Leah West Named Vice President and Branch Manager at Lompoc Community Bank

SANTA MARIA, Calif. - June 19, 2013 - PRLog -- Leah West has been promoted to Vice President and Branch Manager at Lompoc Community Bank, a division of Community Bank of Santa Maria. West is taking over for the retiring Ray Down who has been with the bank since the Lompoc division opened in June, 2005.

West brings more than 28 years of banking experience to the position.  For the past two and a half years she has been a commercial loan officer at Community Bank of Santa Maria’s South Broadway branch in Santa Maria.  Previously she was Branch Manager and Loan Officer at Santa Lucia Bank in Santa Maria.

Jim Glines, Chief Executive Officer of Community Bank of Santa Maria, expressed appreciation for Down’s work over the past eight years.  “Ray has been a huge part of the success of Lompoc Community Bank.  His dedication to true community banking helped lay the foundation for the bank’s growth.  We have been proud to have a man of his character and integrity in such a key role in the company.”  

Glines says that the perfect successor for Ray Down is Leah West.  “We’re extremely confident that Lompoc Community Bank has very bright future with Leah as Branch Manager and Vice President.  She has shown great ambition and commitment to community banking.  Her passion for the Lompoc Valley will help her drive continued success at Lompoc Community Bank.”

According to West, “I have some pretty big shoes to fill but I know all the pieces are in place for Lompoc Community Bank to continue to provide the highest level of banking service and support to the community.  I’m thrilled to be part of the warm, friendly and professional staff at Lompoc Community Bank.”  

Leah West and her husband Gary are residents of Lompoc.  She is actively involved in the Northern Santa Barbara County community as a Board Member of the Santa Maria Valley Chamber of Commerce, Coastal Business Finance and the Santa Maria Police Council.  She also belongs to the Rotary Club of Santa Maria.

Lompoc Community Bank is located in the WalMart Shopping Center in Lompoc.