Santa Cruz County Bank Welcomes New Director, Celebrates Founding Member’s Retirement
Santa Cruz, California – October 16, 2024 – West Coast Community Bancorp (Bancorp), the parent company of Santa Cruz County Bank (SCCB), today announced a significant shift in its Board of Directors. Thomas N. Griffin, a founding director instrumental in SCCB’s early success, has retired, while Wayne Doiguchi, a seasoned banking executive, has been appointed to the board.
Mr. Griffin’s contributions to SCCB are deeply ingrained in the bank’s history. He played a crucial role in the pre-organization phase, guiding the formation of the bank and securing its initial funding. Under his tenure, SCCB witnessed remarkable growth, expanding its assets from $13.2 million in 2004 to an impressive $1.8 billion as of September 30, 2024. This growth was punctuated by key milestones such as the successful merger with Lighthouse Bank in 2019, expansion into Monterey County and Silicon Valley, and the recent merger with 1st Capital Bancorp which closed on October 1, 2024.
Mr. Doiguchi brings a wealth of experience to the board, boasting over 40 years in the Bay Area banking industry. He previously served as Director of California Bank of Commerce and was a founding board member, Chairman, and CEO of Pan Pacific Bank. His academic credentials include a Master of Business Administration from Santa Clara University, a Bachelor of Arts from the University of California, Los Angeles, and graduation from the Pacific Coast Banking School at the University of Washington.
Stephen Pahl, Chairman of West Coast Community Bancorp and Santa Cruz County Bank, expressed his gratitude for Mr. Griffin’s service, stating, “On behalf of the entire board, I applaud Tom’s more than 20 years of service to Santa Cruz County Bank, his legacy as one of the last original directors and being responsible for the great institution it has become; and offer a hearty welcome to Wayne, whose decades of high-level commercial banking throughout the Bay Area will assist in further developing our organization into one of the premier banking franchises in California.”
Reflecting on his time with SCCB, Mr. Griffin said, “It has been a wonderful experience to have been part of Santa Cruz County Bank’s over 20-year history. I have been privileged to serve with three excellent board chairmen – George Gallucci, William J. Hansen and Stephen Pahl – and equally exceptional CEOs – David Heald and Krista Snelling. The Bank has an incredibly strong management team who are capable of continuing the financial success of the Bank for the foreseeable future. I give my best regards to all of the employees and entire team in the future.”
Mr. Doiguchi expressed his enthusiasm for joining SCCB, stating, “It is an honor to join the boards of an institution that I have long followed and admired for its exceptional industry standings, outstanding leadership and strong reputation as a well-run banking institution. I look forward to contributing to the next level of growth and identifying opportunities to build new business and partnerships throughout our recently expanded territory along the Central Coast.”
About Santa Cruz County Bank and West Coast Community Bancorp
Established in 2004, Santa Cruz County Bank is a wholly owned subsidiary of West Coast Community Bancorp, a bank holding company. The Bank is a top-rated, locally operated and full-service community bank headquartered in Santa Cruz, California, with branches across the Central Coast, including Aptos, Capitola, Cupertino, King City, Monterey, Salinas, San Luis Obispo, Santa Cruz, Scotts Valley, and Watsonville. SCCB distinguishes itself from large banks by its emphasis on personalized service, problem-solving, and direct access to decision makers. It is a leading SBA lender in Santa Cruz County and Silicon Valley.
Santa Cruz County Bank offers a comprehensive range of banking solutions for businesses and individuals, including business loans, lines of credit, commercial real estate financing, construction lending, asset-based lending, agricultural loans, SBA and USDA government guaranteed loans, credit cards, merchant services, remote deposit capture, mobile and online banking, bill payment, and treasury management. The bank is deeply rooted in its community, actively supporting local non-profit organizations.