, Real Estate Relationship Manager with our Sacramento Team. She is responsible for building and cultivating commercial real estate relationships and managing existing CRE portfolios. In between zoom meetings and client calls, we caught up with her to talk about her love for the outdoors, the importance of giving back, and appreciating the blessings of everyday life.

Hometown:  Calistoga, California.  I grew up in wine country!

First Job:  Dishwasher at a local restaurant when I was 15.  That was hard work at $3.35 per hour!

First Car: A Chevy Camaro.  I saved every penny from my dishwashing and odd jobs to purchase it.

Favorite Movie: Ferris Bueller’s Day Off and The Devil Wears Prada are definitely at the top of my list.

Favorite song:  Most anything from the 1980s and the Rolling Stones, Tom Petty, Eagles.

Favorite city to visit:  Cabo San Lucas, Mexico and Sennfeld, Germany.

Favorite place in Sacramento:  Green Acres Nursery. I love to garden, plus I can take my dog!  

First site or app you check in the morning:  Text messages on my cell phone.

Morning ritual:  Tune in to the local and world news, log-on to check e-mails, and coffee.  My wonderful husband makes me an awesome latte’ every single morning!

If you have an extra hour in the day, how would you spend it?  I would take my dog for an extra-long walk or putter in my garden – anything outdoors!

Radio or podcasts?  Radio – Sirius XM.

Which talent would you most like to have?  Fluency in multiple languages.

What is something people would be surprised to know about you?  I like to Scuba dive, snorkel, and zipline while on tropical vacations.

Carolyn and her daughter participate in the American River Conservancy’s clean-up day.
Carolyn and her daughter participate in the American River Conservancy’s clean-up day.

Which causes/non-profits do you support?  I am on the Board of the National Charity League (El Dorado Hills Chapter), where I volunteer alongside my daughter at numerous local non-profits such as Animal Outreach, Snowline Hospice, Sacramento Food Bank, and the Upper Room Dining Hall.  It is so gratifying to teach my daughter the importance of giving back, especially during these times of need.

What is your idea of perfect happiness?  Watching my daughter grow up to be a better version of me and leaving behind a better world for her.

What is your greatest extravagance?  Travel.  When we can travel again safely, a return trip to Costa Rica and a first time trip to the Galapagos Islands are at the top of my list.

What is your current state of mind?  Grateful for the past and hopeful for the future.

What was the best piece of business advice you were given when you were starting out? Do what you enjoy, and success will follow.

What is your biggest takeaway from the pandemic?  The importance of family, good health, and appreciating the blessings of everyday life.

What do you consider your greatest achievement?  Personally, being a mother.  Professionally, being part of a start-up bank that grew into a successful merger.

What do you like best about working at River City Bank?  I immediately felt welcomed and part of the team.  While I have only been with RCB for a couple of months, everyone has been so kind and willing to help. Thank you to everyone for making me feel so at home!

October 22, 2020

River City Bank Reports a Quarterly Cash Dividend on Common Shares

SACRAMENTO, CA — Steve Fleming, president and chief executive officer 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 $8.3 million or $5.70 diluted earnings per share for the quarter ending September 30, 2020, a cash dividend of $0.30 per common share to shareholders of record as of November 3, 2020, and payable on November 17, 2020.

October 20, 2020

River City Bank Reports a Quarterly Cash Dividend on Common Shares

SACRAMENTO, CA — Steve Fleming, president and chief executive officer 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 $8.3 million or $5.70 diluted earnings per share for the quarter ending September 30, 2020, a cash dividend of $0.30 per common share to shareholders of record as of November 3, 2020, and payable on November 17, 2020.

October 16, 2020

Shingle Springs Band of Miwok Indians

Group photo of Tribal Council
Group photo of Tribal Council

The Shingle Springs Band of Miwok Indians is a federally recognized tribe located in Placerville, California. The Tribe owns and operates the Red Hawk Casino and is one of the largest employers in El Dorado County.  Beyond the casino, the Tribe has also created a very strong community infrastructure, operating its own fire and police departments, Elders Center, Tribal Court, and more. In 1995, the Tribe opened a health center in nearby Shingle Springs.  In 2011, that small center was transformed when the Tribe built the Shingle Springs Health & Wellness Center on the Rancheria.  It provides the local community with the best possible care in all aspects, including family practice, pediatrics, specialty care such as physical therapy, dentistry and orthodontics, pharmacy and mental health.

We had the honor of speaking with Chairwoman Regina Cuellar to talk more about how the Tribe continues to grow while preserving its culture and traditions.

Please give us a little history of the Shingle Springs Band of Miwok Indians.

