Deployment of this cash either takes the form of deeper lending/investment activity or acquisition. The trend of consolidation in the number of banks and branches in North Bay will continue throughout the year.

What is the one thing that comforts you and the one thing that keeps you up at night in 2022?

Mary Askew: Small businesses are the backbone of our country’s economy and will continue to be. The past two years have shown that a global pandemic has been devastating for some while others have been able to weather the proverbial storm. As a bank dedicated to serving small businesses, we strive to find ways for entrepreneurs to invest in their success and pursue the American dream.

Call from Chris: I worry about the divisions in our country and the government’s mismanagement of its stewardship. I am encouraged by the resilience and ingenuity of people to overcome difficulties and thrive in the face of adversity. I am optimistic for a year of high marks in 2022.

Jared Cooley: There will always be beneficial advancements in Fintech and banking in general, but not all will be without drawbacks. Ease of consumer banking will benefit the most, but ensuring banking security should take priority over ease, in my view.

Tom Duryea: What certainly comforts me is how strong and resilient our team, our customers and the Sonoma County community are in the face of the fires and now the pandemic. The deep meaning of caring for each other is truly amazing and rewarding, and in some ways unique to Sonoma County.

The impact of the pandemic on our team, our clients, and the economic and social stability of our community keeps me awake at night. It’s tough on everyone, but that being said, we are extremely grateful to have such a strong and resilient Sonoma County team, customers and community. Together we will get through this.

Stephane Fleming: I am very reassured by the adaptability of our employees and their proven ability to perform at the highest level in the face of numerous challenges over the past 24 months.

The majority of our team is working remotely, while our branch staff are on the front line serving our customers in person.

As we all know, both environments have their own challenges, but our team has responded with resilience, dedication and a level of adaptability that gives me great confidence and pride for the future.

That said, retaining and hiring top talent is what keeps me up at night. We have been able to grow our business organically at over 20% per year over the past seven years and as we expand our efforts in the western states, we need the most skilled in the industry, and they are apparently rare.

Jason Foster: In North Bay, we live in one of the most dynamic, innovative and resilient economies in the country, if not the world. This represents a tremendous opportunity for us to develop and grow with the needs of the consumers, investors and businesses we serve.

One of the best parts of my job is that every day is different, but what matters most is understanding what our customers need and working to meet them. I am comforted to know that despite the changes and challenges we have all gone through over the past two years, our focus has not changed; we’re here to help people achieve their financial goals.

As for what keeps me up at night, I see equity and inclusion as key factors that need to improve for our community to move forward together.

From the perspective of economic mobility, when it comes to issues like food insecurity, affordable housing, access to health care and gainful employment, the growing disparity among those who have the opportunity to moving forward in this economy worries me.

I believe we all need to do more to open doors for more people to experience the promise that our country and our region should offer. Recent events give me hope, but there is still a lot of work to do. I am thrilled and optimistic that in 2022 our team will collectively raise the bar in North Bay for our customers, our employees and our community.

Celia King: The high overall household savings rate gives me comfort that as a community we may be somewhat prepared for a potential economic downturn as a result of the pandemic.

The big resignation is a concern as small businesses continue to struggle, not only with changing guidelines surrounding the pandemic, but also with ongoing staffing challenges as some industries lack the increased patronage to compensate. higher salaries.

Alison Martin: I find it comforting to know that US Bank is extremely well positioned to help our customers weather the headwinds of 2022, from inflation to supply chain issues. What keeps me awake at night is the uncertainty about if and when we will be able to return to a more normal way of life and what that will look like compared to pre-pandemic life.

Nikki Sloan: Economic growth is expected to continue through 2022, which should boost demand for loans and other banking services. I am encouraged by Bank of Marin’s investments in market expansion and talent development so that we can better support the growth of our customers and communities.

What keeps me awake at night is that if monetary policies are not put in place to slow inflation rates, economic growth could stagnate. This would negatively affect our customers and therefore the banking system.

Eric Stacey: I am confident about the economic recovery for the coming year. There is ample liquidity in the market and a rising rate environment will ensure business expansion. The obstacle that causes concern is the tightness of the labor market. This will affect the bank’s corporate clients as they strive to retain their employee base. This will lead to higher wages (inflationary pressures) and limit expansion. The labor market, particularly in the North Bay region, will be the main challenge in the coming year.