Tag archives: George Leis
What to get the man who pretty much has everything? That was the quandary faced by Montecito Bank & Trust president George Leis when, as chairman of the National YMCA, he had an audience with 87-year-old Pope Francis at the Vatican earlier this month. His Holiness was presented with a book created by Fr Joe […]
George Leis is Montecito Bank & Trust’s President & Chief Operating Officer, a familiar presence in the Village – and a famously nice guy. Once described in these pages as “…so upbeat, ordinary bankers shrink from his presence like goblins nearing sunlight,” Leis is a dedicated and indefatigable volunteer for the community he loves. In […]
George Leis, president of Montecito Bank & Trust, is having a new lease on life! George, who is also a board member of Santa Barbara Zoo, the Santa Barbara Historical Museum, the Santa Barbara Botanic Garden, and the Channel Islands YMCA, becomes chairman of the national YMCA in February, succeeding CiCi Rojas, the first Hispanic […]
Montecito Bank & Trust’s 31st annual Anniversary Grants reception, originally scheduled for the courtyard of the Santa Barbara Historical Museum, had to be changed at the last minute to the bank’s imposing State Street headquarters because of the heavy rains. More than 100 guests turned out for the popular fête celebrating the bank’s 48th anniversary, […]
It was a spectacular start to Yuletide when Montecito Bank & Trust held its 20th annual Community Dividends awards lunch, which normally divides $1 million among myriad local charities. But this year the Hilton event for 300 guests was one with a decided difference as the bank, founded by the late Michael Towbes, awarded a […]
The Santa Barbara Historical Museum was the venue for another Fiesta party. This time a kickoff for the Montecito Bank & Trust and their loyal customers. They had outgrown their own bank as a party place. I always liked going up to the teller window and withdrawing a margarita instead of dollars. Their motto is […]
What – exactly – is a bank? A bank is a financial institution licensed to receive deposits, make loans, and attach ball point pens to countertops with little chains that are inevitably too short by about an inch. A bank, if it chooses, will also advise on managing your wealth, will exchange your greenbacks for […]
When the founder of the National Disaster Search Dog Foundation (SDF) Wilma Melville was looking for a place and funding the banks all said, “You’re going to do what?” except Montecito Bank & Trust. It became a $30 million project and was open in 2010 for the business of training dogs to find live people […]
Montecito Bank & Trust gave its annual Fiesta party in their historic building at 1010 State Street. According to Chairman and CEO Janet Garufis it was completed in 1921 for County National Bank and is an historic landmark. Its design is Italianate, popular at the time and related to the Medici family chapel, an extension […]
The MClub held one of its Lunch & Learn events at the Santa Barbara Club with the iconic photojournalist Santi Visalli as the guest speaker. The dining room was full with over 50 guests eager to hear about Santi’s life and how he came to photograph famous folks all over the world including five presidents. […]
Montecito Bank & Trust President and COO George Leis will join the YMCA of the USA board; Leis is a past chair and current board member for the Channel Islands YMCA, serving seven branches from Lompoc to Camarillo, and now he will join Y-USA as a board member. “It is an honor to be nominated […]
The theme of Old Spanish Days this year is to celebrate traditions. The Montecito Bank & Trust began a new one under the auspices of bank president George Leis, who says, “It’s my favorite time of the year.” They held their first Fiesta Party at the bank’s historic downtown branch on State Street for about […]
Montecito Bank & Trust sponsors the MClub, which offers various travel trips. Today we met at the Santa Barbara Club, courtesy of president/CEO George Leis, who is a member and he welcomed everyone. Maria McCall is in charge of MClub and instigates some special outings and programs. This day, it was with Ken Richardson, who […]
