BNET Industries
Market Cap:$39.0M
Last Fiscal Year Sales:$68.6M
- Public
- US
Dow Jones Description
First California Financial Group, Inc., or First California, or the Company, is a bank holding company which serves the comprehensive banking needs of businesses and consumers in Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino, San Diego and Ventura counties through our wholly-owned subsidiary, First California Bank, or the Bank. The Bank is a state chartered commercial bank which provides traditional business and consumer banking products ranging from construction finance, entertainment finance and commercial real estate lending via 18 full-service branch locations. The Company also has two unconsolidated statutory business trust subsidiaries, First California Capital Trust I and FCB Statutory Trust I, which were formed to raise capital through the issuance of trust preferred securities. At March 31, 2009, we had consolidated total assets of $1.5 billion, loans of $886.4 million, deposits of $1.1 billion and shareholders equity of $158.1 million. At December 31, 2008, we had consolidated total assets of $1.2 billion, loans of $780.4 million, deposits of $817.6 million and shareholders equity of $158.9 million. For the first quarter of 2009, we had a net loss of $1.9 million, compared to net income of $2.2 million for the first quarter of 2008.
President & CEO
Chong Guk KumNumber of Employees 207
Contact Information
3027 Townsgate Rd Ste 300
Westlake Village, California 91361
(805) 322-9655
Peer Companies
NAICS Code Offices of Other Holding Companies: 551112
Recent Events
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First California Appoints Renowned Economist to Board of Directors
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First California promotes exec
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First California Appoints William Schack Chief Credit Officer
Decision Makers
| Name (plus bio) | Position |
|---|---|
| Chong Guk Kum | President & CEO |
| Cheryl Knight | Executive Vice President and Chief Risk Officer |
| Romolo C. Santarosa | Cfo & Executive Vice President |
| Donald W. Macaulay | Executive Vice President and Manager of The Business Banking Division |
| Edmond Sahakian | Senior Vice President and Manager of The Retail Banking Division |
Board of Directors
| Name (plus bio) | Position |
|---|---|
| John W. Birchfield | Chairman |
| Robert E. Gipson | Chairman of The Board |
| Antoinette Hubenette | Board of Directors |
| Donald E. Benson | Board of Directors |
| Joseph N. Cohen | Board of Directors |
| Richard D. Aldridge | Board of Directors |
| Syble R. Roberts | Board of Directors |
| Thomas Tignino | Board of Directors |
| W. Douglas Hile | Board of Directors |
Mr. Kum began his banking career in 1977 as a corporate banking trainee with Bank of California in San Francisco, California. He served as Regional Vice President and Manager of Asset Quality Administration for United Banks of Colorado from 1984 until 1987. Mr. Kum then served as Vice President and Division Manager of Special Projects Division for Colorado National Bank from 1987 until 1993. Mr. Kum moved to California in 1993 and served as Executive Vice President and Chief Credit Officer of City Commerce Bank from 1993 until 1999. Mr. Kum was appointed to his position as the President and Chief Executive Officer of First California Bank (formerly known as Camarillo Community Bank) on September 1, 1999. Under his leadership, the Bank grew from total assets of $100 million and two branches in 1999, to total combined assets of over $1 billion and 12 branches of First California’s bank subsidiaries as of March 31, 2007. He is a graduate of the University of California at Berkeley and received his Masters Degree in Business Administration from Pepperdine University. Mr. Kum also is a graduate of Stonier Graduate School of Banking. He was President of the Board of Directors of Community Bankers of California, an association of California community bank presidents, for the fiscal year 2005-06.
| Organization | Position | Status |
|---|---|---|
| First California Financial Group, Inc. | President & CEO | Current |
| First California Financial Group, Inc. | Board of Directors | Current |
Cheryl Knight, Executive Vice President and Chief Risk Officer. Ms. Knight began her banking career in 1972 at Union Bank in construction loan administration. Ms. Knight worked for several small- to mid-sized financial institutions until 1996 when she joined Deloitte & Touche LLP in Los Angeles as Managing Consultant in their Financial Institutions Advisory Group. During her time at Deloitte, she assisted various financial institutions in complying with regulatory agreements, enhancing the credit process, and consulting on risk management programs. In 1998, Ms. Knight joined Montecito Bank & Trust as Senior Vice President and Chief Credit Officer, and was promoted to Executive Vice President and appointed Chief Risk Officer in 2005. Ms. Knight left Montecito Bank & Trust to join First California Bank in March 2007 as Executive Vice President and Chief Risk Officer to implement an enterprise-wide risk management program and direct compliance activities. Ms. Knight has also served on the Board of Directors of California Community Reinvestment Group since 2005 and is currently Vice Chair and a member of its Executive Committee. California Community Reinvestment Group is not affiliated with First California Bank. Their mission is consistent with the Community Reinvestment Act in creating affordable housing throughout California through innovative financing and investment programs.
