November 7, 2023

PBS KVIE Celebrates Local Art

Photo of three people standing in front of a building.
Photo of three people standing in front of a building.

River City Bank was on hand to support the PBS KVIE Art Auction, an annual broadcast and livestream event celebrating the artwork of Northern California artists and California masters. For over 40 years, professional artists throughout the region have donated their artwork to the annual art auction, which serves as PBS KVIE's largest single fundraising event. Over 270 works of art were selected for entry into the 2023 auction.

PBS KVIE receives additional support from regional framing businesses, distinguished art experts and arts educators, and over 100 volunteers who assist with artwork moving, exhibit installation, broadcast presentation, event support, and taking live bids on the phone. The art auction is an exciting, community-supported event over three days every fall.

Thank you, PBS KVIE, for supporting the exceptional artists in our region.

October 5, 2023

3 Prudent Practices for Nonprofits in Today’s Uncertain World

""

By Rebecca Fabisch Miller, Executive Vice President and Commercial Banking Director, River City Bank

""

Anyone who has worked with a nonprofit knows they can be particularly vulnerable to economic conditions and unforeseeable events. Today’s environment presents both of these challenges.

 

California nonprofit boards and their teams are facing not only an increased demand for services in the face of stubborn inflation, but they must also carefully manage their cash like never before.

 

 

This is precisely where your banker can be a vital and trusted adviser. Indeed, many organizations are flush with cash these days, and with increasingly attractive interest rates, that money must be put to work by their boards. But not all nonprofit boards and their executive teams have the time and expertise to research the most lucrative cash strategies, best practices in fraud protection, or ways to maximize their banking relationships.

As a banker and a nonprofit board member, I find these issues hit close to home. In addition to providing vital resources to our community, the nonprofit sector is the fourth-largest employer in California, paying $74 billion in annual wages, according to the Impact Foundry. Such prudent financial management is also important to our local economy.

Here are three areas that demand attention from nonprofit boards and executive teams.

1. Cash and investment strategy

It’s always surprising to me just how few nonprofit organizations have written financial management policies. This is troubling because board members have a fiduciary responsibility to ensure that the organization’s funds are both maximized and handled in a safe and secure manner. That’s why it’s so important to get an investment policy in place if you don’t have one, or if it is not included in your bylaws.

These days and in this inflationary cycle, cash is king. Designing an investment plan for your money is vital to developing a strategy for putting your funds to the best use. But safety must come first. We all know that individual deposit accounts are insured up to $250,000 in banks that are members of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. But by talking with the right banking partner, nonprofits can safeguard considerably more than that. For example, at River City Bank, one of our special programs allows you to safely invest as much as $150 million in our bank with full FDIC insurance.

Money market accounts and certificates of deposit are now delivering interest rates that can generate sizeable interest income for an organization. Nonprofits should take the time to forecast how much of their reserves can be invested, for how long, and in what products to maximize returns.

To assist with this, we’re proud to provide the products and services that these clients need and want. As Kenn Altine, CEO of the Sacramento SPCA, told me: “River City Bank found a way to help us earn more money on the money we have, which our former, national bank never offered. Now, even money in our checking account is earning a rate that helps us maximize our dollars. We don't want to take risks with that money, but we also want to maximize our ability to increase that money.”

2. Fraud Protection

Every organization, whether it’s a foundation or a for-profit organization, is at risk of fraud. In fact, the median loss due to fraud at a charitable group in 2022 was $78,000, according to Occupational Fraud 2022: A Report to the Nations. No one wants that on their watch. Make sure your organization takes advantage of fraud protection tools such as check and ACH positive pay, uses dual control when initiating payments, and has strong audit standards, including a bifurcated review of statements.

Cybersecurity training is also essential. It’s important that all your employees and board members are kept up to date with knowledge about how to spot common cyber scams. Nonprofits are often targeted by cybercriminals who want your data, or money, or both. Hackers are now looking, not just for personal or financial data, but to lock down your entire computer system and hold it for ransom. And these criminals are clever. In fact, as a nonprofit treasurer, I received a phishing email earlier this year that appeared to come from the group’s chairman. I didn’t click on any links and phoned the so-called sender to verify my hunch. It was, indeed, fraud. Your board and staff need a similar sensitivity.

3. Your banking relationship

As a 30-year banker, I can tell you that we are often an underused asset at nonprofits. Not all bankers are community-focused, but many are – or certainly should be. By bringing their experience and expertise, bankers can be valuable members of committees and boards, while encouraging their colleagues to volunteer.