The Shingle Springs Rancheria was purchased by the United States government in 1920 on behalf of the Sacramento Verona Band of Homeless Indians. Our Tribal Members are descendants of Miwok and Nisenan Indians, and our Tribe has had to overcome many obstacles to get where we are today.

Our reservation was originally 160 acres.  As part of our commitment to the success of the Tribe, our reservation has grown over the years to more than 500 acres. The Indian Gaming Regulatory Act, enacted by the United States Congress in 1988, allows gaming as a means of generating revenue for tribes, encouraging economic development and self-sufficiency.

Due to the success of our businesses, we are able to provide many social, health, economic, enrichment, and educational resources to our Tribal Members.

How does the Tribe’s history impact it today?

Our ties to the land and our ancestors are of paramount importance. The Tribe is dedicated to strengthening its culture by learning as much as we can and passing along our traditional way of life to future generations.

Tribal Members and each department are dedicated to cultural revitalization. The overarching goals of the community are to protect, preserve, and interpret the cultural heritage of the Shingle Springs Band of Miwok Indians. This includes the protection of cultural and sacred landscapes, the return of ancestors from museums and institutions, the intergenerational transfer of cultural-ecological knowledge (i.e., songs, dance, and regalia) to the community, and the revitalization of the community’s language.

Miwok-Band-of-IndiansR-300x216

Recently, the Tribe reclaimed some of its homeland with the purchase of Verona Marina. This area, at the confluence of the Feather and Sacramento Rivers, is where our ancestors lived as early as the 1800s. Words cannot explain or describe our connection to this land. It is part of the fabric of the Tribe and its culture.

How has the pandemic affected the community?

The health and safety of our Tribal Members, employees, patients, and guests are paramount. COVID protocol is strictly followed on the Rancheria and at the Tribe’s businesses.

We never imagined a time that we would close our casino, but as we all know, the pandemic has made us look at our lives and businesses differently.  Red Hawk Casino is the Tribe’s revenue lifeblood.

Since we are a sovereign nation, we did not have to close the casino, but we voluntarily closed for the health and safety of our team, guests, and the surrounding community. The casino was closed for almost three months. We reopened on June 7 with all protocols in place. In addition, we’ve installed partitions between slot machines where possible, and the Waterfall Buffet was converted into a food court offering a variety of stations including American, Italian, Asian, Tex-Mex, and Hawks Coffee, featuring coffee and pastries.

At the Shingle Springs Health & Wellness Center, non-urgent care was temporarily suspended. Today, with modifications, our dental and pharmacy departments are fully open to in-person visits, medical offers both in-person and telehealth appointments, and behavioral health appointments are conducted via telehealth.

The Tribe has a robust infrastructure. Can you tell us more about that?

Our Tribe and Rancheria have changed significantly from our humble beginnings, and our organization is complex.  The Shingle Springs Band of Miwok Indians is an independent, sovereign tribal government led by our seven-member elected Tribal Council. As one of the area’s largest employers, the Tribe owns and operates a variety of businesses that are creating economic independence for today and future generations. Most importantly, we are a family that is working hard to honor and preserve our culture and traditions.

What are some of the Tribe’s businesses and community programs?

RedHawkCasino-768x511

Red Hawk Casino – Red Hawk Casino is one of the premier entertainment destinations in Northern California. The stunning 278,000 sq. ft. facility features an 88,000 sq. ft. gaming floor with more than 2,000 slot machines and all the most popular table games. An experience unlike any other, Red Hawk Casino offers award-winning excitement, excellent dining options, and unparalleled gaming action.

Shingle Springs Health & Wellness Center – The Shingle Springs Health & Wellness Center provides medical, dental, behavioral health, specialty care, and pharmacy services to thousands in the area. Our state-of-the-art, high-quality care is available to Natives and non-Natives.

Express Fuel and Convenience Store – Our gas station and convenience store are owned and operated by the Shingle Springs Business Development Corporation.

Shingle Springs Tribal Temporary Assistance to Native Families (TANF) – Our Tribal TANF program serves eligible Native American families in Sacramento, El Dorado, Yolo, and Placer counties. Currently, we have more than 700 active TANF clients.  We provide essential tools and teach skills to empower Native families to achieve self-sufficiency.

What other community programs does the Tribe support?

As part of its core philosophy, the Tribe is honored to support a wide variety of cultural and charitable organizations and causes.

Boys & Girls Club of El Dorado County Western Slope, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Northern Sierra, Marshall Foundation, Vista del Lago High School Fishing Club, and Hands4Hope are just a few examples of the many organizations we support. The Tribe has also established a partnership with the Food Bank of El Dorado County to provide food boxes to eligible seniors in five counties and TANF participants.

