North Bay Business Journal

Exchange Bank announced its after-tax income for the first three months this year was 9 percent higher than a year before, partly attributed to improvements in efficiency and loan quality. …

A low interest rate environment a fierce competition for loans was cited for a decline in first quarter earnings for San Rafael-based Westamerica Bank, with parent company Westamerica Bancorporation announcing net income had fallen 17.6 percent versus the same period last year. …

Terry Davis has joined Santa Rosa’s SAFE-BIDCO as chief financial officer, his latest leadership role in a long history as a North Bay banking executive. …

Kimberly Kaselionis, who served as CEO of the former Circle Bank, has joined her mother, Kit Cole, as an inductee in the Marin Women’s Hall of Fame. …

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.

Bank of Marin donated $25,000 to SchoolsRule–Marin, part of its pledge to allocate 35 percent of its total corporate giving to education-related organizations in 2013. …

After joining the board of directors for the Oakland-based Women’s Initiative for Self-Employment, Kimberly Kaselionis has worked to restart a specialized loan program for women entrepreneurs in Marin County that she helped launch while chief executive of the former Circle Bank. …

Santa Rosa’s Exchange Bank celebrated the 50th anniversary of its Trust & Investment Management department this month. …

Santa Rosa native Jonathan Graves has joined First Community Bank as vice president and commercial loan officer. …

College of Marin hired Jonathan Eldridge as new vice president of Student Services. …

Attorney Michael Pfeifer has joined Santa Rosa-based law firm Smith Dollar PC. Mr. Pfeifer will head the firm’s office in Orange. … Also joining the firm’s Orange County office are attorneys Annabelle de la Mora and Libby Wong. …

Buckelew Programs named Steve Eckert, LCSW, as the organization’s new executive director. …

Kim Kaselionis has been named to the governing board of the Women’s Inititative for Self-Employment, a national organization headquartered in Novato, and elected to the Marin Women’s Hall of Fame. …

The Press Democrat appointed Jennifer Williams as director of advertising. …

Blu Homes, Inc. announced that Gary Martell has joined the company as chief financial officer, based in Vallejo. …

Visit Napa Valley promoted Sonyia Grabski to vice president, consumer direct marketing. …

Cline Cellars and Jacuzzi Family Vineyards promoted Keith Morris to vice president and national sales manager. …

NOVATO — Kimberly Kaselionis, chairwoman and chief executive officer of the former Circle Bank since 1996, announced today that she has left the institution after the completion of its acquisition by Portland, Ore.-based Umpqua Bank.

NOVATO – In celebration of its 50th profitable quarter, Novato-based Circle Bank announced today that it will donate 50,000 pounds of food to two Bay Area food banks, the San Francisco and Marin Food Bank and the Redwood Empire Food Bank.

Novato-based Circle Bank has partnered with Keiretsu Forum, said to be the world’s largest angel investor network, to provide financing advice to startup and early-stage companies in the North Bay and San Francisco. … Adam Capital, a Sonoma-based lender specializing in financing small-scale solar projects, is urging solar companies to act before the window closes on a 30 percent federal grant on solar projects at the end of this year. … Westamerica bank is making preparations to move its branch in Ignacio near its current location in the Pacheco Plaza shopping center early next year, said Robert Thorson, the bank’s chief financial officer. … Community First Credit Union signed up the greater number of new members in November than in any month in its 50-year history, beating a record set in October. … The U.S. Small Business Administration is hosting a free web seminar on Dec. 15 to help small business owners prepare for the end of the 2011 tax year. … Images in Motion, a Sonoma-based studio specializing in puppets for television, is filming a series of commercials for Hawaiian Tel Federal Credit Union to “explain the benefits of credit union services to customers on the Big Island.”

NOVATO — Circle Bank today announced it has partnered with Keiretsu Forum, said to be the world’s largest angel investor network, to provide financing advice to startup and early-stage companies in the North Bay and San Francisco.

NOVATO — Circle Bank hired Juanna Collin as senior vice president of operations and technology.

NOVATO — Circle Bancorp, parent company of Circle Bank, reported fourth-quarter net income of $720,000, compared with $431,000 in the prior quarter and $718,000 in the fourth quarter of 2009.

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.

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. …

NORTH BAY — The economy is still challenged, and businesses are still struggling. But there are some positive things happening, according to leading SBA lenders in the North Bay.

NORTH BAY – The passage of HR 5297, the Small Business Jobs Act, established in the Treasury the Small Business Lending Fund of $30 billion and $12 billion in tax incentives intended to spur lending and get small businesses back on their feet.

NORTH BAY – The House passed HR 5297 today, the small business lending bill that once made into law will greatly increase the reach of Small Business Administration loans.

NOVATO — Circle Bancorp, the privately-held parent company of Circle Bank, reported second quarter 2010 consolidated net income of $279,000, up from the $263,000 for the same period last year.

NOVATO — Circle Bank today announced it completed the acquisition of property to house its headquarters at 999 Grant Ave. in Novato.