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About Us

Liberty Bank, N.A. is an OCC-chartered bank headquartered in Irvine, California. As a full-service commercial bank, Liberty Bank, N.A. supports businesses, entrepreneurs, and individuals in the Southern California markets of greater Orange and Los Angeles Counties, as well as the greater San Francisco Bay area.

Our History

Meet Our Board of Directors

Don Griffith

CEO

Before joining Liberty Bank, N.A., Don Griffith was a founder, Chairman, and CEO of Grandpoint Capital, Inc., and its subsidiary Grandpoint Bank. Previously, he was Chairman and CEO of First Coastal Bancshares and Bank and Chairman of Peninsula Bank.

Kathleen James

Kathleen James is a retired FDIC executive, with experience in bank supervision in New York and California and spent a number of years in policy and Congressional relations in Washington DC. Since retirement she he has served on bank boards, consulted with the Conference of State Bank Supervisors and is a trustee of Immaculata University in Pennsylvania.

Deborah Marsten

Daniel Cohen

President and COO

Chairman

Deborah Marsten has been a bank director for over 20 years and has worked in the banking industry since 1970. Her most recent experience was as a founder, director, and COO of Grandpoint Capital Inc., and its subsidiary, Grandpoint Bank.

Daniel is the co-founder of Cohen Circle and The Bancorp and has over 30 years of experience as an operator and investor. Daniel is also Chairman of the Board of Directors of Cohen & Company, where he's overseen the financing, acquisition, and placement of billions of dollars of ABS, commercial mortgage-backed securities, corporate, and financial technology related assets.

David Ross

Retired bank executive. Background in commercial credit for entire career. Most recently Commercial Credit Manager at Seacoast Commerce Bank. Previously Chief Credit Officer at Grandpoint Bank and First Coastal Bank with much of the management team now at Liberty Bank. Currently Chairman of the Board of the nonprofit company Pacific Coast Regional Development Corporation.

Dr. Nadine Baudot-Trajtenberg

Dr. Nadine Baudot-Trajtenberg is the former Deputy Governor of the Central Bank of Israel (2014–2019) and a former member of its Monetary Policy Committee. She has held senior executive and board positions across the financial sector and brings over 20 years of experience in banking, financial regulation, and economic policy. She is a Rhodes Scholar and holds a Ph.D. from Harvard University and an M.A. from the University of Oxford.

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Meet Our Exec Team

Meet Our Executive Team

Our values, perspectives, and the needs of our customers and employees are reflected in our priorities.

CEO

Don Griffith

President and COO

Deborah Marsten

Mail

EVP and CCO

Jim Hackbarth

Before joining Liberty Bank, N.A., Jim Hackbarth served as EVP and Head of Regional Credit for Pacific Premier Bank and EVP, Senior Regional Credit Administrator for Grandpoint Bank. He has over 35 years experience in commercial banking.

EVP and CFO

Jerro Otsuki

Before joining Liberty Bank, N.A. Jerro Otsuki was EVP and CFO of Pacific Enterprise Bank, EVP and CFO of Grandpoint Bank, and EVP and CFO of Orange Community Bank. He has over 30 years of banking experience.

EVP and CIO

Mark Jackson

Mark Jackson is a U.S. Army Military Police veteran who transitioned into IT after an honorable discharge. With 22 years in cybersecurity and IT, he has spent the last 18 years as an Information Security Officer/Manager in the banking sector.

EVP and CRO

Susan Wahba

Susan Wahba has over 30 years of banking and regulatory experience and spent 13 years as a commissioned FDIC bank examiner. Before joining Liberty Bank, N.A, she served as SVP and BSA Officer for Pacific City Bank and EVP and CRO at Grandpoint Bank.

EVP and Director of HR

Loraine White

Before joining Liberty Bank, N.A., Loraine White served as CAO and Director of Human Resources for Grandpoint Bank. She has over 30 years of experience in Human Resources.

EVP and CAO

Mindy Crist

Before joining Liberty Bank, N.A., Mindy Crist served as SVP and head of the Project Management Office and SVP, Enterprise Risk Management for Pacific Premier Bank. She held the position of EVP, Senior Operations Manager at Grandpoint Bank.