Montecito Bank & Trust is well-known for its local community support. So when the bank received reports about local Direct Relief International’s immediate Haitian emergency mobilization efforts, Montecito Bank & Trust associates mobilized too. Bank associates began asking what they could do to assist. Michael Towbes, chairman, and Janet A. Garufis, president and chief executive officer, quickly responded to associates with a challenge: the bank would match associate donations up to $5,000.
"Associates are the ones who took this charitable lead and I am thrilled to report that as of today, just one week after our challenge offer, our associates raised $5,077 and the bank will donate an additional $5,000 for a total donation of $10,077 for Direct Relief International’s Haitian relief efforts," reported Janet Garufis. "While Michael Towbes has always set the standard for community support, our associates continually demonstrate their commitment as well. We hope other local companies will do what they can to support Direct Relief International. I wholeheartedly applaud our associates and am honored to be part of this wonderful bank that has such a huge heart."
Montecito Bank & Trust, an S Corporation, is a locally owned community bank founded in 1975 and known for its ongoing support of the community through unique giving programs like Community Dividends® and Anniversary GrantsSM. The bank has branch offices in Carpinteria, Goleta, Montecito, Santa Barbara, Solvang, Ventura and Westlake Village. We offer a variety of competitive deposit and lending solutions for businesses and consumers including consumer loans, business loans and lines of credit, SBA loans, credit cards, merchant services, online banking and cash management. Our Wealth Management Division, located in Montecito, Solvang and Ventura, provides full investment management as well as trust services for all of the bank’s branch office markets.
Montecito Bank & Trust has been designated a Super Premier or Premier Performing Bank for the last nine years by The Findley Reports, an independent service which rates the financial performance of California banks. Montecito Bank & Trust was the only Santa Barbara based financial institution to receive such a high Findley rating in 2008.