Farmers & Merchants Bank Announces Kathryn Gonzales as Chief Banking Officer

LONG BEACH, Calif. - Jan. 14, 2014 - PRLog -- Kathryn Gonzales, a 33-year veteran banking executive, has been named Senior Vice President, Chief Banking Officer (CBO) at Farmers & Merchants Bank (https://www.fmb.com/) (F&M), W. Henry Walker, F&M Bank President, announced today. Gonzales joined the 106-year-old bank – one of the strongest banks in California and among the top 150 largest banks in the nation – earlier this month.

CBO is a new position at F&M, bringing greater depth and breadth of experience to the growing organization’s executive management team. Gonzales will work closely with Walker on the bank’s retail and sales strategies, with particular focus on growing core accounts and deepening relationships with the bank’s key customers. She will work with all 23 branches, spanning Long Beach, South Bay and Orange County.

“We couldn’t be more pleased to add Kathryn to our executive management team, as her career in banking is truly exceptional and includes a keen strategic vision combined with hands-on leadership,” said Walker. “As F&M enters its 107^th year, we are embarking on new initiatives and planning for further growth in the century ahead, so a larger leadership team will play a very key role.”

Gonzales’ three decades of diverse experience at banking institutions throughout Southern California includes 18 years of senior management in retail and business banking. Her most recent post was senior vice president of retail banking at Provident Bank, the largest community bank in the Inland Empire. Earlier positions were at Wells Fargo, Bank of the West/Sanwa Bank and Citizens Business Bank. Her expertise spans strategic planning, profit growth, customer retention, high-risk asset management and multi-branch oversight.

“Farmers & Merchants Bank is certainly one of the region’s most trusted and respected banking institutions, and I’m looking forward to working with Mr. Walker and the entire F&M organization,” said Gonzales. “My many years in banking have been excellent preparation for the leadership position I am so pleased to take with F &M.”

Gonzales’ completed a master’s degree program in bank finance through Pacific Coast Banking School (PCBS) at the University of Washington, following her education at Mt. Saint Mary’s College in Los Angeles. She has received numerous awards and recognition throughout her career for sales, profitability and customer retention.

About Farmers & Merchants Bank

Founded in Long Beach in 1907 by C.J. Walker, Farmers & Merchants Bank has 23 branches in Los Angeles and Orange Counties. The Bank specializes in commercial and small business banking along with business loan programs. Farmers & Merchants Bank of Long Beach is a California state chartered bank with deposits insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (Member FDIC) and an Equal Housing Lender. For more information about F&M, please call the media contact listed or visit the website, www.fmb.com.