At River City Bank, we strive hard to make this a reality throughout our communities. It is why we are so proud to have donated almost $10 million in local grants in association with the Kelly Foundation, created by the family of the bank’s founder. And through these efforts, we believe we are succeeding in helping improve the lives of our neighbors and our employees.

“From a relationship management perspective, River City Bank truly cares about their clients and the people that they work with,” said Leah Miller, president and CEO, Habitat for Humanity of Greater Sacramento. “I see that from not just a client perspective, but also in the ways that they invest their time and their energy as volunteers and supporting our various efforts.”

To learn more about our commitment to nonprofit organizations in our communities, or to inquire how we might provide services that support your mission, please visit us here or contact one of our relationship managers at (916) 567-2899.

With assets of over $4.3 billion, River City Bank is the largest independent and locally owned and managed bank in the Sacramento region. With a 50-year track record of success, eight branches, an office in San Francisco, and a presence in Southern California, the bank is rated as one of the strongest in the country.

 

MEMBER FDIC

Rebecca Fabisch Miller has spent her 30-year commercial banking career in Sacramento, working as a relationship manager and regional director at several major banks. She earned her MBA from the University of California, Davis and has an undergraduate degree in international business and marketing from California State University, Sacramento. She is the treasurer for the California Forest Foundation and has been involved with many local charities.

 

 

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.

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

How does the Tribe’s history impact it today?

Miwok-Band-of-IndiansR-300x216

How has the pandemic affected the community?

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

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

RedHawkCasino-768x511

What other community programs does the Tribe support?

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

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.

December 20, 2018

Crazy Bowl 2018

""
""

Team RCB was proud to support and participate in the 32nd Annual Crazy Bowl benefiting Junior Achievement of Sacramento. This year’s Hawaiian theme brought out teams like Cowabunga Cirby, Hawaiian Punch, Hurricane Lanes, and the RCB Menehunes, all of whom vied for strikes while avoiding the gutter. 100% of the proceeds will help meet the growing demand for Junior Achievement programs which deliver financial literacy, entrepreneurship, and workforce readiness programs to students K-12.

Team Lava Flows
Team Lava Flows
Team Hawaiian Punch
Team Hawaiian Punch
Team Business Casual
Team Business Casual
Team Cowabunga Cirby
Team Cowabunga Cirby
October 4, 2016

River City Bank donates more than $6,600 to National Human Development Foundation

River City Bank sign
River City Bank sign

Contribution will aid programs for at-risk children and their parents

SACRAMENTO, CA — Oct.4, 2016 — In another bold commitment to Sacramento’s future, River City Bank issued a generous donation check in the amount of $6,617.01 to Sacramento-based National Human Development Foundation (NHDF). NHDF provides educational services for young children while supporting their often struggling parents to achieve educational and employment goals.

“The future of this region is in our children,” noted River City Bank President and CEO Steve Fleming. “We applaud and support NHDF’s mission to provide comprehensive child development services and an essential boost for parents. On a personal note,” added Fleming, “NHDF is one of River City Bank’s very first business clients; our relationship with this wonderful organization dates back to 1978.”

The donation consists of contributions from River City Bank as a corporate entity, as well as internal fundraising efforts from its staff. As part of an annual tradition, River City Bank initiated a series of fundraising activities to encourage staff to provide donations to NHDF as its charity of choice in 2016.

“We are so grateful to River City Bank for this contribution,” noted NHDF Executive Director Michael Kurtz. “Our mission is to provide children with an emotionally supportive and intellectually-stimulating environment, while providing parents with quality, affordable and reliable child-care services. This generous contribution will help us to better serve at-risk families with our proven and innovative programs.”

NHDF operates three preschool centers and one infant-and-toddler center, with the capacity to help nearly 200 children and their parents every day. The organization is renovating a fifth property to extend services to Del Paso Heights and is working to develop its outdoor activity centers into Certified Nature Explore Classrooms in conjunction with the Arbor Day Foundation. NHDF has a track record of not just helping children, but also helping their parents to improve their socioeconomic status through employment. For more information about NHDF, please visit www.nhdf.biz.

ABOUT RIVER CITY BANK:

River City Bank is the largest bank based in Sacramento and the Sacramento region’s premier business bank with assets over $1.6 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.

ABOUT NHDF:

National Human Development Foundation (NHDF) provides the families of Sacramento County with comprehensive child-development services that include: child care for children six weeks to six years of age, early childhood education, parent education classes, child nutrition projects, before- and after-school care for children, youth employment training and inclusive education for disabled preschool-age children. NHDF operates four centers, located in Sacramento (two locations), Galt and Carmichael. For more information, visit www.nhdf.biz.