The Corporate Directors Forum and The Corporate Library have published a comprehensive proxy report on 48 public companies headquartered in San Diego. “Governance Practices at San Diego Companies” examines the practices and proxies of the companies in areas such as board compensation, number of directors, the male/female ratio of board members, the number of boards chaired by an independent director, the number of board and committee meetings held each year and the age, gender and tenure of the companies’ CEOs, among other information. “This is the only report of its kind for San Diego-based companies,” says Linda Sweeney, the forum’s executive director. “And, by partnering with The Corporate Library, which is the leading independent source for corporate governance information and analysis, people can rest assured that the information provided in the report is objective and thorough.” Forum members can buy the report for $95 while outsiders must pony up $495. More information is at thecorporatelibrary.com or by calling (858) 455-7930.

***

John Smelter, a senior investment associate with Marcus & Millichap Real Estate Investment Brokerage Co.’s San Diego office, has been named the firm’s top national office and industrial investment professional for 2006. Smelter closed more than 200 transactions, exceeding $800 million in his career. Smelter joined Marcus & Millichap in 1997 and achieved senior investment associate status in 2002.

***

North Island Credit Union says it is the first credit union in San Diego County to become a member of the SBA’s Preferred Lender Program. The designation streamlines the approval process for certain SBA loan requests, which results in a quicker turnaround time for approvals and funding. “Preferred Lender status is the SBA’s premier accreditation,” says Jeff Stone, executive v.p. of business services. “This will allow North Island to offer our small business members the fastest and most professional loan services available in San Diego and Riverside counties.”

North Island also has opened a branch office at 32435 Highway 79 South in Temecula. Estella Cline is the branch manager. The Temecula branch is the first of three openings slated for 2007. Others are in Eastlake and Rancho San Diego.

***

The SBA has presented San Diego-based CDC Small Business Finance with its national Lender of Excellence Award for 2007. CDC Small Business is a nonprofit dedicated to stimulating economic development by providing access to capital to small businesses. CDC’s primary lending program features the SBA 504 loan — a fixed-rate, commercial real estate financing product. In 2006, CDC provided more than 700 loans resulting in more than $1.3 billion in small business investment. “We’re honored to be recognized nationally for helping small business owners grow their companies and create new jobs in their communities,” says Kurt Chilcott, CEO and president of CDC Small Business Finance. The organization has seven offices and provides loans to small businesses located in San Diego, Orange County, Los Angeles, Ventura County, Inland Empire, Phoenix, Sacramento and Reno.

***

Mensch & Associates, a CPA firm, has signed a four-year, $622,927 lease renewal for its 3,104 square feet office in the Champions of the West Tower at 12264 El Camino Real, Suite 207, in San Diego.

***

Nasrin Rostami, who was involved with the formation of San Diego Trust Bank three years ago, has been promoted to senior v.p. “Nasrin has worked diligently to lead a team of dedicated staff members who provide our banking clients with superior service, state-of-the-art technology and a rewarding banking experience,” says Michael Perry, chair and CEO. “Her dedication and commitment to excellence resonate throughout the entire company and her promotion is very well-deserved.”

***

Regents Bank reports profit of $782,000 in the first quarter ended March 31, up 35 percent from the $581,000 earned a year earlier. Deposits stood at $249 million and loans exceeded $198 million, representing increases of 19 percent and 25 percent, respectively. Assets grew by 19 percent, from $228 million to $272 million.

***

Reporting first quarter profit of $403,000, up 29 percent from the $313,000 a year earlier, is San Diego Trust Bank. Loans increased $70 million as of March 31, up 26 percent from $55.5 million in the first quarter of 2006. Total deposits, fueled primarily by growth in non-interest checking and money market accounts, increased 14 percent to $79 million compared to $69.4 million in first quarter 2006. Assets stood at $98.2 million, up 20 percent from the comparable period last year.

***

Security Business Bank reports profit of $347,000 for the first quarter of 2007, up from $242,000 for the same period last year. Assets grew to $160.4 million for the quarter compared to $132.7 million in the same quarter of 2006. Deposits were $127.3 million for the quarter ending March 31, a 27 percent increase over the same period last year. Loans of $129 million showed a gain of 22 percent from last year’s period. “The expansion of our balance sheet by 21 percent year over year is a tangible indication of our forward momentum already this year,” says Paul Rodeno, president and CEO. “We also made advances in our technology offerings including new remote deposit processing services and a multifactor authentication system for greater security assurances for our customers.”

***

Profit for the first quarter hit $28.5 million, or 98 cents per share for First Community Bancorp, up from $17.4 million a year earlier. The increase resulted mostly from higher net interest income due to acquisitions and organic loan growth, gains on the sale of loans, and increased other noninterest income offset by higher noninterest expense due to business growth. First Community acquired Community Bancorp in October 2006, which added $1 billion in assets; Foothill Independent Bancorp in May 2006, which added $892 million in assets; and Cedars Bank in January 2006, which added $489.3 million in assets. The bank says the comparability of financial information was affected by its acquisitions.

***

Patrick McGurn, executive v.p. and special counsel for Institutional Shareholders Services — an expert on proxies — will offer practical advice for directors in a James Bond-themed presentation May 17 during a program sponsored by the Corporate Directors Forum. The talk is titled “Licensed to Thrill: Seven Hot Topics for the 007 Proxy Season.” The event at the Hyatt Regency La Jolla begins with a 7 a.m. networking session and a breakfast and program from 7:30 to 9 a.m. Forum members are free. Nonmembers must pay $40. For reservations, call (858) 455-7930 or e-mail events@directorsforum.com.

***

Robert A. McNeely, senior v.p. and head of corporate community development, has been promoted to executive v.p. by the UnionBanCal Corp. board. McNeely is based in San Diego and reports directly to COO Philip Flynn. Responsible for bank-wide coordination of the company’s community development and reinvestment efforts, McNeely serves as its Community Reinvestment Act officer. In 2006, Union Bank provided a total of $3.3 billion in CRA-related loans and activities. Joining the company in 1968, McNeely has held positions as employee relations manager, regional sales manager and branch manager. His extensive resume of community involvement includes serving as vice chair of CCDC’s board.

***

Chuck Leib

The new Carmel Mountain branch manager for USA Federal Credit Union is Chuck Leib. “Chuck Leib bring 30 years of wide ranging financial knowledge and experience to USA Federal,” says Mary Cunningham, president and CEO of USA Federal. “He is a great addition to our team. He fully understands how to build business relationships and how to make a branch responsive to the community.” Leib, who built his career in traditional banking at Roslyn Savings Bank (Westbury, N.Y.), now brings his skills to a growing credit union. Leib previously managed the operations of a retail banking branch with assets in excess of $200 million.

***

Rancho Financial Mortgage Center, a mortgage lender based in Rancho Bernardo, has hired wholesale loan consultant Rebecca Jones for its Temecula office.

***

With Bob Adkins departing after five years to start a new bank, Robert McGill takes over as interim president and CEO of Neighborhood National Bank. “Mr. Adkins has been instrumental in the success of NNB furthering its mission to serve as San Diego’s only community development financial institution,“ says Mark Riedy, chair of Neighborhood Bancorp, the holding company for Neighborhood National. ”He initiated many efforts that have proved beneficial to community banks and the San Diego region at large. “We all wish him well in his future undertakings.” The temporary job is a homecoming for McGill, the bank’s chair: he was a founder of the bank and held the positions for the five years before Adkins took over.