Montecito Bank & Trust Expands Executive Leadership

May 29, 2025

Santa Barbara, Calif. – Montecito Bank & Trust has promoted Heather Ames to EVP, Chief People Officer, from her prior role as SVP, Director of Human Resources and Organizational Learning. In this new role Ms. Ames will join the MB&T Executive team and work alongside Janet Garufis, CEO and Chairman, Bruce Stevens, EVP Chief Financial Officer, Megan Orloff, EVP Chief Strategy Officer, Jeff Pittman EVP Director of Wealth Management and David Porter, EVP Chief Credit Officer. Together this group of community minded, impact driven and customer service focused leaders now have over 170 years of experience in financial services.

Overseeing the Bank’s Organizational Learning and Human Resource departments, throughout her more than 18 years at the Bank Heather has played an integral role in helping to define and develop Montecito Bank & Trust’s culture. Ms. Ames has been instrumental in strategically managing organizational design and performance, realigning the Bank’s compensation programs and building training programs to support the development of the Bank’s associates and emerging leaders. In addition to her Bank leadership role Heather, born and raised in the Santa Ynez Valley, is a trusted partner to and advocate for a number of nonprofits across the Santa Ynez Valley and Santa Barbara. Her board and various committee service includes Court Appointed Special Advocates of Santa Barbara County, Coastal Housing Partnership, Scholarship Foundation of Santa Barbara, and Standing Together to End Sexual Assault.

Janet Garufis, CEO and Chairman, noted “As banks continue to navigate increasing regulatory complexity, digital transformation, and heightened competition for top talent, HR plays a critical role in shaping culture, managing risk, developing leadership pipelines, and fostering agility through organizational design and change management along with leading engagement initiatives. Heather is a shining example of what is possible at Montecito Bank & Trust.”

Reflecting on her new role and appointment to the Executive Team, Ms. Ames stated “I feel honored and privileged to work alongside an executive team with such integrity and strong values. I began my journey with Montecito Bank & Trust over 18 years ago and have been fortunate to experience meaningful professional development and career growth opportunities that have led me to this role. I’m proud to be part of an organization that puts its people first.”

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 50th anniversary on March 17, 2025, and operates 13 branch offices 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 30 Best Bank awards in the last 12 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]