NATIONAL BANK of California

About Us

Management

Barry W. Uzel, President, Chief Executive Officer and Director
Barry, who has served as President, CEO, and Director of National Bank of California from its inception in early 1982, has a track record of increasing profits and loan portfolios in the banking industry.

His career began in 1965 when he joined First Western Bank, which later became Lloyds Bank California, where he spent 18 years. By 1970 he had become Vice President of the National Division and District Head for Lloyds. He later became Vice President and Manager of the Long Beach and Santa Ana corporate offices where loan portfolios for these corporate centers increased fivefold under his leadership. In 1978, he was named Senior Vice President and Corporate Office Head of Lloyds main office and Corporate Banking Group. During this time, Lloyds realized a 100% increase in profits and over 150% increase in its loan portfolio. He was also instrumental in developing new products, internal training, and management and business development programs.

Actively involved in fund-raising efforts, Barry also serves on several Boards throughout Southern California. He currently is Chairman of Presbyterian Health Physicians (an IPA and Health Clinics) and he has been President of the Community Bankers of Southern California, Treasurer of the Board of Governors of the Orange County Chapter, and Vice President of the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce. He is a member of the Bank Administration Institute, California Bankers Association, and American Bankers Association.

Barry graduated from Whittier College with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Business Administration and Economics. He also holds a Master of Science degree in Finance from California State University at Long Beach, and a Graduate Certificate in Credit and Financial Management from Stanford University Graduate School of Business.

Richard P. Ritter, Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer
Richard joined National Bank of California in 1994 after 20 years in a similar position with Bank of Newport in Newport Beach California.

Prior to that, Richard was in public accounting as an audit manager with Arthur Young & Co. It was during this period that he earned his Certified Public Accounting certificate.

Richard earned his Bachelor of Science degree with an emphasis on accounting from the University of Colorado. He has attended numerous industry related seminars and classes.

G. Scott Peterson, Executive Vice President, Chief Credit Officer
Scott joined National Bank of California in 2006 after serving 5 years as the Executive Vice President – Chief Credit Officer, Chief Operating Officer, and Member of the Board of Directors of Merchants Bank of California. Previously, he was the Executive Vice President – Chief Credit Officer of South Bay Bank. He also served 3 years on the Board of Directors of Frontier State Bank.

Scott started his banking industry career as an intern with the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago during college and joined the FDIC as a Bank Examiner in 1987 upon graduation. A native of Chicago, he relocated to Southern California in 1992 with the FDIC to resolve the problem banks that existed at the time. Scott left the FDIC in 1996 and spent three years consulting with banks on various projects, including preparation for Y2K. He is a member of the Board of Directors of Prostate Cancer Survivors Project, a non-profit organization that promotes prostate cancer awareness.

He graduated with University Honors from Northern Illinois University with a B.S. in Finance. He also obtained a certificate from London Business School in 1995 after completing the Accelerated Development Program.

Timothy J. Herles, Executive Vice President, Manager, Business Banking
Tim, who joined National Bank of California in 2003, brings expertise in managing growth phases and in expanding business banking services. With over 40 years of banking experience, he has actively participated in the direction and structure of banks in the southern California area.

At Marathon National Bank, Tim served as Executive Vice President, Sr. Credit & Compliance Officer where he participated in major policy and administrative decisions. As Assistant VP of the Installment Loan Department, he also helped Union Bank of California increase its loan portfolio $20 million in his first year and was responsible for middle-market commercial customers. His bank experience is wide-ranging and also includes tenures with Bank of Orange County, Century Bank, and Security Pacific National Bank.

Tim has obtained Basic and Standard Certificates issued by the American Bankers Association as well as a Standard Certificate issued by National Credit Managers Association.

He is a graduate of Southern Methodist University’s Southwestern Graduate School of Banking and also received advanced education in Business Administration from UCLA.

John J.G. Batiste, Regional Vice President
John, an aggressive leader in the banking industry and civic organizations for the past 30 years, brings to National Bank of California superior skills in management, commercial credit, business development, operations, and administration. His career began with the Bank of New York on Wall Street. As Vice President at City National Bank, he received “Manager of the Year” and “1997 Office of the Year” recognition. John has a track record in profit making as well as cost containment.

