California Bank and Trust

California Bank & Trust

Type	Subsidiary
Industry	Banking
Founded	1998 (1998)
Key people	David Blackford, President, CEO & Chairman[1]
Total assets	$11 billion (2014)[1]
Parent	Zions Bancorporation
Website	www.calbanktrust.com

California Bank & Trust (CB&T) is a full-service bank specializing in business banking and headquartered in San Diego, California. With assets of more than $11 billion and more than 100 branches^[1] located throughout California, CB&T is a subsidiary of Zions Bancorporation, one of the nation’s top 50 bank holding companies, with assets of more than $50 billion.^[2]

History

California Bank & Trust was created in October 1998 as the result of the merger of three institutions acquired separately by Zions Bancorporation: Sumitomo Bank of California, San Diego-based Grossmont Bank and First Pacific National Bank.^[3]

The institution continued to grow with the acquisition of Fresno, California-based Regency Bank in 1999.^[4] In 2001, the company expanded its footprint with the addition of Eldorado Bancshares, which included Eldorado’s two subsidiaries, Eldorado Bank and Antelope Valley Bank.^[5]

More recent acquisitions include Alliance Bank and Vineyard Bank, which were acquired when the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) closed these institutions in 2009.^[6][7] Through this transaction, California Bank & Trust acquired Alliance Bank's $951 millions of deposits and $1.14 billion of assets, and up to $225 millions of the sold bank's credits.^[8]

Operations

California Bank and Trust building in Long Beach, California

California Bank & Trust has nearly 1,700 employees and operates through a network of 102 branches run through four administrative offices. These include Irvine, Los Angeles, Oakland, and the bank’s main headquarters in San Diego.^[1]

Corporate social responsibility

In 2012, California Bank & Trust was rated as “outstanding” by the FDIC for its performance under the Community Reinvestment Act (CRA)^[9] and, in 2011, was a “preferred SBA lender“ as designated by the Small Business Administration.^[10]

In 2012, California Bank & Trust employees raised over $95,000 for the United Way^[11] and $101,000 in 2013.^[12] In April 2012, CB&T announced a new business financing initiative focused on minority and women-owned businesses in California called TEAM (Tools, Education, Access and Mentoring). The initiative was launched in affiliation with Latina Style, Inc. and the Anna Maria Arias Foundation, a foundation working to ensure the growth, reach and impact of Latina entrepreneurs by providing programs, services and resources that help Latinas establish successful businesses.^[13]

Honors and accolades

The bank has been recognized by Greenwich Associates, a leading global financial services research and consulting firm, which has awarded California Bank & Trust 13 Excellence Awards for small business and middle market banking as a part of Zions Bancorporation.^[14] In addition, California Bank & Trust was voted San Diego’s Best Bank in 2011 and in 2012 in the annual San Diego Union-Tribune readers’ poll.^[15][16]

Holdups

California Bank and Trust has been the target of several holdups at its branches.

• In December 2013, a man walked into the Kearny Mesa location, handed a note to the teller demanding money, and left with the stolen money.^[17]
• In March 2015, a man walked into the Dana Point location, handed a note to the teller saying he had a handgun, and walked out with the stolen money.^[18] This holdup has been linked to four others that took place in California.^[19]
• In April 2015, a masked man walked into the Center Valley branch with his hand in his pocket as if he had a gun, but fled before grabbing any money.^[20]

References

External links

• Official website