Partners Bank of California announced the appointment of Chris Walsh as President and Chief Executive Officer.
With over 30 years of banking leadership and business development experience, Walsh originally joined the Partners Bank team in June 2018 and has served as President since that time. He now assumes the role of President and CEO.
“We are truly excited and inspired by what it means to us, to have Chris leading our institution’s management and growth,” says Mike Ahmar, Executive Chairman of the Board at Partners Bank. “It’s a pivotal and exciting time of growth and development for our bank, and Chris provides an unparalleled level of experience and leadership, with a proven track record that our clients and shareholders can truly count on.”
Walsh replaces Rick Mandelbaum who served as CEO until recently announcing his retirement from Partners Bank.
“On behalf of the entire Partners Bank team, we would like to thank Rick Mandelbaum for his service,” Walsh said. “I look forward to building on the success and leadership represented by Rick’s six years with the bank.”
A Southern Californian for most of his life, Walsh graduated from the University of California, Santa Barbara in 1980. His background in leading significant and sustained institutional growth has included experience with Sunwest Bank, Vineyard Bank, Commercial Capital Bank, California Bank and Trust, U.S. Trust Company of America and Bank of California.
Partners Bank of California also announced the appointment of Mike Chambers as Executive Vice President, Chief Banking Officer.
A founding employee and investor of Partners Bank, he has embraced the role of leading “ambassador” of the organization to clients as well as the communities that the bank serves. Prior to his appointment to EVP, he served as Senior Vice President, Business Development at Partners. Serving at all levels of client service and business development in his 11 years with Partners, he has produced and maintained an extremely high level of critically important client and shareholder relationships that have sustained the long-term success and growth of the bank.
“Mike has been instrumental in the success of Partners Bank since its inception,” Walsh said. “Without his leadership in establishing and managing our client relationships, we would not be enjoying the level of success our institution realizes today.”
Prior to joining Partners Bank, Chambers was Western Regional Director of sales and customer service divisions for MBNA America Bank, which was acquired by Bank of America in 2005. He attended Coastal Carolina University and graduated in 1996 with a degree in political science.
The Partners Bank of California Executive Management team includes Chris Walsh – President/CEO; Mike Chambers – Executive Vice President, Chief Banking Officer; Kirk Colburn – EVP/Chief Financial Officer; and Kent Falk – EVP/Chief Credit Officer.
With current total assets of $239.5 million, Partners Bank of California provides a wide array of personal and commercial banking services as well as a variety of business lending solutions including lines of credit, commercial real estate, new construction financing, equipment/industrial and SBA/State Government guaranteed loans.
Founded in 2007, the bank has its headquartered in Mission Viejo, CA.