Riverside District Attorney’s Office found faulty scales and scanners that regularly overcharged for food.

Originally Published: October 4, 2024 at 2:33 p.m.

Citizens Financial Group has entered the next phase of its West Coast expansion strategy, appointing a private banking team in Southern California, and announced plans to open new private bank offices in the region.

This move follows prior announcements regarding Citizens’ California development plan, which aims to serve the market in an integrated and comprehensive manner that fosters growth across Private Banking, Wealth Management, and Corporate & Investment Banking.

In an effort to expand its clientele, Citizens has launched two new Private Banking locations in Mill Valley and Downtown San Francisco, California.

These locations mark the bank’s first West Coast locations. The new offices of Citizens Private Bank offer high-net-worth individuals, families, businesses, entrepreneurs in the innovation economy, and charitable organisations comprehensive, personalised private banking and asset management services.

The sites stand out as centres of excellence within Citizens’ portfolio, delivering an assortment of tailored financial services suited to the unique needs of clients in the Northern California market. For their regular banking needs, all Citizens clients in the area are welcome to visit the new Private Banking locations.

In order to better serve the San Diego and Newport Beach regions, Citizens Private Bank has expanded its footprint by adding a highly skilled Private Banking staff to Southern California.

Victor Mena, a private bank market executive with deep ties in the area, substantial area expertise, and a track record of providing outstanding client service, leads the new team.

Mena will work with a group of seasoned bankers to increase Citizens Private Bank’s presence in California, reporting to Susan deTray, Head of the bank.

By the middle of 2025, Citizens Private Bank plans to open more Private Banking locations around California, notably in Newport Beach, San Diego, and Silicon Valley.

Susan deTray, head of Citizens Private Bank stated: “We’re pleased to continue executing against the Citizens Private Bank growth strategy with the opening of our first two Private Banking offices in the San Francisco Bay Area, and the addition of experienced bankers in Southern California. We look forward to deepening our presence and delivering a robust suite of comprehensive banking and wealth management services with an emphasis on personal relationships, extraordinary service, and tailored solutions and advice.”

“Citizens to expand and branch into California” was originally created and published by Private Banker International, a GlobalData owned brand.

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A Long Beach food bank closed its doors as state investigators looked into allegations that the nonprofit’s former CEO misused funds.

“The Foodbank of Southern California has fully investigated the allegations involving former CEO, Jeanne Cooper, both through internal and external investigations,” current CEO Brian Weaver said. “When these allegations were first brought to the attention of our board, we took them extremely seriously and immediately conducted an internal investigation, suspending Ms. Cooper pending the outcome.”

The Foodbank of Southern California, which opened in 1975, serves low-income neighborhoods across Los Angeles County, including Compton, San Pedro, Antelope Valley and North Long Beach. According to the nonprofit’s website, it earned awards for its “sound fiscal management and commitment to accountability and transparency.”

“After the preliminary findings revealed she had used Foodbank funds for personal benefit and for purposes unrelated to our operations or mission, she was permanently removed from her position,” Weaver said. “We also engaged an outside firm to conduct its own thorough investigation, and we are awaiting their final report.”

Weaver also stated that the nonprofit ceased all operations as the California Department of Social Services conducted its investigation. 

“For nearly 50 years, the Foodbank has played an integral role in our community, providing an average of 40 million pounds of food to over 1.9 million people in need each year,” he said. “We know how important our assistance is to so many here, and we are working hard to restore our complete services as soon as possible.”    

With the closure, Social Services said it will partner with other pantries to fill the gap left in Foodbank’s wake.