| Organization | Position | Status |
|---|---|---|
| First California Financial Group, Inc. | Executive Vice President and Chief Risk Officer | Current |
| Montecito Bank And Trust | Chief Credit Officer | Former |
| Montecito Bank And Trust | Senior Vice President | Former |
Mr. Santarosa began his banking career in 1991 with Shawmut National Corporation as its Controller. In 1995, Mr. Santarosa joined Sanwa California and served as Controller until 1997. He then served as Chief Financial Officer of Southern Pacific Bank from 1997 until 2000, of Eldorado Bancshares, Inc. from 2000 to 2001, and of Treasury Bank, N.A. from 2001 to 2002. Mr. Santarosa joined First California Bank in November 2002 as Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer. Mr. Santarosa is a graduate (1978) of Ithaca College, New York. He began his career in public accounting with Price Waterhouse, an international public accounting firm. He also is a certified public accountant in New York and Connecticut.
| Organization | Position | Status |
|---|---|---|
| First California Financial Group, Inc. | Cfo & Executive Vice President | Current |
| Americaninstitute.Com | Board of Directors | Current |
| First California Bank | CFO & Executive Vice President | Former |
| Ithaca College | Former |
Donald W. Macaulay, Executive Vice President and Manager of the Business Banking Division. Mr. Macaulay began his banking career in 1976 at Cape Cod Bank and Trust in Massachusetts, where he assumed positions of increasing responsibilities, including regional loan manager, overseeing ten loan offices. He was also an area president managing the west coast region of Florida for SouthTrust Bank, which was acquired by Wachovia Corporation. Mr. Macaulay also served as an area president at First Community Bancshares, responsible for the Virginia and North Carolina markets. Most recently, from 2003 through 2005, he held management positions with Union Bank of California and from 2005 until joining First California Bank, he served as senior vice president/business banking manager at Community West Bank, both in the Southern California area. Mr. Macaulay joined First California Bank in January 2009 as Executive Vice President and Manager of the Business Banking Division. Mr. Macaulay received his bachelor s degree in business administration from Bryant University in Rhode Island and is a graduate of Williams College School of Banking.
| Organization | Position | Status |
|---|---|---|
| First California Financial Group, Inc. | Executive Vice President and Manager of The Business Banking Division | Current |
| SouthTrust Bank | President | Former |
| First Community Bancshares | President | Former |
| First California Bank | Executive Vice President | Former |
| Community West Bank | Senior Vice President | Former |
| Community West Bank | Business Banking Manager | Former |
| Union Bank of California | Former |
Edmond Sahakian, Senior Vice President and Manager of the Retail Banking Division. Mr. Sahakian began his banking career with Home Savings of America in 1986 where he progressed to the position of Vice President Retail Banking Manager until 1997. Mr. Sahakian held management positions with California Federal Bank and Countrywide Home Loans from 1997 to 2001. In 2001, Mr. Sahakian rejoined California Federal Bank and served as a Vice President during their subsequent acquisition in 2002 by Citibank. Mr. Sahakian led the successful integration efforts for the Central Coast Region for Citibank. In 2004, Mr. Sahakian joined First California Bank as Senior Vice President, Manager of the Retail Banking Division. Mr. Sahakian received his bachelor s degree from California State University, Northridge and is currently enrolled at Pacific Coast Banking School at the University of Washington with an anticipated graduation date of September 2009.
| Organization | Position | Status |
|---|---|---|
| First California Financial Group, Inc. | Senior Vice President and Manager of The Retail Banking Division | Current |
| First California Bank | Director, Retail Banking Services | Former |
| California Federal Bank | Former |
Mr. Birchfield served as the Chairman of the Board of FCB Bancorp from October 2005 until the completion of the Mergers, and was a director from 1993 until the completion of the Mergers. Since 1995, Mr. Birchfield has served as the Chairman of the Board at B&R Supply Inc. He is also the managing partner of Ralston Properties LP, a privately held real estate management company.
| Organization | Position | Status |
|---|---|---|
| First California Financial Group, Inc. | Chairman | Current |
| First California Bank | Chairman of The Board | Current |
Mr. Gipson served as a director of National Mercantile from 1996 until the completion of the Mergers, and was Chairman of National Mercantile from June 1997 until the completion of the Mergers, and was Chairman of Mercantile National Bank from June 1997 to December 1998. Mr. Gipson is President of Alpha Analytics Investment Group, LLC, a registered investment advisor, and has served in that capacity since its organization in 1998. Mr. Gipson is Of Counsel to the law firm of Gipson Hoffman & Pancione and has been a lawyer with that firm since 1982. Mr. Gipson is also President of Corporate Management Group, Inc., a financial management company, since 1988. Mr. Gipson currently serves as Chairman of the Board for First California.
