Fallbrook Bank
Expands in L.A. and
Reorganizes Locally
A bank and a credit union organization have made sizable charitable donations to local organizations in recent weeks.
Bank of America Foundation donated $135,000 along with a $180,735 donation from the bank’s employees and associates to United Way of San Diego County as part of its 1999-2000 fund-raising campaign.
Bank of America is one of the top three corporate contributors to United Way in the nation, said Gordon Wiens, a bank vice president. United Way of America recently honored the bank with its Spirit of America award in recognition of the bank’s community involvement.
The Credit Union Alliance of San Diego said 13 of its member credit unions raised a record total of $80,000 in support of the recently completed “Miracle Month of May,” sponsored by the Children’s Miracle Network, an organization that specializes in providing financial assistance to hospitals that treat sick children. The funds will be given to Children’s Hospital of San Diego, said Gerald Poindexter, a spokesman for the credit union alliance.
The majority of the funds garnered by credit unions participating in the fundraiser were obtained through the sale of “Miracle Balloons,” paper balloon-shaped cutouts that were available for a minimum $1 donation. The name of the donor was written on each balloon and then the balloon was displayed in the lobby of the credit union where the donation was received, he said.
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New Offices: Community Bancorp Inc., parent company of Fallbrook-based Fallbrook National Bank, has a new board member and two new Los Angeles-area offices for its Small Business Administration (SBA) loan department, the company’s president said.
Three founding directors of the bank holding company, Gordon T. Tucker of Carlsbad, Roy Hiscock M.D., and Merril J. Crow, both of Fallbrook, retired from their posts effective June 1, and Mark N. Baker of Escondido joined the board on June 21.
Thomas E. Swanson, president and CEO of the lender, said Baker has served on the boards of directors of other local banks in the past.
Michael Fergoda, formerly with Bank of Yorba Linda, is the new manager of the Fallbrook National Bank Glendale SBA loan office at 811 N. Central Ave., Swanson said. Redonna Donatto is the manager of the Westlake Village loan office at 920 Hampshire Road, he added.
Grand Opening: San Diego National Bank held a grand opening under its banner late last month of a new Encinitas branch office formerly operated by Los Padres National Bank of Solvang.
The branch at 515 Encinitas Blvd. was remodeled after it was acquired from Los Padres National Bank earlier this year, said Robert Horsman, San Diego National Bank’s president and CEO. He added that Wally Rudek was appointed branch manager to oversee the bank’s operations in the community.
With over $1.3 billion in assets, San Diego National Bank is the largest locally headquartered bank in San Diego. In addition to the Encinitas branch, it operates 13 branches in other San Diego County communities, Horsman said.
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Bank Notes: Mike Maslak, president and CEO of North Island Federal Credit Union (NIFCU), has received the Year 2000 Annual Credit Union Award given by the Polish National Association of Cooperative Savings and Credit Unions to acknowledge the support of NIFCO and Maslak for the organization Meridian Capital Partners of San Diego has obtained a $60 million line of credit to help it fund medical providers with loan underwriting based on the provider’s accounts receivable La Jolla Real Estate Loan Fund LLC has made a $7.6 million land development loan at 14 percent interest to Fallbrook Golf Course Associates for an 18-hole golf course and full-service clubhouse in Fallbrook. This is the first transaction for La Jolla Real Estate Loan Fund since it opened its office earlier this year, said Donovan Jacobs, manager.
Commonwealth Financial Offices Refurbished
Tenant improvement construction has just been finished on the new, 6,900-square-foot offices of Commonwealth Financial at 110 West A St. in Downtown.
Ir2 Interior Resources Inc. of San Diego designed the interior and construction documents. Roel Construction Co. Inc. of San Diego was the general contractor, said Kristine O’Hollearn, principal of Ir2 Interior Resources.
The floor plan of the new office is oriented to the view from the 18th floor of the building, she said. All offices have glass walls. System furniture panels were also limited to 4 feet high to help create a feeling of openness, she said.
