When I settled in California I started as a teller for Central Valley National Bank, which was a regional bank in Northern California. From there I worked my way through the ranks until I became branch manager, managing eight branches.

After a handful of experience, I discovered my entrepreneurial skills and decided to start a bank on my own. It took two years of planning, raising capital and fulfilling all of the regulatory requirements to open Summit Bank. However, when the bank was opened, I was not the President nor the Chairman, as I realized that I did not have the experience needed from an administrative standpoint to hold either of these positions. I started as the Chief Credit Officer instead. After about 10 months of the inception of Summit Bank, I was crowned President and CEO of Summit Bank. A couple of years later I was able to include the title and responsibilities of Chairman.

What motivated you to focus on and support cancer research centers?

During the first 12 years of the founding of the foundation, our focus was on volunteerism, financial literacy, and education. We established and funded seven scholarships for youth named in honor of distinguished people in our community.

During this time, I was diagnosed with lymphoma cancer, and I was treated at the UCSF Medical Center in San Francisco. One day I was with my oncologist, and she was having a very difficult time raising money to do her research. I didn’t realize at that time that these doctors, who work so hard in their clinical practice must also raise the money to fund their research.

I spoke to my board regarding this, and at that point, we decided that going forward we would focus on cancer research. We do, however, maintain the scholarship funds and every year we recognize students from various high schools in the Oakland community with a scholarship. We do provide scholarships to both one year and as well four-year course depending upon the grades and availability of funds.

Since the 1960’s, banking has been dominated by men. As a woman, how did you manage to achieve this position in the industry?

When I first opened Summit Bank, it never occurred to me that being a woman CEO and President would be an issue. I don’t think I realized how male dominated the bank environment actually was until I attended my first bank conference. I arrived at the conference as the only woman CEO and President of a bank and was completely ignored by peers. This made me even more determined to succeed in banking.

Peat Marwick, an accounting firm now known as KPMG, recognized banks once a year for being the best managed bank in Northern California. Summit Bank received this award five years in a row which gained me the respect as a female CEO and entrepreneur. Summit Bank continues to perform on an exceptional level.

How does your bank assist business people with loans and other foreign transactions?

Summit Bank is about customer service. We may offer the same products as other banks, but our customer service is the best in its class we treat all of our customers like family.

We at Summit bank take the time to get to know our customers and their businesses. We listen and understand them, providing simple and hassle-free solutions. We build rapport with each of our customers that quickly becomes more strategic and forward thinking helping them build their futures. We are not just concerned about one transaction; we want to build long term relationships with our customers.

What advice would you give to young women entrepreneurs and working professionals?

I would say to anyone who is considering getting into the workforce that Employers don’t necessarily look only at the background but they look for people who demonstrate passion as well as a willingness to learn.

One needs to challenge themselves and set goals throughout their career. Enjoy and celebrate each milestone but never take your job for granted.

The most important advice I can give is be curious about everything. Lean in and never hesitate or be embarrassed to ask questions to gain knowledge. I have always subscribed to the axiom “If you love what you do, you’ll never work a day in your life”.

My life has been driven by two main areas; my son and my work. Being a successful woman entrepreneur does not necessarily mean sacrificing your family. I have truly been blessed to work side by side with my son, who is now the President and CEO of Summit Bank.

How do you foresee changes in the banking sector, and how is your bank planning to adapt?

 Community banks are not pioneers and typically follow the lead of the industry. As I have said, we have been able to stay competitive while enjoying extraordinary profits. We are planning to utilize artificial intelligence with regards to cashless banking and many more changes are inevitable. We will continue to adapt.

In your years of professional experience, what is something you find important for every woman to carry in life?

The most important advice from me is to always Lean in To Curiosity.

Give us an overview about Summit Bank’s values, mission and vision?

• Values – Profitability, Growth, Trust, and Contribution.
• Mission Statement – To provide traditional baking services of excellent quality to professionals and businesses they represent; to offer a variety of loan and deposit products to meet the growing needs of small businesses; To earn the confidence of our clients and shareholders by conducting our business in a pragmatic, prudent and profitable manner; To foster an environment and culture that encourages employees to develop their talents; To showcase the leadership in development of the local communities.
• Vision Statement – To become a true community partner by contributing to the local communities’ development, investing back in the communities through business, construction, and real estate loans, and supporting local business and entrepreneurial expansion.

Summit Bank – Team Interaction exclusively for Biz Tech Outlook

We wish to hear from your teammates, can you share your experience with Summit Bank and how do you foresee banking sector development in future?

Marcia Gerg: I am going on my 13th year with Summit Bank and what is so great about it is that we are encouraged to not only think outside the box when it comes to our client relationships, we are encouraged to nurture each relationship to get to know our clients on a personal level to help them grow their businesses with products that are tailored to meet their needs. I foresee the future of the banking sector moving more digital with the inclusion of AI. Of course, the banking industry will and should move slower because we are charged with keeping money and information safe and confidential so we will have to make sure that the safeguards are in place to achieve this.

