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Genesis Bank is a California-chartered commercial bank organized by a group of highly experienced and successful bankers and business professionals.
We focus on serving the banking needs of small to mid-sized businesses, the owners of such businesses, business professionals, and owners and investors of income-producing properties (including multi-family and commercial real estate), located primarily in Orange, Los Angeles, Riverside, and San Bernardino counties.
Our products, services, and solutions include traditional commercial business, Small Business Administration (SBA), income property, and owner-occupied commercial real estate loan and deposit products, as well as treasury management services and solutions. We also provide fiduciary banking, escrow, and section 1031 exchange services to serve the banking needs of our clients.
At Genesis Bank, you have a dedicated team of bankers who you know and who all know you and your business. Consolidating your accounts at Genesis allows you to build long-term, valuable, trusting relationships. To learn more about the benefits of consolidating your accounts and banking with Genesis download our Bank With Genesis one-sheet.
Why Bank with Genesis?
In September 2021 Genesis Bank received regulatory concurrence to be designated as a Minority Depository Institution (“MDI”). MDIs serve a vital role of promoting the economic viability of minority and under-served communities. Of the 4,978 commercial banks and savings institutions insured by the FDIC, only 142 were designated as MDIs as of March 31, 2021. Genesis is the first MDI established within the Bank’s target markets (Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, and San Bernardino Counties) since 2008 and is only the second diverse, multi-racial MDI in the country.
The name Genesis originates from the Book of Genesis, thereby providing a deep historical meaning. Genesis, by definition, is a new beginning, birth, or creation, which resonates deeply with the Bank’s founders. The Bank represents a new beginning, birth, and growth of a uniquely different organization with a forward-thinking mindset. Genesis Bank launches at a critically important time, different than any other, blazing a new path forward to our clients and our local economy.
The logo mark stems from its historical roots, showcasing a modern, abstract “Tree of Life”. It represents fertility and new birth -- from seed, to tree, to fruit. Its circular shape signifies the circle of life, and the brand’s totality and wholeness. The abstract and contemporary mark presents a strong foundation or “roots” for the Bank. Genesis’ core is unbridled from the burdens of traditional banking systems, creating a dynamic and innovative experience for its clients.
The manipulated traditional font has been transformed into an innovative and futuristic visual that is aligned with the forward thinking of Genesis Bank and its clients. Recognizing client needs and behavior patterns, Genesis launches with technology available today, stressing convenience and accessibility as a priority, versus legacy platforms available at other banks.
The “E” is representative of the new and current, non-legacy technology platform the Bank is built upon. In coding language, the three parallel lines represent the word “equivalent”, showcasing Genesis Bank’s symbiotic relationship and alignment with its clients. In the wordmark, “BANK” stays with the standard font, tying the mark with the structural tradition of a bank that clients can depend on.
The color red selected for the emblem mark -- The Tree of Life -- is strong, striking, and bold, and punctuates the arrival of Genesis Bank, while the K’s red-colored slash represents an exclamation to emphasize the Bank’s excitement toward the future. The black is in strong contrast to the red, all representing the Bank’s bold positioning, in contrast to the current traditional banking industry that is sleepy and stodgy.
Genesis Bank is committed to fostering, cultivating, and preserving a culture of diversity, equity, and inclusion. We value our employees for their unique talents and abilities. We embrace and encourage our employee’s differences in backgrounds, experiences, race, color, religious creed, sex, national origin, ancestry, citizenship status, family or marital status, physical, mental and/or intellectual abilities, age, military or veteran status, registered domestic partner or civil union status, gender and gender identity, sexual orientation, political affiliation, and socio-economic status. All employees are valued for their individual differences and the unique contributions that help us achieve our business goals.
Through our diversity, equity, and inclusion policy, Genesis Bank seeks to create a positive work environment where all employees can reach their full potential and maximize their contributions. We are committed to our employees’ dignity and well-being and make every effort to provide all employees with a safe and professional work environment.
VisionGenesis Bank’s workforce intends to represent the diversity of the communities we serve. We strive to foster a more diverse, equitable, and inclusive culture for employees, clients, vendors, and the community at large. We seek to advance racial equity and economic opportunity by building partnerships and lending our voice and resources to initiatives that uplift our communities.