| Organization | Position | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Alpha Analytics Investment Group, LLC | President | Current |
| National Mercantile Bancorp | Chairman | Current |
| First California Financial Group, Inc. | Chairman of The Board | Current |
| National Mercantile Bancorp | Board of Directors | Current |
| First California Financial Group, Inc. | Board of Directors | Current |
| National Mercantile | Chairman | Former |
| Mercantile National Bank | Chairman | Former |
| National Mercantile | Director | Former |
| Organization | Position | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Cedars-Sinai Medical Group | Physician | Current |
| Mercantile National Bank | Director | Current |
| First California Financial Group, Inc. | Board of Directors | Current |
| Cedars-Sinai Medical Group | President | Former |
| First California Bank | Director | Former |
| Cedars-Sinai Medical Group | Director | Former |
| National Mercantile | Director | Former |
| Organization | Position | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Marquette Financial Companies | Executive Vice President | Current |
| Twins Sports Inc. | Vice President | Current |
| MAIR Holdings, Inc. | Chairman | Current |
| Marquette Financial Companies | Director | Current |
| Twins Sports Inc. | Director | Current |
| First California Financial Group, Inc. | Board of Directors | Current |
| National Mercantile | Director | Former |
Mr. Cohen served as a director of National Mercantile from 1998 until the completion of the Mergers. Mr. Cohen has been President of American Entertainment Investors, Inc., a media financing and consulting firm, since February 1996, a Principal of Abel’s Hill Capital Corp., an investment banking firm, since October 1996, and Principal of EFS Advisors, LLC, which co-manages an entertainment investment fund, since June 2006.
| Organization | Position | Status |
|---|---|---|
| First California Financial Group, Inc. | Board of Directors | Current |
Mr. Aldridge served as the Vice Chairman of the Board of FCB Bancorp from October 2005 until the completion of the Mergers, and was a director from 1993 until the completion of the Mergers. He was employed for 19 years by Weyerhaeuser Company in Longview, Washington. He served on the company’s Top Safety Committee, and represented Weyerhaeuser nationally serving on the Board of Directors of Forest Industries Telecommunications, an F.C.C. certified trade association. Mr. Aldridge began investing in real estate in 1988 and community banking in 1990, acquiring his first shares in First California Bank (formerly Camarillo Community Bank). Since 1990, he has held investments in Chanel Islands Bank, City Commerce Bank, American Commercial Bank, Mid-State Bank and Trust, and First California Bank. While serving as a director of FCB Bancorp, Mr. Aldridge served on several committees including CRA, audit, loan, funds management, and executive committees. Mr. Aldridge also served as interim Chairman of the Board of FCB Bancorp from 1998 to 1999. First California represents the largest single investment in his portfolio.
| Organization | Position | Status |
|---|---|---|
| First California Financial Group, Inc. | Board of Directors | Current |
Ms. Roberts was a director of First California Bank from 1989 until the completion of the Mergers, and was the personnel committee chairman. Ms. Roberts was also a Founding Director of City Commerce Bank, Santa Barbara, opened in 1978 and now owned by Rabobank, N.A. Ms. Roberts’ background is in the legal, title insurance and escrow, and real estate investment fields. Ms. Roberts became a specialist in the escrow field of multiple tax-deferred exchanges and long order leasehold estates and was involved in the start-ups of a title insurance company and several escrow and mortgage banking companies.
| Organization | Position | Status |
|---|---|---|
| First California Financial Group, Inc. | Board of Directors | Current |
Mr. Tignino served as a director of FCB Bancorp from January 2006 until the completion of the Mergers. Mr. Tignino is the founder and President of Thomas Tignino & Associates, a multi-service accountancy firm established in 1980. His firm specializes in tax planning and compliance, estate planning and investment review.
| Organization | Position | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Thomas Tignino & Associates | President | Current |
| Thomas Tignino & Associates | Founder | Current |
| First California Financial Group, Inc. | Board of Directors | Current |
Mr. Hile served as a director of National Mercantile from 2003 until the completion of the Mergers. Mr. Hile is Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Meridian Bank, a position he has held since October of 2002. He also serves as Senior Vice President and Regional President for Marquette Financial Companies, a diversified financial services holding company headquartered in Minneapolis, Minnesota. He has almost thirty years of experience in the financial services business, including management roles for Northern Trust and Bank One. Prior to joining Meridian Bank, he served as President and Chief Executive Officer of the Marquette Banks, a $3 billion commercial banking group based in Minneapolis, Minnesota.
| Organization | Position | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Meridian Bank | Chief Executive Officer | Current |
| Marquette Financial Companies | Regional President | Current |
| Marquette Financial Companies | Senior Vice President | Current |
| Meridian Bank | Chairman | Current |
| First California Financial Group, Inc. | Board of Directors | Current |
| National Mercantile | Director | Former |


