Bank of the West Announces Opening of New Office Facility in Tempe, Arizona

TEMPE, AZ (October 5, 2017) — Bank of the West today announced the opening of a new office in Tempe, Arizona, at 1625 W. Fountainhead Parkway, expanding the Bank’s presence in central Arizona with an investment in the region that will include office space for a thousand people and the creation of a significant number of local jobs. Time lapse video shows Bank of the West signage going up in Tempe.

"Bank of the West is very pleased to be increasing our presence in Arizona – a state known for its diverse, talented and entrepreneurial residents. Our new facility in Tempe will be an important addition to our footprint and play a key role in our long-term growth," said Nandita Bakhshi, President and CEO of Bank of the West and Co-CEO of BNP Paribas USA. "We appreciate the support we’ve received from Governor Doug Ducey, the City of Tempe, and the Arizona Commerce Authority, and we are eager to welcome area workers to our growing team at Bank of the West."

Bank of the West’s Head of Corporate Services Division John Thomason will lead the office, bringing to the position more than 20 years of experience with Bank of the West, including more than a decade serving on the Bank’s Senior Management Committee. As Head of the Tempe Office, Thomason will manage the new location, and will be a champion of the company’s culture, vision and values to those at this new office.

Thomason first joined Bank of the West in 1996 as a real estate lender and has held positions of increasing responsibility throughout his tenure, including Division Head of the Real Estate Industries Division, Real Estate Managed Assets and Other Real Estate Owned (OREO) Manager. He has also served more than 23 years in the US. Army and Army Reserve.

After a nationwide search for a new location, the merits of the Phoenix metro area were compelling for the Bank. "Tempe is a vibrant, centrally located community and we are thrilled to be a member of the local economy," said Thomason. "In Tempe, we will be hiring a wide range of professional positions, including traditional corporate service and support roles."

With strong roots in real estate and financial services industries, a robust pool of talented professionals, and favorable business conditions, Tempe is an ideal market to expand the Bank’s operations. A recent report from the Greater Phoenix Chamber of Commerce found that 88 percent of local companies rate the business environment as excellent or good and two in three businesses project their revenue to increase in the year ahead.

"Bank of the West’s decision to locate in Tempe emphasizes that Arizona has the ideal operating environment and high-quality talent required to meet the needs of industry-leading companies," said Governor Doug Ducey. "This project will create new financial services jobs for Arizonans, and I thank Bank of the West for their commitment to our state."

"Bank of the West is an exciting and impactful addition to Tempe’s growing financial sector. We are thrilled to welcome Bank of the West and their employees to Tempe - there is no doubt they will be a great value to our local economy," said Tempe Mayor Mark Mitchell.

"Bank of the West’s investment in Arizona is the latest evidence of our state’s strong leadership position in the business and financial services industry, and we’re thrilled to welcome them to our state," said Sandra Watson, President and CEO of the Arizona Commerce Authority. "This announcement shows that Arizona’s value proposition continues to resonate with industry-leading firms."

"The financial services industry in Greater Phoenix is growing at an accelerated rate, outpacing the national average for growth," said Greater Phoenix Economic Council President & CEO Chris Camacho. "Access to talent and a growing labor force, proved critical for Bank of the West in their selection of Tempe for their next financial services outpost, and we look forward to welcoming them to the market."

To join the Bank of the West team, visit our career page: www.bankofthewest.com/about-us/careers

Media Contacts
Anita Fox, Bank of the West, (415) 432-3696, [email protected]
Susan Marie, Arizona Commerce Authority, (602) 845-1231, [email protected]
Mark Scarp, Arizona Commerce Authority, (602) 845-1234, [email protected]

About the Arizona Commerce Authority
The Arizona Commerce Authority (ACA) is the state's leading economic development organization with a streamlined mission to grow and strengthen Arizona's economy. The ACA uses a three-pronged approach to advance the overall economy: recruit, grow, create – recruit out-of-state companies to expand their operations in Arizona; work with existing companies to grow their business in Arizona and beyond; and partner with entrepreneurs and companies large and small to create new jobs and businesses in targeted industries. For more information, please visit azcommerce.com and follow the ACA on Twitter at @azcommerce.

About Bank of the West
Bank of the West is a regional financial services company headquartered in San Francisco with $86.9 billion in assets as of June 30, 2017. Founded in 1874, Bank of the West provides a wide range of personal, commercial, wealth management and international banking services through more than 600 branches and offices in 23 states and digital channels. Bank of the West is a subsidiary of BNP Paribas, a leading bank in Europe, which has a presence in 74 countries with more than 192,000 employees. To learn more about Bank of the West, visit About Us via BankoftheWest.com.
Member FDIC and Equal Housing Lender. © 2017 Bank of the West. Doing business in South Dakota as Bank of the West California.