Strategic PrioritiesThese strategic priorities establish a foundation for how Genesis Bank will deliver on its DEI vision:
Review DEI Strategic Plan
Founding Chairman and Chief Executive Officer
Mr. Gordon is the Chairman of the Board of Directors and Chief Executive Officer of Genesis Bank. Mr. Gordon has over 35 years of financial industry experience, including serving as Founding Chairman, Chief Executive Officer, and President of Opus Bank; Founding Chairman and CEO of Commercial Capital Bank and its savings and loan holding company, Commercial Capital Bancorp, Inc; as well as Chairman and CEO of Fremont Investment and Loan and its holding company, Fremont General Corporation. Additionally, Mr. Gordon served as a Partner at Sandler O’Neill + Partners, L.P., a New York based investment banking firm.
President and Chief Operating Officer
Ms. Simmons is responsible for overseeing the operations, day-to-day administration, and business development processes of Genesis Bank. Ms. Simmons is a 27-year banking veteran, having most recently served as Executive Vice President, Chief Operating Officer of Opus Bank. Prior to joining Opus Bank, Ms. Simmons held senior leadership positions at Union Bank, Wachovia, Wells Fargo, and Bank of America.
EVP, Senior Chief Credit Officer
Mr. Fitzmaurice is responsible for the overall credit quality of the loan portfolio, administrative and operational matters pertaining to lending, and loan servicing and processing for Genesis Bank. Mr. Fitzmaurice is a veteran banker with 38 years of extensive experience in credit and risk management, most recently serving as Vice Chairman and Senior Chief Credit Officer of Opus Bank. Prior to joining Opus Bank, Mr. Fitzmaurice held various senior credit risk management positions, including Chief Credit Officer at City National Bank, a subsidiary of Royal Bank of Canada (“RBC”), where he was also a member of RBC’s global risk committee, and Citigroup, where he was the national risk manager for middle market lending.
EVP, Chief Financial Officer
Mr. Han is responsible for Genesis Bank’s finance functions, including financial planning and analysis, asset-liability and treasury management, accounting, and financial reporting. Mr. Han is a CPA with 15 years of banking industry accounting and finance experience, most recently serving as Senior Vice President – Finance and Deputy Chief Financial Officer of Opus Bank. Prior to joining Opus Bank, Mr. Han was a senior manager at KPMG LLP, working as an auditor in the banking and financial services practice.
EVP, Chief Legal and Risk Officer
Mr. Gallardo is responsible for overseeing Genesis Bank’s legal, internal controls and regulatory compliance, and audit and risk assessment processes. Mr. Gallardo has over 15 years of banking experience, most recently serving as Senior Vice President – Deputy General Counsel at Opus Bank, as well as General Counsel of PENSCO Trust Company, a subsidiary of Opus Bank. Mr. Gallardo’s prior banking experience includes positions held at Silvergate Bank, U.S. Bank, and San Diego National Bank. Mr. Gallardo holds FINRA Series 63 and 79 Licenses and is an active member of the State Bar of California.
Founding Chairman
Vice Chair
Director
Ms. Alford has more than 25 years of accounting and finance experience, and currently serves as Chief Financial Officer of the Jewish Federation & Family Services of Orange County (JFFS). Prior to joining JFFS, Ms. Alford served as an accounting and finance consultant, advising manufacturing, healthcare, E-commerce, real estate, aerospace, retail, investment, legal, and non-profit businesses with annual revenues ranging from $5M to $15B. Ms. Alford previously held executive finance positions for several nonprofits, including Make-a-Wish Foundation of Los Angeles, Southern California Alcohol and Drug Rehabilitation, and East Bronx Daycare Center, Inc., in New York, where she directed the accounting, finance, human resources, operations, fiscal reporting activities, internal control processes, asset management, and policies and procedures at those organizations.