The Shingle Springs Health & Wellness Center is one of the area’s key resources for patients with Medicare and Medi-Cal.  Because volunteerism is aligned with our core values, our team participates in many health fairs and volunteers for dental missions in Honduras.

Pre-pandemic, the Tribe donated the use of its gym and other facilities to organizations such as Special Olympics, Master Gardeners, 4-H, local high school cross country meets, and more.

As responsible corporate citizens, we are active members in all local chambers of commerce and other business-oriented organizations. We also participate in several golf tournaments, which is an effective way to build and strengthen relationships while contributing to meaningful causes.

To learn more about the Shingle Springs Band of Miwok Indians, visit their website at www.shinglespringsrancheria.com.

October 16, 2020

Natomas Oaks Park to be Renamed the Ray and Judy Tretheway Oak Preserve

Ray Tretheway standing next to a newly planted tree
Ray Tretheway standing next to a newly planted tree

The Sacramento City Council unanimously resolved to rename the Natomas Oaks Park at 2230 River Plaza Drive as the Ray and Judy Tretheway Oak Preserve.

Ray, Judy, and their community successfully advocated for the City of Sacramento to acquire this oak grove and adjacent land to be designated as a nature preserve. The oak preserve is nearly all that is left of the magnificent groves that existed here in the 1800s. Centuries ago, this small patch of land was part of thousands of acres of other oaks.  These oaks were here when the first settlers arrived in California. The grove’s historical significance is protected because of the Tretheways’ and the community’s quick action to maintain the picturesque area.

Ray, Judy, and their community successfully advocated for the City of Sacramento to acquire this oak grove and adjacent land to be designated as a nature preserve. The oak preserve is nearly all that is left of the magnificent groves that existed here in the 1800s. Centuries ago, this small patch of land was part of thousands of acres of other oaks.  These oaks were here when the first settlers arrived in California. The grove’s historical significance is protected because of the Tretheways’ and the community’s quick action to maintain the picturesque area.

Naming this park after Ray and Judy is particularly significant given their special connection to this heritage oak grove.  Located near Ray and Judy’s home, their daughter was married under its magnificent trees in 2005. Ray visits the park regularly, and Judy leads silent meditation retreats and forest bathing, or shinrin yoku, underneath the trees’ canopy.

This December, Ray will retire as Executive Director at the Sacramento Tree Foundation after nearly four decades of service. Under his stewardship, the Foundation has planted over one million trees, giving Sacramento the well-earned title of the largest hand-planted urban forest in the world.  Ray’s deep love for the area’s trees and his devotion to safeguarding their existence is the cornerstone of the Foundation’s legacy.

As a testament to the Tretheways’ commitment to Sacramento’s urban forest, the community, and the environment, the City will be installing two naming signs and a plaque in honor of Ray and Judy.  Later this year, the Foundation will also announce Ray’s successor and celebrate Ray’s lifetime of public service to the Sacramento Region.

To learn more about the Sacramento Tree Foundation or to make a donation in Ray’s name, visit their website at sactree.com.

October 15, 2020

President’s Message

Steve-Fleming-Presidents-Message

I hope you and your loved ones are doing well, notwithstanding the pandemic and economic downturn. As you all know, this has been an extraordinary year, and there is still more to go. COVID-19 has had a very uneven impact on industries and individuals – we see it in our conversations with our clients and review of their financial statements. Some companies and people are far more negatively impacted than others. Of course, none of us has a crystal ball, but I choose to remain optimistic about the future and, thus, am expecting continued improvement in public health and the economy in 2021.

Being realistic about the economic and public health environment, we all have to make strategic and day-to-day decisions which are best for our businesses. Please know that the team at River City Bank remains committed to providing you with exceptional service. Our office staff has been amazingly effective in making the transition from working in our offices to working from their homes. Our courageous branch staff has not missed a beat in providing great customer experiences while being on the front line in terms of exposure to COVID-19.

Perhaps you are expecting pearls of wisdom about the economy, interest rates, and banking from me. I’m not sure that you have ever gotten that in this column, and you certainly won’t this time. Rather, working from home over the past six months has allowed me the luxury of reading more books than I typically would. While we all have different preferences for our reading, you might want to give one or two of these books a try as I enjoyed and took something from them all:

Red Notice by Bill Browder
Shoe Dog by Phil Knight
Dark Towers by David Enrich
The Ride of a Lifetime by Bob Iger
The Match by Mark Frost
The Splendid and the Vile by Erik Larson

Hope to see you soon.

