Northern California’s business finance experts deepen ties in Bay Area
SACRAMENTO, Calif.,— Continuing its mission to be the leading bank for successful mid-sized businesses throughout California, River City Bank is expanding its presence in the San Francisco Bay Area with the establishment of a new commercial banking office in Walnut Creek. This move underscores the bank’s plans for strategic growth beyond its Sacramento base, where it is an established leader in the business community it serves.
“For years we have been building an impressive loan portfolio in the Bay Area and servicing commercial clients with the premier, high-touch experience that distinguishes us from other banks,” stated River City Bank President and CEO Steve Fleming. “Establishing a brick-and-mortar hub in the San Francisco region has always been a key component of our expansion strategy, and Walnut Creek is a beautiful place to start.”
The expansion is a natural progression of the bank’s shift from being primarily a Sacramento-centric, retail-oriented bank to focusing on business accounts throughout California, and it comes after a series of significant milestones. In the past year alone, River City Bank’s asset size has increased by more than 16 percent to $1.4 billion, fueled by its prominence in the Bay Area and Sacramento business communities. Since 2008, River City Bank’s Board of Directors and Executive Management team have pursued a strategy of positioning the bank as northern California’s premier business finance experts; to do so, Fleming has leaned heavily on his team’s wealth of expertise in the San Francisco Bay Area, as well as his own experience in the region.
“Our Chief Credit Officer, Pat McHone, is a Bay Area native, having been raised in El Cerrito before spending a number of years with Mechanics Bank in the East Bay,” stated Fleming. “In addition, I was privileged to serve as Founder and CEO of Presidio Bank in San Francisco prior to coming to River City Bank. As a result, I understand how much this region could benefit from a powerful business bank.” Prior to founding Presidio Bank, Fleming was the President and CEO of National Bank of the Redwoods in Santa Rosa and holds an MBA from UC Berkeley.
Spearheading River City Bank’s expansion in the Bay Area are Dan Franklin and Jay Murray, seasoned business development and relationship management officers with more than 40 years of collective experience in commercial lending. Both have been instrumental in developing the bank’s presence and portfolio in the Bay Area over the past seven years. Franklin and Murray will anchor the Walnut Creek office, with additional direction and guidance from Commercial Banking Director John Weubbe, who will be overseeing the expansion efforts from River City Bank’s corporate office in Sacramento.
While its local headquarters in northern California provides agility for making quick decisions, River City Bank also has the capital base to handle sizable transactions. Its asset size places it within the top ten percent of banks nationally, and it has earned the impressive Five Star “Superior” rating from Bauer Financial, the nation’s leading independent bank-rating firm for stability, management, and financial performance. The concierge-like service it offers—replete with dedicated Relationship Managers versed in their clients’ industry verticals—is sure to appeal to business professionals in the region. The new office is located at 1646 N. California Boulevard, Suite 320 in Walnut Creek, and can be reached at 925-398-2760. For more information on River City Bank, please visit www.rivercitybank.com.
ABOUT RIVER CITY BANK: River City Bank is the Sacramento region’s premier business bank with assets over $1.4 billion. River City Bank offers a comprehensive suite of banking services, including loans, deposits and cash management tools to the business, consumer and commercial real estate sectors. With tailored, executive-level service and a Five Star “Superior” financial rating from the nation’s leading independent bank-rating firm, Bauer Financial, River City Bank redefines the banking experience and every touch point that surrounds it. River City Bank is the largest, independent, locally-owned bank in the Sacramento region with an office in the San Francisco Bay Area and a presence in Southern California. For additional information, please visit www.rivercitybank.com or call (916) 567-2600. Member FDIC. Equal Housing Lender.
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