Mr. Kessler is an attorney, currently serving as a Partner at Greenberg Glusker where he represents institutions, large real estate portfolio owners, private businesses, and high-net-worth individuals in connection with tax structuring of complex real estate transactions as well as the restructuring of partnerships and limited liability companies that own large parcels of real estate. Prior to joining Greenberg Glusker, Mr. Kessler was a Partner at DLA Piper, a global law firm, and previously spent 30 years at his own law firm, Kessler & Kessler, A Law Corporation, which represented private businesses, high net worth individuals, and institutions in tax law, real estate law, estate planning, and corporate law matters. Mr. Kessler is involved in numerous charitable and pro bono activities, most notably serving as General Counsel to the Wilshire Boulevard Temple board of trustees, and is a former Chair and Director of California Housing Partnership Corporation and representative of the Cornell University Development Fund, and is involved with the St. Vincent Meals on Wheels Program.
Mr. Nguyen has 25 years of experience as a business, community, education, and philanthropic leader. Nguyen is the 2nd generation family business owner of Advance Beauty College with multiple campuses in Southern California graduating about 50,000 beauty professionals over its 35-year history. Their nail salon training program based in Little Saigon, Orange County is an established leader and one of the largest in the country. He served two terms on the national board of directors for the American Association of Cosmetology Schools.
As a proud founding Board Member for Genesis Bank, Mr. Nguyen provides leadership and governance while serving as a bridge to the local underserved communities. He is also a member of the Genesis for Good Foundation Board of Directors. Prior to joining Genesis Bank, he served on the US Bank Community Advisory Board.
Additionally, Mr. Nguyen is the past Chairman and CEO of the Vietnamese American Chamber of Commerce and current co-chair of the Orange County Diverse Business Leaders along with his Hispanic and Black Chamber colleagues. He has taught business management at Cal State Fullerton as a faculty member since 2016. He is very active in the community serving in Leadership roles for numerous public agencies and non-profits such as the Orange County Transportation Authority, Metrolink, Cal State Fullerton Philanthropic Board of Governors, Orange County United Way, Garden Grove Community Foundation, and MemorialCare's Orange Coast Medical Center.
Mr. Nguyen graduated locally from UC Irvine and Cal State Fullerton and has studied abroad at American University of the Caribbean. He holds both MD and MBA degrees. His most important role is, along with his wife Christine, being parents to their three children.
Mr. Smith has over 38 years of experience as an attorney, currently serving as a Managing Shareholder of AlvaradoSmith, the largest Hispanic owned law firm in California, which he co-founded in 1993. AlvardoSmith handles public law, business, corporate, employment, real estate, environmental, and financial institution matters for public and private sector clients throughout several major industries including, banking, infrastructure, energy, education, and technology, with locations in Santa Ana, Los Angeles, and San Francisco, California. Over the course of his extensive career, Mr. Smith has provided general corporate, transactional, litigation, and regulatory advice on a wide range of financial, commercial, and real estate transactions, both on a domestic and international basis. Mr. Smith is also deeply involved with the community and is a founding member of the Hispanic Education Endowment Fund and is currently Chair of the Latino Foods Industry Associations. Additionally, Mr. Smith has been in leadership roles with numerous non-profit organizations, including the Orange County Business Council, Latino Coalition, St. Joseph’s Hospital in Orange, Orange County Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, and several public education entities. Mr. Smith holds his Bachelor of Science degree in Public Affairs and Master of Public Administration in Inter-Governmental Management from the University of Southern California, and Juris Doctor from Yale Law School. Mr. Smith is also an active member of the State Bar of California.
Mr. Valner is the founder and CEO of Network Bankers, a Los Angeles based tech-enabled investment bank he founded in 2020 to provide services to a global network of 30,000 CEOs and accredited investors. Prior to Network Bankers, he was a founder/leader of two investment banking platforms and a private equity real estate investment management group. Through these companies, he has led more than $20 billion in capital raising, mergers and acquisitions, and real estate investment transactions. Mr. Valner also held positions as a partner at Walton Street Capital and CEO of VALOR, a boutique investment bank focused on real estate and financial restructuring. Additionally, Mr. Valner worked at Credit Suisse First Boston in their global privatizations group in New York, where he became the CEO of the bank’s Mexico operations. Mr. Valner’s current board activities include Leadership Council of UCLA´s Depression Grand Challenge, YPO´s Alliance to End Homelessness, Progresemos, IngeniousIO, and FIHO.
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