North Bay Business Journal

Bank of Marin Chief Financial Officer Christina Cook is leaving the bank. …

American AgCredit returned the largest dividend in its history to its members in 2012, the agriculture cooperative’s first year of positive loan growth since 2009. …

Citing an increase in income-generating assets and new loans, Summit State Bank (NASDAQ: SSBI) reported a 64 percent increase in net income for the first three months of 2013 and declared a larger quarterly dividend. …

AltaPacific Bank’s assets have grown steadily in the year since completing its merger with a Southern California-based bank, ending the first quarter 4.1 percent higher. …

SANTA ROSA — American AgCredit returned the largest member dividend in its history in 2012, the agricultural cooperative’s first year of positive loan growth since 2009, the lender reported today.

NORTH BAY — Lenders to the North Bay wine industry are following demand for capital as it ripples outward from a record-breaking grape harvest in 2012, after a boost in cash flow allowed many vineyards to pay down working capital and other business debt.

A number of wine industry lenders in the North Bay have seen an uptick in demand for financing this year as wineries, vineyards and related industries seek to position themselves more strongly in a changed economy.

SANTA ROSA — American AgCredit plans to build a new, 50,000-square-foot headquarters in Santa Rosa, with company executives citing the expertise of current staff and a regional talent pool as key drivers to keep its administrative nucleus on the West Coast at a time of rapid national expansion.

SANTA ROSA — American AgCredit today reported net earnings last year increased 88 percent from 2010 to a new record for the Santa Rosa-based agricultural lending giant.

American AgCredit, the farm lending giant headquartered in Santa Rosa, has merged with Colorado-based Farm Credit Services of the Mountain Plains.

The cold 2011 season and wet harvest dampened North Coast crop yields by as much as one-third from norms by early estimates, and lenders are closely observing grower ability to make payments on crop and other loans with fewer tons to sell and higher vineyard-management costs.

Agriculture American AgCredit, the nation’s 8th largest Farm Credit cooperative, has agreed to donate $25,000 to the California Farm Bureau Federation to support efforts to overturn the recently‐adopted Russian River Frost Regulation, passed on Sept. 20 by the State Water Resources Control Board.  According to the regulation, beginning March 15, 2012, through May 15, 2012, [...]

SANTA ROSA — American AgCredit, the nation’s 7th largest Farm Credit Association announced today financial results for 2010. Full‐year earnings and net interest income reached record highs, and loan quality remained stable throughout the year.

Following are many of the leading professionals in commercial lending across the North Bay. (Listed alphabetically by institution name)

Kim Kaselionis, president and chief executive officer of Circle Bank in Novato, has been named one of eight members of an American Bankers Association. … AmericanAg Credit is going through due diligence regarding a proposed merger with Mountain Plains Farm Credit in Greeley, Colo. … American AgCredit has also announced the promotion of three long‐time employees: Bill Rodda, Jim Rizza and Clay Popko. … Bank of Marin Bancorp has signed a lease for a new branch office in downtown Sonoma. The new office at 136 W. Napa St. will open in late spring. With the new location, Bank of Marin will have five branch offices in Sonoma County with a total of 16 offices. … Brett Martinez, president and chief executive officer of Redwood Credit Union, has been elected to the board of directors of the Credit Union National Association, the national trade association for United States credit unions. … U.S. Trust has announced the addition of Jason Foster as senior vice president and private client consultant, based in Santa Rosa, in the west division, as part of a talent acquisition campaign designed to enhance the depth and breadth of its service capabilities for ultra-high-net-worth clientele throughout the nation. … Exchange Bank has announced that Lori Zaret was promoted to senior vice president, chief human resources officer. …

Ron Carli, CEO, American AgCredit

(Listed alphabetically by name)

In a year when Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. intervention in banks has skyrocketed, odds are favorable that two North Bay institutions receiving cease and desist orders can be successful in meeting FDIC requirements.

SANTA ROSA – American AgCredit will complete its merger with Farm Credit of the Heartland based in Wichita, Kan., effective Nov. 30.

The merger will make the joint association the seventh-largest Farm Credit cooperative in the U.S., totaling $4.8 billion in assets with a combined customer base of 6,430 members. The headquarters will stay in Santa Rosa and maintain the name American AgCredit.

HEALDSBURG – The Seghesio winemaking family has found that an economic recession can be a good time to save money by spending money on construction that will make more money in wine sales.

NORTH BAY – With the proposal of a new banking “super-regulator,” it is not just community banks that are afraid of the unknown.

SANTA ROSA – American AgCredit, based in Santa Rosa, has plans in the works to merge with Witchita, Kan.-based Farm Credit of the Heartland.