Banking On North County Richard Sanborn blends a lending career with pursuits that benefit children and animals

With the introduction of new products, services and an aggressive community outreach campaign, Richard Sanborn, 37, has piloted Palomar Community Bank into the largest, oldest and most successful bank headquartered in Escondido.

“OK, we are also the only bank now headquartered in Escondido, as North County Bank and First Pacific have been merged away,” Sanborn says of the institution he was hired to convert from a savings and loan to a commercial bank.

With a background in accounting and experience as an auditor for the state of New Hampshire, Sanford didn’t start his banking career until 1990 when he participated in a commercial lending training program offered by Wells Fargo. Since then he has weathered several mergers and several severance packages on the way to his current position of president and CEO.

Sanborn serves as the regional legislative chairperson for the California Bankers’ Association, as well as on the board and the finance committee for the Boys & Girls Club and as treasurer of the Escondido Humane Society. He is an honorary deputy sheriff, in an organization founded to raise money for law enforcement, and a member of Rotary International.

Now recovering from back surgery, Sanborn awaits the arrival of his second child, a son due the day of the 40 Under Forty luncheon.

Palomar Community Bank’s Richard Sanborn,
at right, with co-worker Chris Renko.