North Bay Business Journal

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 — Citing marked improvements in the financial footing of its members, Redwood Credit Union reported increases in portfolio quality, lending, equity, total membership and a number of other measures during 2012.

Most of us have already begun making our shopping lists and travel plans for the upcoming holiday season, as we look forward to celebrations with friends and family and to the traditions that bring warmth and meaning to this time of year.

This year, I’d like to encourage you to add another tradition to your family’s list: giving to the holiday food and toy drives Redwood Credit Union has hosted at our branches in the North Bay and San Francisco for over 20 years.

Sonoma County businesses and lenders are co-dependent in the region’s economic recovery, with a first-ever countywide report showing that a financial sector that was hard-hit during the recession has been seeing opportunities for lending amid the renewed activity in other industries.

North Bay lenders are lamenting the imminent expiration of the U.S. Small Business Administration’s temporary 504 refinance program, which allows a one-time refinance of debt and reinvestment of equity.

The temporary program, launched by the Jumpstart Our Small Businesses (JOBS) Act of 2010, allows a small-business owner to refinance debt through the typical 504 loan structure used for financing property and other tangible assets: a 10 percent equity contribution from the borrower, a 40 percent, 20-year fixed-rate government loan and a 50 percent second mortgage from a second commercial lender. In combination, up to $10 million can be refinanced through the program.

Bank of America, N.A. has added a number of new small business bankers to its North Bay staff, part of a national push to bolster services and relationships with small business clients. …

Testifying before a U.S. House of Representatives subcommittee last month, Redwood Credit Union President and CEO Brett Martinez said that statutory limits on business lending for credit unions were limiting those institutions’ ability to meet a current surge in demand and suppressing growth in lending backed by the U.S. Small Business Administration. …

The Federal Home Loan Bank of San Francisco, which provides financing to assist other institutions in home lending, has granted $15,000 to Habitat for Humanity, Sonoma County. …

An effort to foster a mutually beneficial partnership between the business and education communities in San Rafael reached an important milestone this month, after the formation of a 12-member business advisory group and the first meeting between that group and leaders from the San Rafael City Schools.

SANTA ROSA — Redwood Credit Union will offer its sixth Financial Academy this March, a free high school financial literacy program that has graduated 172 students since it began in 2009.

SANTA ROSA — When Redwood Credit Union President and CEO Brett Martinez took to the podium tonight to present the $10,000 grand prize for the institution’s first “Amazing Savers” contest, he had an unexpected surprise for the runners up.

Redwood Credit Union is hosting its fifth free Youth Financial Literacy Academy in partnership with Sonoma County Schools and the National Endowment for Financial Education for local high school students.

Redwood Credit Union is going to open a new full-service branch and ATM in Sebastopol at 7840 Covert Lane near Pacific Market in early fall 2011.

SANTA ROSA — A proactive and coordinated effort from the public and private sectors targeting job growth, Sonoma County BEST – “Building Economic Success Together” — officially kicked off with a breakfast this morning at Santa Rosa Junior College.

SANTA ROSA — Redwood Credit Union and Cal State Central Credit Union have announced plans to merge as of April 1 and will operate under the name Redwood Credit Union.

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. …