I have been talking with Michael Salsbury over at American Riviera Bank during the last few weeks, and I just had to share my experience. Not only is Michael one of the most open, friendly people I’ve met, he’s also leading his bank in a very good direction. His first and currently sole branch is located in Santa Barbara, right on the corner of Anacapa and Figueroa. I was impressed by his ad which he’s been placing in the Santa Barbara Magazine, and decided to pay him a visit to let him know about my business offering Santa Barbara Advertising Photography. We spoke for about an hour in his office a Friday ago, and I was amazed at how open and cordial he was.

As we talked, it was clear that the marketing direction which the bank was being taken is definitely the right one. The bank has been highly successful even in it’s first year, and Michael – the President and CEO – showed no hint of fatigue. Upon inquiry, he told me that he was working with Ideocore, another great business in the Santa Barbara area, and the ad agency responsible for the bank’s marketing direction over the course of it’s launch and first year in business.

Just as impressive as the bank’s marketing direction is the building and business itself. When you walk up to the door, you’re met by one of the finest entrances in all of Santa Barbara. Once inside, it’s hard not to gawk. The building’s interior is adorned with a cherry wood face, warm lighting, and a very open and comfortable arrangement of elements. It easily approaches how you might like your living room to feel. But best of all is the friendly greeting you receive from the bank employees you see when you enter. In fact, it’s unlikely that you’ll walk in without being welcomed by someone immediately. The kind of service that the folks at ARB are working hard to provide is invaluable both to their clients as well as to the community at large. Surely those that frequent the bank are influenced by the swift, friendly and professional approach that the team there works hard to provide.

If you have a chance to visit them, I encourage you to do so. That’s one place you won’t be sorry for taking the time to see.