Montecito Bank & Trust Earns Eighth "Best Banks to Work For" Award Nationally
November 12, 2024
Santa Barbara, Calif. – For the eighth consecutive year Montecito Bank & Trust (MB&T) has been named a "Best Bank to Work For" by American Banker magazine. The annual award, in its 12 th year, focuses on two sources of data: an employee survey measuring overall workplace satisfaction and a comprehensive review of each applicant bank's policies and benefits. MB&T received the top billing in California and fourth overall in the country.
MB&T, the largest locally owned community bank on the Central Coast, embraces a culture of professional development, innovation, teamwork, diversity, giving back and having fun. The bank’s 268 associates bring an unparalleled energy to their work both inside and outside of the office, and they are committed to making their teams and their communities the best they can be. Janet Garufis, CEO and Chairman, believes the Bank's associates are the heartbeat of the organization, noting "I am so impressed with the dedication, creativity and enthusiasm of our teams. Our industry has weathered some challenges the last 5 years, but our associates have and continue to show up in ways I could only imagine. I am inspired by them each day and know that our late founder Michael Towbes, would be incredibly proud of their hard work and this recognition." Seconding that sentiment, Heather Ames, SVP Director of Human Resources, added "Being named one of the best banks to work for on a national level is a testament to our dedicated team, whose commitment to excellence and our shared values creates a supportive and rewarding environment. This recognition reflects not only our bank's success but also the hard work and passion our associates bring every day to make Montecito Bank & Trust the best place work!"
MB&T's culture of giving back, a component of earning this recognition, manifests in the opportunities associates have each day to make a difference in their communities. While there are many examples of MB&T associates' impact in the communities they serve, heading into the holiday season a critical focus is educating residents, businesses and non-profits about cyber-crimes and fraud scams. Teaching at retirement homes, local housing authorities and non-profits, both in English and Spanish, MB&T associates have helped equip hundreds of individuals to be better prepared to avoid falling victim to identify theft, check fraud, elder financial abuse and many more of the crimes that are affected over 353 million people in the US in 2023 alone (Identity Theft Resource Center). This curriculum is available throughout Santa Barbara and Ventura counties where MB&T has locations; please contact Brianna Aguilar for more information [email protected].
Montecito Bank & Trust is the oldest and largest locally owned community bank in the Santa Barbara and Ventura counties. Founded in 1975, the bank celebrated its 49th anniversary on March 17, 2024, and operates 13 full-service branch offices and 3 retirement community locations, in Santa Maria, Solvang, Goleta, Santa Barbara, Montecito, Carpinteria, Ventura, Oxnard, Camarillo and Westlake Village. Montecito Bank & Trust has a history of unwavering corporate philanthropy in the local communities it serves. The Bank offers a variety of competitive deposit and lending solutions for businesses and consumers, including business loans and lines of credit; commercial real estate finance; SBA loans; mortgage loans, consumer loans; credit cards; merchant services; and online services, including mobile banking and cash management. Its Wealth Management Division provides comprehensive trust services and full investment management for all branch office markets. The Bank has earned 27 Best Bank awards in the last 11 years, in addition to numerous accolades for Best Mortgage and Best Financial Services Company in Santa Barbara, Best Investment Company in Santa Ynez Valley and the fourth Best Bank to Work For in the United States (American Banker Magazine).
For more information, please contact
Megan Orloff, EVP/Chief Strategy Officer
(805) 564-0236 or [email protected]