Our Vision

To be recognized and respected as the premier bank in the Greater Sacramento Region for affluent individuals and successful small and medium sized businesses.

Our Mission

In order to realize our vision, we will develop long term, mutually beneficial relationships with our customers by delivering an exceptional customer experience. We will attract, retain, develop, and recognize the most talented team of bankers in our marketplace. We will be a highly valued member of our local communities and partner with non-profit charitable organizations to improve the communities in which we work and live. The adherence to each of these elements of our culture will benefit all of our stakeholders and result in superior long-term financial performance for our shareholders.

Our Values

• Our customers' interests come first. Our experience shows that if we serve our customers well, our own success will follow.
• Our most highly valued asset is our reputation. If it is damaged for any reason, it can be very difficult to restore. We will maintain high ethical standards in everything we do, both in our work for the Bank and in our personal lives. We protect the confidence and privacy of our customers and scrupulously avoid conflicts of interest. We are dedicated to complying fully, not only with the letter, but also the spirit of the laws, regulations, and ethical principles that govern us.
• Among our most important stakeholders are the communities where our customers and employees live and work. We have a vested interest in building economically healthy communities. We provide not only financial services that speed the flow of commerce and add convenience, but we also offer financial knowledge and training to support local communities and non-profit organizations, as well as to responsibly support housing for low-to-moderate income families.
• Our goal is to consistently provide superior returns to our shareholders over a long period of time. Top quartile profitability amongst our peer group is critical to building our capital, and attracting and keeping our best people. We will not be motivated by short term profitability at the expense of long term performance, nor will we be motivated by profitability which is driven by excessive risk taking.
• We emphasize creativity and innovation in everything we do. While recognizing that the old way may still be the best way, we constantly strive to find a better solution to a customer's financial needs. We seek to improve continuously and always seek to exceed expectations. It is expected that our decision making process will be thorough, transparent, as well as being based on facts and critical thinking.
• We make an unusual effort to identify and recruit the very best person for every job. Although our activities are measured in millions of dollars, we select our people one by one. In a service business, we know that without the best people, we cannot be the best bank.
• We stress teamwork in everything we do. While we certainly value individual creativity, we have found that team effort generally produces the best results. We cooperate for the betterment of the whole. We have no room for those who put their personal interests ahead of the interests of the Bank and its customers. We also have little time for "office politics". This kind of dysfunctional behavior is a waste of time for all involved, distracts the team from what is really important, and generally results in a misplacement of valuable emotional energy.
• We hold our officers and staff accountable for their actions. Inappropriate behavior will not be tolerated. We expect complete candor from our people. We willingly acknowledge our mistakes, learn from them, and take corrective action as soon as possible. Excellent performance by our employees will be recognized and rewarded with compensation and career development.
• Our culture is one in which employees are expected to question whether an expenditure is necessary or could be reduced. To keep our customer pricing competitive and to deliver superior returns to our shareholders, we continuously work to reduce our costs and maximize efficiency, to minimize waste and to work as productively as possible.
• We take great pride in the professional quality of our work. We have an uncompromising determination and passion to achieve excellence in everything we undertake. While being intelligent and making smart decisions are always an advantage, we really value teammates who are competitive, passionate about being successful, and willing to work extra hard to get the best results for the team.
• We treat everyone with respect, dignity and honesty.  We are good listeners and create a safe environment for genuine and open communication. We are comfortable in challenging the views of our co-workers as part of the process to arrive at the best decision.