North Bay Business Journal

After returning from the annual executive conference for Western Independent Bankers, a community bank trade group, Russell Colombo, president and CEO of Bank of Marin, said that leaders in the industry are starting to express greater optimism after a historically challenging economic period. …

Loans and deposits have grown at Bank of Napa, N.A., with net assets growing 8.2 percent over the course of a year and approaching $150 million as of March 31. …

NAPA — While assets and pre-tax income have grown at Bank of Napa, N.A. (OTCBB: BNNP), the bank announced today that net income was 9.4 percent lower comparing the first three months of 2013 to the same period in 2012. The change was largely attributable to a reduction in the bank’s income tax benefit from the prior year, according to the announcement.

While many businesses, homebuyers and individuals have benefited from the Federal Reserve’s continuing effort to keep interest rates low, that same economic policy — along with heightened pressure from regulators and tepid demand for new loans — has added up to a time of historic challenge for community lenders in the North Bay and beyond.

Executives at North Bay financial institutions said they saw no clear end for the current conditions.

Santa Rosa’s Exchange Bank announced that net income for all of 2012 had risen slightly versus income for 2011, meeting the bank’s projections despite a lukewarm demand for financing from both households and businesses. …

Net income at Novato-based Bank of Marin was up 14.5 percent in 2012 compared to 2011, with $17.8 million representing $3.28 per share, according to an announcement by the bank. …

Year-over-year net income rose 55 percent for Santa Rosa’s Summit State Bank, a period that president and CEO Tom Duryea called “the best year yet in our 38-year history.” …

Citing challenges of a low-interest-rate environment, San Rafael-based Westamerica Bank announced that 2012 net income had slipped 7.7 percent from 2011. …

Bank of Napa, N.A. announced record profit in 2012, with net income up by more than two-thirds from the year before. …

Dixon-based First Northern Bank announced that net income of $4.6 million for all of 2012 marked a 70.4 percent increase versus net income in 2011. …

Total assets as of Dec. 31 were $831.5 million, up $50.3 million — 6.4 percent — compared to one year prior. Total deposits were $730.8 million, up 7.6 percent from the same period in 2011. …

Annual net assets rose 15.82 percent for Santa Rosa’s Community First Credit Union comparing 2012 to 2011, reaching $150.63 million in a period of rapid growth for the lender, according to an announcement. …

Featured in this spotlight on commercial lenders are executives at American River Bank, AltaPacific, Bank of America, Bank of Marin, Bank of Napa, Bank of the West, Comerica Bank, Exchange Bank, First Community Bank, First Northern Bank, Luther Burbank Savings, JP Morgan Chase, Mechanics Bank, Presidio Bank, Rabobank, Silicon Valley Bank, Sonoma Bank, State Assistance Fund for Enterprise Business and Industrial Development Corporation (SAFE-BIDCO), Summit State Bank, Travis Credit Union, U.S. Bank, Umpqua Bank, Union Bank, Warren Capital, Wells Fargo and Westamerica Bank.

NAPA — Bank of Napa, N.A. (OTCBB: BNNP) today reported record profit in 2012, with net income up by more than two-thirds from the year before.

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.

NAPA — Bank of Napa, N.A. (OTCBB: BNNP) earned a net income of $435,800 in the three months ended Sept. 30, a 75 percent increase over profits made during the same quarter in 2011.

NAPA — Bank of Napa, N.A. (OTCBB: BNNP) today report second-quarter net income of $487,000 and income in the first half of the year improved more than 140 percent than during the same period in 2011.

NAPA – Bank of Napa, N.A. (OTCBB: BNNP) reported its eight consecutive quarterly net profit for the first quarter of 2012, with a net income of $468,000.

NAPA – Bank of Napa, N.A. (OTCBB: BNNP) reported its eight consecutive quarterly net profit today, after earning $468,000 in the first quarter of 2012.

Commercial Real Estate Cooke Orthodontics has acquired the “Mrs. McDonalds” building at 3392 Solano Ave. across from Vallergas Market at Redwood Plaza in Napa.  The 4,000-square-foot building will be the new home for Dr. Mary Cooke‘s orthodontic practice. The  opening date is anticipated in fall 2012. Cathy D’Angelo Holmes of Coldwell Banker Commercial Brokers of [...]

Banking & Finance Jeff Gerlomes joined Bank of Napa, N.A. (OTCBB: BNNP) as vice president, marketing and relationship manager. Mr. Gerlomes  previously served on the bank’s  board of directors. He is a graduate of Sacramento State University, where he received B.A. He began his business career at American Savings and Loan where he served as a [...]

Santa Rosa-based Exchange Bank earned $12.2 million in net income over the course of 2011, a 19 percent increase from the prior year that the bank attributed to developments such as strong core earnings and a reduction in problem assets.

NAPA – Bank of Napa, N.A. (OTCBB: BNNP) announced today that its net income for 2011 was $1.14 million, an increase from $247,000 in the previous year and one the bank attributed to “strong core deposit growth.”

NORTH BAY — Community financial institutions throughout the country experienced an influx of new customers through October and early November, as many fled the big banks that had proposed monthly debit card fees and took part in the grassroots event known as “Bank Transfer Day” on Nov. 5. As many customers at the nation’s big banks move to local institutions, North Bay banks and credit unions see a boost.

The most recent round of third quarter earnings reports from around the region.

Bank of Napa, N.A., reported a net income of $249,000 in the third quarter of 2011, a $176,000 increase over the same quarter last year.

SANTA ROSA — The high cost of complying with burgeoning regulation will be the cause of even more bank consolidation than has occurred as a result of the recession, experts say.

SANTA ROSA — The Basel Committee on Banking Supervision, an international forum for standardization on bank rules, has approved increasing the risk-based ratio for financial institutions from the current 8 percent to about 10.5 percent over the next several years.