Santa Barbara Bank & Trust is pleased to announce the appointment of William S. “Tom” Thomas, Jr., as Manager of the Bank’s branch on East Valley Road in Montecito. A veteran banking executive, Thomas served as President & Chief Executive Officer of Pacific Capital Bancorp, the holding company for SBB&T, from 2000 until he retired from the position in 2007. He has remained with the Bank in a community relations role since that time.
“Tom is an exceptionally experienced banker who has extensive knowledge about our markets and clients,” said George Leis, President and Chief Operating Officer of the Bank. “He combines a high level of industry and management expertise with the personal service that our clients find so valuable. We are extremely fortunate that Tom has chosen to remain with our Bank and we are particularly pleased that he has agreed to oversee this flagship branch.”
Thomas launched his career in 1969 with Chase Manhattan Bank in New York. He held senior management positions with Security Pacific National Bank for 16 years and then with Bank of America following the merger of the two banks. He joined Santa Barbara Bank & Trust in 1994, was named President & Chief Operating Officer two years later, and President & Chief Executive Officer of the bank and the holding company in April 2000. Thomas is a 1965 graduate of the University of California, Berkeley and received his MBA degree from the University of Southern California.