Union Bank of California, N.A., today announced that Pierre P. Habis has
joined the company as head of Branch Banking, which includes direct
oversight of more than 325 branches in California, as well as Union Bank’s
Small Business Banking and Priority Banking®
groups.
With more than 20 years of consumer and small business banking
experience, Habis joins from Countrywide Bank, FSB. In 2004, Habis
joined Countrywide as an executive vice president to lead the expansion
of the company’s deposit-gathering franchise.
In 2006, he was named managing director of retail banking and chairman
of Countrywide Investment Services, Inc., and in the following year
Habis assumed oversight for Countrywide’s
commercial banking business.
“Pierre’s extensive
retail banking background and successful track record will enable Union
Bank to achieve solid growth in all aspects of branch banking,”
said Union Bank Senior Executive Vice President and Head of Retail
Banking Tim Wennes.
At Countrywide Bank, Habis, who played a prominent role in developing
and growing Countrywide Bank’s unique retail
business model, grew the deposit base by more than $30 billion, opened
150 new retail financial centers in 30 metropolitan markets across the
U.S., and built a sales and service culture that increased employee and
customer satisfaction and productivity. His responsibilities also
included call centers, Internet banking, marketing and advertising, and
all deposit products.
“The addition of Pierre to the new role of
head of branch banking positions us for strong growth in retail banking
and demonstrates our commitment to achieving the strategic goals
necessary for future growth,” said Union Bank
Vice Chairman and Chief Operating Officer, Philip Flynn.
Based in San Francisco, UnionBanCal Corporation is a bank holding
company with assets of $60.6 billion at June 30, 2008. Its primary
subsidiary, Union Bank of California, N.A., had 337 banking offices in
California, Oregon and Washington, and 2 international offices at June
30, 2008. The company’s Web site is located
at www.unionbank.com.
Union Bank of California
Stephen L. Johnson, 415-765-3252
Daniel
W. Weidman, 213-236-4050
