California

The Los Angeles bank, which is in the process of being sold, vows to fight a Labor Department complaint that it overcharged employees for administering their retirement plan.

City National Bank in Los Angeles said Thursday that its first-quarter profit climbed 14% from the same period last year, fueled by a surge in real estate construction and commercial lending.

Heritage Commerce in San Jose, Calif., has agreed to buy Focus Business Bank. The $1.7 billion-asset Heritage Commerce will pay about $55 million for the $391 million-asset Focus, which is also based in San Jose.

A division of the payments firm ACI Worldwide will pay $185,000 to California authorities to resolve allegations that it violated numerous state licensing requirements.

Solid loan and deposit growth propelled East West Bancorp to double-digit profit gains in the first quarter.

Rabobank in Roseville, Calif., has agreed to sell a branch in California to Plumas Bancorp in Quincy, Calif.

First Republic Bank reported higher quarterly profit, though loan growth pushed the San Francisco company above $50 billion in assets.

Security California Bancorp in Riverside, Calif., has agreed to buy a branch from Rabobank.

Westamerica Bancorp. is delaying its plan to shutter a small branch in Upper Lake, Calif., to give community leaders more time to convince another bank or credit union to set up shop there.

Westamerica Bancorp.'s profits fell again in the first quarter as a result of management's decision to shrink its loan portfolio and load up on lower-yielding investment securities

PacWest Bancorp in Los Angeles announced Tuesday that Chief Financial Officer Victor Santoro plans to retire from the post this summer and West Coast banking veteran Patrick Rusnak will succeed him in that role.

Wells Fargo in San Francisco and a unit of Blackstone Group have agreed to buy commercial real estate loans held by GE Capital in transactions valued at $23 billion.

The Western Independent Bankers, a San Francisco industry group, has a new president and chief executive.

San Diego Private Bank in Coronado, Calif., is set to have a new president and chief executive.

Wilshire Bancorp in Los Angeles has opened its first branch in Georgia.

Banc of California in Irvine has begun two securities offerings, one of which aims to raise $175 million.

GLENDORA, Calif. — America's Christian Credit Union CEO Mendell Thompson was elected to serve on the Glendora City Council.

Retailers have been able to get credit card surcharge bans in California and New York thrown out by using an unusual legal argument based on the First Amendment. The wins are significant, but merchants still need to fight through a legal thicket before card surcharges become practical.

SAN DIEGO — The first-ever Commercial Mobile Deposit Capture (CMDC) launched here last month. The app will enhance credit union banking services for small business owners and account receivable vendors.

BURBANK, Calif. — Three years ago Burbank Community Federal Credit Union rebranded itself as UMe Federal Credit Union. With a mobile-first product strategy, the $165 million CU has realized significant market gains, including a 30% jump in real estate lending.