Rick Revier

Rick Revier has been the chief credit officer of 1st Pacific Bank since the La Jolla-based bank opened in November 2000. He spent 10 years as the CCO of Rancho Vista National Bank, and riding the merger wave of 1999, first as Bank of Commerce bought Rancho Vista, then as Bank of Commerce was bought by US Bank.

When executives in Rancho Vista and Bank of Commerce became involved with the organization of 1st Pacific, Revier joined them as CCO. Revier says the bank’s credit quality has remained exemplary through 1st Pacific‘s operation, which reaches five years this November. “Part of my success is that I remain third party to the transaction as much as possible, so that I am looking strictly at the credit approval report, looking at the numbers,” he says. Revier prefers not to meet with the borrower prior to making a decision “which allows me to look at financials and the borrower from a situation of, ‘is this something the bank wants to do?’”

Pressure to do deals with low interest rates and competition from de novos and more established banks don’t sway Revier. “I’d like to think we’re a little bit on the conservative side (when assessing risk),” Revier says. “With all the new banks that came in, a loan will probably land somewhere. I’d like to think we’re not as aggressive” in pursuing growth.

With more than half its portfolio in real estate, 1st Pacific is mindful of the ever impending bubble. “Real estate has been a really great market over the last five years; that’s a tough one, how you hold that situation when and if there’s a downturn,” he says.

1st Pacific is looking to branch into East County and South Bay, but needs bankers. “The difficult thing is finding the right people,” Revier says. “You can’t just say we’re going to open in East County and find the people later. Finding people that have the knowledge (of the area) is the key.”

Does Revier see a “President” desk sign in his future?

“No,” he says firmly. “The thought has crossed my mind a couple of times, but I’m comfortable in this role. I’m the guy” — he pauses — “there’s a love and hate relationship, I can be the good guy and I can be the bad guy.”

He maintains a close relationship with the bank’s lenders. “The lending group understands what the bank is after as far as credit is concerned, so I don’t get deals just thrown at the wall,” he explains.