California Bank of Commerce

Neil D. _{on Yelp}

Apr 19th, 2019

This bank supposedly helps Bay Area startups with Accounts Receivables based capital. Dealing with the bank was a painful experience. We got started after a exceptionally high amount of paperwork. But the ordeal continued as they bully the borrowers with surprise money making excuses. They have no clue about how technology startups work and have no desire to learn anything about the startup's strategy. As soon as they realize you are approaching profitability, they will leave you high and dry. This is a loan shark masquerading as proper bank with no desire to help the borrower and no flexibility. Horrendous experience!

Barney B. _{on Yelp}

Jun 29th, 2022

These people are just awful. My employer switched over to them a few years back. Back in 2019 I wanted to cash a pay check written that account and had to go all Walnut Creek just to do it. Still all went well, check cashed. Today wanted to do same thing. I called the office to check ahead of time, in case they needed to call the office for verification. The first person couldn't tell me if talking to office receptionist would work or if they needed to talk to the head attorney. Next they transferred me to a higher up. He gave me that info but then told me they didn't have cash at the bank and that they wouldn't cash a check (written on their own bank by one of their customers) for an non-customer. Is that really the way a bank should treat their customers, and said customers employees, who simply want to cash a check? Needless to say I will be recommending my employer switch banks to one that has some sort of reasonable customer service.

Ben P. _{on Yelp}

May 8th, 2020

I am the business owner of a 30 employee insurance brokerage.  During the 2020 Coronavirus crisis, I was banking with one of the "Big Banks."  I applied for a PPP loan on the first day that the SBA would except applications. I uploaded all of my documents immediately. I was given a confirmation email by the "Big Bank", but no other means of communication. After 14 days of attempting to contact the "Big Bank" in various ways with no response, I received an email stating they had reviewed my application.  The email also stated that when the SBA replenished their PPP funds for a second round of funding, the "Big Bank" would submit my application. I couldn't believe that no work had been done.  I later heard most "Big Banks" focused on their larger customers relationships first, not the small businesses that the PPP program was designed for.  The experience was frustrating and I decided to look elsewhere.I contacted Chris Barr at California Bank and Commerce's Sacramento office.  He told me he and his team would do everything they could to help support my business and get me submitted to the SBA in a timely manner.  I sent them all of my information, they submitted to the SBA, and kept me well-informed throughout the entire process. Within three days of this process, I received my loan documents and was fully funded.  The process was incredibly efficient and the experience went well beyond my expectations. Without the support of California Bank and Commerce, my business would be facing severe hardship.  I am moving my entire banking relationship to California Bank and Commerce and look forward to building a long-term partnership with them.