the PRIVATE BANK of CALIFORNIA

The Private Bank at the CBA's 2012 Bank Presidents Seminar 

California Bankers Association Welcomes the Industry

03.09.12

The Bank recently attended the California Bankers Association’s 2012 Bank Presidents Seminar, which took place at the Four Seasons Biltmore in Santa Barbara.  The conference attracted over 250 CEOs and Executive Managers from banks throughout California who gathered to share thoughts on the marketplace and the existing challenges in the new environment, and to gain key insights from leaders who are at the forefront of the industry. 

The event featured keynote speakers such as Governor Elizabeth Duke, from the Federal Reserve, who spoke on lobbyists and their efforts to influence the administration.  The lobbyists, she said, hope to prevent the administration from killing the marketplace with overbearing and costly regulations that will ultimately impact the consumer in a negative way.  Other notable speakers included Don Griffith, Chairman & CEO of Grandpoint Bank, Andrew Senchak, Chairman of Keefe, Bruyette & Woods, Inc., and Joshua Dean, Partner of Manatt, Phelps & Phillips, LLP.

When asked about the morale at the conference, Nick Zappia, Executive Vice President of The Private Bank of California, said, “There was no euphoric optimism.  Instead, the shared sentiment was guarded optimism, as the industry is trying to anticipate what Dodd Frank is going to do…and it is clear that we will continue to see bank consolidation over the next two to three years.  Ultimately, the banks that have made it up to this point are here to stay.”

The banking industry continues to brave several challenges, such as the need to:

• fuel communities and the economy;
• provide jobs through one’s own organization and the clients’ organizations that banks support;
• satisfy regulators;
• satisfy customers;
• and satisfy shareholders.

Overall, a key takeaway is the importance for banks to diversify their revenue sources in order to withstand this challenging environment and to grow so that they can lend and give back to the community.