October 13, 2020

The Legacy of Jon Kelly

Jon S. Kelly River City Bank Founder
Jon S. Kelly River City Bank Founder

Born in 1936, Jon Kelly was without a doubt one of the top entrepreneurs and philanthropists in the history of Sacramento. Jon is probably best known, along with his brother Bob, for having owned and operated KCRA-TV in Sacramento for more than three decades. Jon was only 26 years old when the Kelly brothers took over the running of KCRA in 1963 upon the sudden passing of their father at an early age. The brothers also started, owned, and operated KCPQ-TV, the Fox affiliate in Seattle. Jon was a legendary figure in broadcasting as these stations were highly respected on a national level for their innovation, commitment to delivering high quality news, and ability to attract exceptional talent.

Always looking for the next opportunity in what he viewed as the business playground, Jon founded River City Bank in 1973, where he also filled the CEO and Chairman roles on several occasions. Jon’s vision, entrepreneurial spirit, and incredible drive to win led to the Bank being the largest based in Sacramento and allowed it to remain family owned over the past 47 years as the banking industry has gone through a period of tremendous consolidation.

Jon was a force of nature, a highly successful entrepreneur who loved to compete. Besides the TV and banking activities I mentioned above, he was a real estate developer and invested in radio stations, an advertising agency, and more. One of his signature real estate projects, in partnership with his son Greg, was the 12-story, LEED-certified Gateway Tower office building at 2020 W. El Camino Ave. Jon was also the key player in the formation years ago of the Sacramento Area Commerce and Trade Organization (SACTO), which was instrumental in attracting such industrial heavyweights as Intel, NEC and Hewlett-Packard to the region. SACTO later merged into the present day Greater Sacramento Economic Council.

Perhaps, though, the thing I will remember most about Jon was that he made everything seem important and he always made it fun for the rest of us. He loved to celebrate the successes of the Bank, particularly our growth over the past 10 years, but he also understood that things wouldn’t go our way all the time – that’s the nature of the banking business and of life he would say. He loved to “play the game of life”, including the human connections that he forged with all he came in contact with.

Jon was proud that his legacy in Sacramento would include River City Bank, as well as the Kelly Foundation, one of the largest charitable-giving foundations in the Sacramento region. His philanthropy included the donation of the land on which public television’s KVIE, Channel 6, now sits in South Natomas. Jon’s daughter, Shawn Kelly Devlin, has done a superb job with Jon’s mentorship as the board chair for both RCB and the Kelly Foundation for the past 12 years and intends on building upon his legacy.

One of my last recent interactions with Jon was one of the most memorable. Along with a couple of other long-time business associates, we met with Jon after he had been informed that his cancer was terminable and that he only had a few months to live. The first thing Jon said to us was that we shouldn’t have any sympathy for him as he had lived a great life, blessed with wonderful family, friends, and animals (he loved his dogs and thoroughbred race horses). He said that his life had far exceeded his expectations for “fun and action”. He had lived a full life, indeed.

Jon Kelly was an extraordinary person and he is already missed.

Steve Fleming
President & CEO | River City Bank

September 22, 2020

River City Bank adds former Heritage Bank of Commerce SVP Michael McComish to its expanding San Francisco-based team

Bay Area banker to focus on commercial real estate, professional service firms and non-profit organizations as SVP, Relationship Manager

SACRAMENTO, CA – River City Bank continues to add new talent to its San Francisco-based team and announces the addition of Michael McComish as Senior Vice President, Relationship Manager. McComish will be responsible for developing new business within the San Francisco Bay Area, with a focus on commercial real estate, professional service firms, non-profit organizations and private banking. He brings more than 27 years of experience in private and commercial banking, having most recently managed accounts as Senior Vice President, Relationship Manager at Heritage Bank of Commerce.

“The San Francisco business community is dynamic, robust and constantly evolving,” said Steve Fleming, President and CEO of River City Bank. “To aid in our continued expansion throughout the Bay Area, we are pleased to welcome Michael to our team, where he will play a crucial role in solidifying new relationships with businesses and leaders in a variety of industries.”

“Bay Area business leaders are eager to find a banking partner that brings a healthy combination of ambition, agility and sheer capacity to the table,” said Michael McComish, Senior Vice President and Relationship Manager at River City Bank. “I’m excited to introduce them to River City Bank, which brings all of that and more to each relationship and opportunity.”

As SVP, Relationship Manager with Heritage Bank of Commerce, McComish managed a loan portfolio of more than $120 million and a deposit portfolio of more than $100 million. He came into his role at Heritage Bank of Commerce while aiding its acquisition of Presidio Bank, where he had spent more than a decade working with executives and all departments within the bank to develop its deposit and loan portfolios. Since joining Heritage Bank in October 2019, McComish has overseen the growth of its loan portfolio by more than $18 million. Heritage Bank’s acquisition of Presidio Bank was finalized in 2019.

McComish graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in Social Science from California Polytechnic State University. He currently serves as President of the Society of California Pioneers, where he has also served as a board member since early 2005.