He has served in various positions including Director and President, with associations and organizations such as The American Cancer Society, Encino Chamber of Commerce, and Optimist Club of Encino, among others. He was also appointed by Mayor Richard Riordan to the Citizen Advisory Council for the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA).

John received his Bachelor of Science degree from Southern University of New Orleans with a Business Administration major and Economics minor.

Adrienne Caldwell, Regional Vice President
Adrienne joined National Bank of California in 2004 and has been an aggressive leader in the banking industry and civic organizations for over 30 years. She brings to National Bank of California superior customer service skills, as well as management skills, her extraordinary knowledge of small business banking, and specialized knowledge in Home Owner Associations (HOA) and escrow companies.

Adrienne’s career began as a teller with Bank of America and she later held several positions within the independent banking community. She spent 16 years at Marathon Bank (which was bought out by Pacific Western) as the head of Business Development, Note, and Human Resources departments, as well as Executive Vice President of Operations Administration.

In addition to her long career in banking, Adrienne has been involved with many community organizations. She currently represents National Bank of California as a member of the Community Association Institute (CAI) and is involved in several community services.

Anthony D. Kourounis, Regional Vice President
Anthony was the founding President and Chief Executive Officer of California Oaks State Bank from 1988 until he joined National Bank of California in 2004. He has overseen all aspects of branch and bank administration, budgeting, marketing, business development as well as loan analysis and underwriting. Starting with Security Pacific National Bank in 1974, he went on to become Vice President, Corporate Banking Dept., Financial Institutions Division. After a 10-year stay, he went into independent banking and joined First State Bank of the Oaks in Thousand Oaks, which was subsequently acquired by First Interstate Bank and then Wells Fargo Bank.

Active in numerous community and civic organizations, Anthony currently is on the Board of Directors of the Thousand Oaks Westlake Village Regional Chamber of Commerce. He is also a member and past President of the Rotary Club of Thousand Oaks, Corporate Board Member and past Chairman of the Southeast Ventura County YMCA, and Board member of the Simi Valley Education Foundation.

Anthony has a Bachelors Degree in Finance from California State University, California and received a certificate from the Graduate School of Credit and Financial Management at the Amos Tuck School of Business, Dartmouth College. He also attended the Pacific Coast Banking School at the University of Washington.

Sheila G. Cook, Regional Vice President
Sheila joined National Bank of California in 2010. She started her career in banking with Bank of America in 1974 as a Teller where she worked for 18 years, moving up the corporate ladder. Sheila then joined Citizens Business Bank as Vice President, Manager in LaCanada Flintridge. She has held a number of positions with increasing responsibility in the banking industry for 36 years.

During her long career in banking, Sheila has been active in many civic and community organizations. She is a Board Member of the Community Center of LaCanada, the LaCanada Flintridge Chamber of Commerce & Community Association, LaCanada AM Kiwanis, Women's City Club of Pasadena and President of Contract Connection. Sheila has been a Lt. Governor with Optimist, past president of L.A. Arthritis Association and past president of the Woodland Hills Chamber of Commerce.

Sheila obtained a degree in both business and finance through Pasadena City College and the American Institute of Banking.

Patty McAdams, Regional Vice President
Patty has been a professional business banking specialist in the Orange County area for the past 28 years and a resident of Orange County for more than 48 years. She brings strong leadership, business development, management, and communication skills to National Bank of California.

She joined National Bank of California in 2002 as a Regional Vice President and has been instrumental in increasing the Bank’s presence in the Orange County area. With Pacific Century Bank (previously United Bank and Home Bank via merger), she developed her overall banking skills by serving in a number of positions and in different groups, including VP/Real Estate Group, VP/Private Banking Group, VP/Financial Services Manager, and Branch Manager. Patty started her banking career as a teller and quickly moved up to increasingly responsible positions including operations, loan officer, and assistant branch manager.

Patty is currently a member of Soroptimist International of Westminster, Executive Association of South County, and St. Jude’s Foundation.