See What's New at Santa Cruz County Bank

Santa Cruz County Bank is rated a 4-Star “Excellent” bank by Bauer Financial, Inc. based upon its financial performance for the quarter ending March 31, 2013. Bauer Financial has been reporting on and analyzing the performance of U.S. banks and credit unions since 1983. For more information on Bauer Financial, Inc, visit www.bauerfinancial.com.  Santa Cruz County Bank has ranked as a 4-Star “Excellent” and 5-Star “Superior” bank every quarter in the history of our ratings from Bauer Financial.
 

Santa Cruz County Bank ranked 103rd in American Banker Magazine’s Top Performing 200 Community Banks and Thrifts in the United States. A total of 851 institutions, with less than $2 billion in assets, were included in the nationwide ranking. Ranking was based upon 3-year average return on equity for the years ending December 31, 2010, 2011 and 2012.  

David Heald, President and CEO commented, “This outstanding performance ranking is the result of our focus and commitment to enhance shareholder value. Our Board of Directors, our Management team and our entire staff are to be commended for our performance, which is especially significant taking into consideration this was achieved during one of the most challenging economic periods our country has experienced.”
 

VIVA SANTANA is a solo retrospective exhibition in honor of painter, printmaker and sculptor, Manuel Santana (1927-2008). On display in five locations, VIVA SANTANA showcases the late artist’s vibrant works of art, dating from the 1950’s to 2006. The show consists of acrylics on canvas, acrylics on paper, acrylics on masonite, inks on paper, wood sculptures and ceramics.

Learn more at our art page. The “VIVA SANTANA” art exhibit is on display at all five Santa Cruz County Bank offices through August 23, 2013.

Artists’ Reception: Join us Tuesday, June 4th from 5:30-7:00pm for our opening reception at Santa Cruz County Bank, 720 Front Street, Santa Cruz. Meet some of Santana’s family, mingle with other art lovers and enjoy the night surrounded by fabulous art!
 

The votes are in!  Santa Cruz County Bank ranked #1 as “Best Bank” in the annual Best of Santa Cruz County Good Times Readers’ Poll. Thank you to all Good Times readers and customers who cast their vote for us!  The results mirror our mission to be the community’s bank of choice.

We welcome customer feedback and invite you to complete our Customer Satisfaction Survey so we may continue to deliver the best products and service.
 

Santa Cruz County Bank announced a 39% increase in net income over the prior year earnings for the first quarter ended March 31, 2013. Assets, loans, deposits and net income increased by double digit percentages over the prior year. President and CEO David Heald commented, “This quarter’s strong performance attests to solid and stable core earnings and follows seven consecutive years of annual profits for Santa Cruz County Bank. One of the Bank’s strategic initiatives is to stimulate our local economy through lending to small business owners.”  According to data released by the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) for the first six months of the SBA’s 2013 fiscal year, Santa Cruz County Bank ranked as the 30th largest provider of 7a and 504 SBA loans in California statewide out of a total of 199 SBA lenders.  
To read more about the Bank’s performance, please visit our Investor Relations page, which includes quarterly and annual financial reports dating back to 2004.
 

Santa Cruz County Bank has been designated as an “Exceptional Bank” for 2012 by The Findley Reports, Inc. As a highly regarded financial industry consulting firm, The Findley Reports has been recognizing the financial performance of banking institutions in California for over forty years. Santa Cruz County Bank is one of eleven Exceptional banks in California. The eleven exceptional banks range from $151 million to $6 billion in asset size and date as far back as 1916.

Chairman of the Bank’s Board of Directors George Gallucci commented, "The Board of Directors recognizes that this honor is particularly significant when you realize that our entire span of existence has been during turbulent and challenging economic times. We view this designation as the result of the hard work of management and the diligence and oversight of our Board of Directors." 

This Exceptional designation follows the 2011 and 2010 rating of Super Premier Performing for Santa Cruz County Bank and their 2009 designation as one of five Exceptional banks in California by The Findley Reports, Inc.

Gary Steven Findley, Editor of The Findley Reports remarked, “It is a great honor to recognize exceptional banks that are able to perform consistently over several years. Several years ago we recognized Santa Cruz County Bank as an exceptional bank but due to the economic challenges and regulatory environment uncertainty we discontinued such recognition. Santa Cruz County Bank was one of thirty banks to ever receive that recognition and now only twenty one of those banks remain. Of those twenty one – we believe that eleven are worthy of recognition. Based upon their performance these past few years and also the organizational health of the bank demonstrated by consistency of personnel and performance, they remain an exceptional bank. It is great to uplift a banking entity that has not only demonstrated solid financial performance but has been an important part of the community that they serve. Santa Cruz County Bank continues to deliver strong financial performance that ranks in the top 10% of all banks in the Western United States.” 
 

Santa Cruz County Bank welcomes Geoffrey Loftus to its Management team as Senior Vice President and Chief Credit Officer. Mr. Loftus has a 35 year banking career with extensive credit origination and commercial lending experience. “Santa Cruz County Bank has proven itself an exceptional community bank by all standards. I am honored to be part of the experienced Management team and a local bank that is both highly rated and well regarded,” stated Mr. Loftus.

As we enter our ninth year of serving Santa Cruz County, we wish to thank to our customers for supporting our vision to be the local community bank of choice. When we first opened our doors in February 2004, we operated out of one location with 13 employees. Today, we operate five full-service banking offices and employ nearly 70 staff members. On behalf of everyone at Santa Cruz County Bank, we thank you!  Please join us in celebration of our ninth year of serving Santa Cruz! Come in to any of our 5 locations for a week long celebration from February 4-8th. 

Santa Cruz County Bank has been recognized as a Super Premier Performing Bank by The Findley Reports, Inc. a highly regarded financial industry consulting firm that has been recognizing the financial performance of banking institutions for over forty years. Gary Steven Findley, editor of The Findley Reports remarked, "It is a great honor to recognize exceptional banks that are able to perform consistently over several years. Santa Cruz County Bank is one of those entities. They remain an exceptional bank not only through their financial performance but focus on the community that they serve. In evaluating banks for recognition, The Findley Reports focuses on four components: growth, return on beginning equity, net operating income as a percentage of average assets and loan losses as a percentage of gross loans. Santa Cruz County Bank continues to deliver strong financial performance that ranks in the top 10% of all banks in the Western United States.”  Super Premier Performing is the highest rating level established by The Findley Reports, Inc.
 

Santa Cruz County Bank's Santa Cruz banking office has successfully achieved LEED GOLD Certification through the U.S. Green Building Council for its Commercial Interiors remodel. Every Santa Cruz County Bank location is Green Business Certified through the Monterey Bay Area Green Business Association. To find out more about Santa Cruz County Bank's Green practices, click here.

Meet some of the Green Minded Businesses that bank with us!  We're pleased to have relationships with local businesses that have made a commitment to environmental practices. If you're a green minded business that would like to bank with Santa Cruz County Bank, let us know!