Decheng Yang: As a business portfolio manager at the lending department, I’ve been thrilled with the efficient credit decision-making process and the high-quality customer services. Summit Bank responds promptly to the loan requests from existing clients and prospective clients, and always delivers the loan products as promised in a timely manner; Summit Bank is committed to its high service standards, which include demonstrating a “Can Do” attitude, conducting business in a highly professional manner, and returning phone calls & emails the same day, etc. Clients’ trust and loyalty are thus established.

David Funkhouser: I have been at Summit Bank almost 3 years. A Community Bank for over 40 years, the Bank prides itself in taking care of the needs in the community, by offers a variety of loan and deposit products for small business.

The future Banking environment is and will continue to be focused on technology, i.e., with artificial Intelligence, which, I believe, will assist in improving the Bank’s overall efficiency and a better experience for our customers.

Share us how your bank has made the user experience outperform other banks?

Marcia Gerg: We understand the requirements of our clients on both professional and personal level, for an example; we have a client who is with the bank for over 29 years, who has a debilitating disease that now has made him bedridden. We have met him at his home as well even in a rehab facility to sign documents to help keep his business running. When he had to close his business due to his illness, we continued to lend to him to help him until he was able to sell his home and move to a place that can take care of him better. We still continue to communicate with him to know his wellbeing. This is something I believe that it wouldn’t be possible in larger banks. Another way that I believe that we outperform other banks is that we have systemized organization and employees.

Decheng Yang: As today’s customers demand more from their banking experiences, Summit Bank has managed to deliver strong customer/ user experience. Going digital and enhancing customer satisfaction appear to be what Banks thrive to achieve by utilizing the technologies.

• Build digital experience via Mobile Deposit App to enable customer to bank in their channel of choice and self-serve for many interactions.
• Provide Video and in-person training opportunities to actively help customer migrate to digital channels.
• Stand-by to respond to any questions digital banking inquiries.

David Funkhouser: One of the Bank competitive-edge is our customers have direct access to decision makers. In addition, our “value added proposition” is that our staff by listening to our customers and reviewing their current and projected financial position have the experience in developing solutions based on a customer needs places a customer in the best position to be successful.

How have your bank planned to adapt technologies in customer service?

David Funkhouser: The Bank currently has a host of current products and services i.e., online cash management products, ACH, Wire Transfer, account reconcilement etc. Customers and prospects can also inquire and leave messages on the Bank’s Website for both loan and deposit products and services. Moving forward, looking at adding additional technologies to enhancements our cash management products and services, and website.

Marcia Gerg: We have online and mobile banking and cash management for bill pay, ACHs and wires. But technology can only go so far; we have excellent Branch Service Personnel that can be reached immediately with just a phone call to handle any question or solve any issues. We still embody the personal touch.

Decheng Yang:

• Provide a mobile experience
• Automate repetitive and mundane tasks
• Provide self-service options via online banking platform
• Real-Time communication
• Rethink website navigation

Share with us the work culture followed in Summit Bank, how are employees encouraged to discuss their ideas and to improve themselves professionally and as well as grow within the bank?

Decheng Yang: Summit Bank has been in support of the employees’ enhancement by providing the opportunities for advanced education in the banking sector, and professional training on variety of subjects related the banking sector, such as the lending and compliance, etc. The employees’ professional advancement is encouraged.

Marcia Gerg: Summit Bank is a systemized organization, by this I mean that we all have access to senior management to discuss ideas we feel may be beneficial to our clients and the bank. This gives us the ability to be nimble and to create new lending policies based on customer needs and we determine these needs by getting to know our customers and all levels. The bank also has a tuition reimbursement plan for those attending school in their off hours and sends employees to the Pacific Coast Banker’s Banking School which is a 2-year program “Masters in Banking”.

David Funkhouser: Summit Bank, vs the majority of our competition give our employee access directly to senior management to discuss their ideas. The Bank encourages all employee to bring up new ideals i.e., to improve internal procedures, new products and services, and way to improve and enhance the customers overall Bank experience, which helps to improves internal moral as well as generating leads from existing satisfied customers.

On the other hand, the Bank is proactive in supporting and developing an employee’s career goals and objective, i.e., tuition reimbursement, sending employee to Pacific Coast Banking School (Advance Studies in Banking), and mentoring and cross training in fields of their interest, i.e., in Credit Administration, etc.

“The first thing we do at Summit Bank, is treat people like family.”

“After handful of experience, I discovered my entrepreneurial skills and decided to start a bank on my own.”

“If you love what you do, you’ll never work a day in your life.”