Santa Cruz County Bank is recognized as a Trailblazer by Independent Banker Magazine, a publication of Independent Community Bankers of America (ICBA).

Independent Banker Magazine featured Santa Cruz County Bank as a Trailblazer, a designation given to community banks on the forefront of industry advances. The March 2024 issue spotlights the technology innovations, initiatives and upgrades implemented by the Bank’s Digital Transformation Team, led by Krista Snelling, President and CEO. Read the Independent Banker article here.

With a deposit market share of 15.5%, the Bank ranks fourth in Santa Cruz County, trailing only megabanks. Ms. Snelling notes that the Bank’s strong performance reflects its strategy of investing in up-to-date technology to serve and therefore strengthen customer relations. In the article, Ms. Snelling is quoted saying, “We’ve made significant investments in both client-facing and back-office technologies that create a better and safer client experience.” 

Ms. Snelling formed the Digital Transformation Team when she joined the Bank in 2021. In addition to Snelling, the Team includes Paul Happach, SVP Director of Product and Digital Transformation; Jaime Manriquez, EVP Chief Information Officer, and Shamara van der Voort, EVP Chief Operations Officer.

Krista Snelling remarked, “It is an honor for our Bank and our Digital Transformation Team to be recognized in the industry for our innovations in technology that improve internal processes and contribute to the client experience. Taking the friction out of back-office processes allows us to focus on the client in front of us.”

In addition to the Digital Transformation Team, the Bank has also created a Treasury Management Team and an Asset Based Lending Department under Ms. Snelling’s leadership.

NATIONAL, STATE, AND LOCAL RATINGS AND AWARDS

• S&P Global Market Intelligence: The Bank is ranked #6 in the Top 100 banks nationwide for 2022 performance for banks under $3 billion in assets and ranked #3 for the best-performing community banks in the Western U.S. with assets under $10 billion.

• The Findley Reports, Inc.: The Bank has received the top ranking of Super Premier for 14 consecutive years.

• Bauer Financial Reports, Inc.: The Bank is rated 5-star "Superior" based upon its financial performance.

• Silicon Valley Business Journal: The Bank is ranked #1 in number of SBA loans lent to Silicon Valley businesses and #3 in volume of loans for the 2023 SBA fiscal year.

• Good Times, 2023 Best of Santa Cruz County Award, Voted "Best Bank" for 11 consecutive years.

• Santa Cruz Sentinel, 2022 Reader’s Choice Award, #1 bank in Santa Cruz County as voted by Santa Cruz Sentinel readers for 9 years.  

Santa Cruz County Bank (the “Bank”, OTCQX: SCZC), with assets of $1.79 billion, is a top-rated community bank headquartered in Santa Cruz County.

Forward-Looking Statements

This release may contain forward-looking statements that are subject to risks and uncertainties. Such risks and uncertainties may include but are not necessarily limited to fluctuations in interest rates (including but not limited to changes in depositor behavior in relation thereto), inflation, government regulations and general economic conditions, and competition within the business areas in which the Bank is conducting its operations, including the real estate market in California and other factors beyond the Bank's control. Such risks and uncertainties could cause results for subsequent interim periods or for the entire year to differ materially from those indicated. Readers should not place undue reliance on the forward-looking statements, which reflect management's view only as of the date hereof. The Bank undertakes no obligation to publicly revise these forward-looking statements to reflect subsequent events or circumstances.

MEDIA CONTACT:

Mary Anne Carson, EVP and Chief Marketing Officer, mcarson@sccountybank.com