Last Monday, CBA staff and several of our member bankers convened in Sacramento for a special meeting with Governor Jerry Brown. The meeting was prompted by a prior conversation the governor had with John Stumpf, chairman, president and CEO of Wells Fargo & Company. Stumpf had encouraged the governor to meet with community banks to better understand their vital role in supporting the California economy, the significant regulatory burden imposed upon them and the need for banks of all asset sizes.

The unique opportunity to meet with the governor focused primarily on the challenges facing California banks and explored potential reforms at the state level that could improve the business climate for banks. The discussion included proposals to improve the ability to extend credit, ways to increase deposits and methods to ensure the value and utility of the state bank charter. CBA President & CEO, Rod Brown, EVP and COO Maurine Padden, and SVP and Director of State Government Relations, Kevin Gould, were joined by President and CEO of Friendly Hills Bank and CBA Chairman, Jeff Ball, who led the meeting, President and CEO of Seacoast Commerce Bank, Rick Sanborn, President and CEO of First Northern Bank, Louise Walker, President of 1867 Western Financial Corporation, Tom Shaffer, President and CEO of Pacific Mercantile Bancorp, Steve Buster and Chairman and CEO of CapitalSource Bank, Tad Lowrey. 

If you have any questions about this meeting, please do not hesitate to contact Kevin Gould, CBA’s SVP and director of state government relations, at kgould@calbankers.com or (916) 438-4410.