California

Wells Fargo (WFC), the nation's largest mortgage lender, plans to eliminate 700 more jobs as fewer borrowers are looking to refinance their mortgage loans.

City National (CYN) in Los Angeles is transferring an executive to become head of its bank's New York private client services group.

Keith Wilton previously served as an executive vice president at Santa Barbara Bank & Trust, which is now owned by UnionBanCal. Before that, he was president of the specialty finance group at Greater Bay Bancorp, which was sold to Wells Fargo (WFC) in 2007.

Vibra Bank in Chula Vista, Calif., has hired a president and chief executive.

Central Valley Community Bancorp (CVCY) in Fresno, Calif., has named James Ford president of its bank.

The $300 million-asset bank said in a press release Friday that Theodore Biagini, 73, had been chairman since its January 2007 opening.

Cathay General Bancorp (CATY) of Los Angeles reported earnings of $31.9 million for the fourth quarter of 2013, an increase of 12.7% from the same quarter a year prior.

City National Corporation (CYN) of Beverly Hills, Calif., posted net income of $55.1 million for the fourth quarter, up 17% from the same quarter a year earlier.

East West Bancorp (EWBC) in Pasadena, Calif., reported improved quarterly results after credit costs declined.

TriCo Bancshares (TCBK) in Chico, Calif., has agreed to buy North Valley Bancorp (NOVB) in Redding, Calif.

Farmers & Merchants Bank of Long Beach (FMBL) in California posted higher quarterly profits as lending grew.

Bay Commercial Bank (BCML) in Walnut Creek, Calif., has agreed to buy Bank On It Inc. (BKOT) in Stockton, Calif.

Westamerica Bancorp (WABC) of San Rafael, Calif., posted net income of $16.1 million for the fourth quarter, a 16.1% decrease from a year earlier.

Soo Bong Min, the president and chief executive of BBCN Bank in Los Angeles, has stepped down after less than a year on the job.

Neighborhood National Bank in San Diego has named a former leader of Regents Bank as its president and chief executive.

Community Bank in Pasadena, Calif., has hired a chief executive.

Central Valley Community Bancorp in Fresno, Calif., has redeemed $7 million of preferred stock issued to the Treasury Department under the Small Business Lending Fund.

PacWest Bancorp (PACW) in Los Angeles will take a $12 million after-tax charge in the fourth quarter because of stock awards connected to its pending acquisition of CapitalSource (CSE).

River Valley Community Bank in Yuba City, Calif., has named John M. Jelavich as its new president.

The Federal Reserve Board has approved Community West Bancshares' (CWBC) request to pay dividends on preferred stock.