Full-Time

Senior Portfolio Manager

Updated on 7/21/2026

Mechanics Bank

Mechanics Bank

1,001-5,000 employees

West Coast community bank serving workers

Compensation Overview

$165k - $220k/yr

+ Bonus

Company Does Not Provide H1B Sponsorship

Palo Alto, CA, USA + 1 more

More locations: Irvine, CA, USA

In Person

On-site role in California; 0-10% travel to meet clients

Category
Finance & Banking (1)
Required Skills
Risk Management

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Requirements
  • Bachelor's Degree preferred. Additional experience may be considered in lieu of degree.
  • Minimum of 7 years of investment experience is required, in which consistent, long-term investment performance has met objectives.
  • 7 years related Wealth Management experience required.
  • In-depth understanding of investment management theory and ethics as well as a comprehensive understanding of tax issues and trust and fiduciary laws; consistently apply existing risk management procedures and follow compliance directives; display solid judgment in managing financial contribution of assigned relationships with periodic oversight.
  • Possess excellent human relations, communications and business writing skills.
  • Possess effective time management and organizational skills.
  • Able to cope with pressure resulting from meeting required deadlines and reporting requirements.
  • Demonstrate teamwork in facilitating workflow; high level of cooperation with others and responsive to the Bank’s needs.
  • Exemplary motivation, enthusiasm, and professionalism; high level of accuracy and great attention to detail; strong analytical and problem solving skills; able to make and support sound decisions.
  • Consistently demonstrate tact, discretion and good judgment; high degree of professionalism and confidentiality in handling and having access to sensitive customer or employee information.
  • Demonstrate excellent customer service skills; able to comprehend and interpret Bank policies and procedures.
  • CFA, CFP, CIMA and/or MBA is preferred.
Responsibilities
  • Responsible for delivering investment advisory services to investment management agency and trust accounts.
  • Performs all primary client contact and support for activities in agency accounts and collaborates on trust accounts to whom they are assigned, including moderate travel to meet with clients in person, as necessary.
  • Set Investment Policy Statements for client portfolios, monitors and manages portfolio to ensure asset allocations meet investment objectives and comply with document terms; documents concentrated holdings, including establishing and implementing plan to bring within policy guidelines, implementing trades for rebalancing as necessary.
  • Collaborates with other members of the investment team to review investment research and conduct due diligence of mutual funds, stocks, bonds and ETF's utilized in portfolio construction.
  • Responsible for all investment aspects of Reg. 9, including pre-acceptance reviews, annual investment reviews and account oversight. Serves as a member of the Trust Investment Committee, specifically to discuss investment-related issues and Reg. 9 investments reviews with committee members.
  • Actively involved in new business efforts by overseeing, leading or attending prospect meetings. In rotation with other team members, drafts weekly market commentary for distribution to clients, prospects and centers of influence.
  • Maintains extensive and regular contact with internal business partners, co-trustees, attorneys and accountants and provides advice and guidance with respect to investment policies and procedures.
  • Seeks speaking opportunities and represents the Bank in civic and community events. Cultivates relationships with attorneys, CPAs and other centers of influence to enhance the reputation of the Bank and expand new business opportunities.
  • Travel required: 0-10%
Desired Qualifications
  • CFA, CFP, CIMA and/or MBA is preferred.

Mechanics Bank serves individuals and businesses in the West Coast by offering core financial services such as checking and savings, personal and business loans, mortgage products, wealth management, and digital banking. It operates through a network of branches and supports customers with practical banking tools like drive-thru windows and accessible in-person service, while expanding its footprint through strategic mergers. The bank distinguishes itself by its long-standing focus on the “working person” and local community, a heritage that dates back to its founding for laborers and mechanics, and by its growth achieved through acquisitions that broaden its regional reach. Its goal is to provide reliable, community-centered financial support to everyday workers and organizations, helping customers manage money and grow their financial lives across the West Coast.

Company Size

1,001-5,000

Company Stage

IPO

Headquarters

Richmond, Virginia

Founded

1905

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Simplify Jobs

Simplify's Take

What believers are saying

  • $22B asset base post-HomeStreet merger enables broader commercial client service across four states
  • Delaware trust launch in early 2026 targets high-net-worth clients seeking tax and privacy advantages
  • Ohio auto loan partnership with Goodwill expands underbanked job seeker lending as servicer

What critics are saying

  • HomeStreet integration credit deterioration likely in 6–12 months with $19.5M 2025 loss provisions
  • $1.8B Fannie Mae DUS sale in early 2026 erodes multifamily lending scale and revenue
  • Digital banking friction in Eastern CA causes customer attrition due to scarce ATMs and poor app

What makes Mechanics Bank unique

  • Founded in 1905 to serve working-class mechanics, retaining that relationship-driven community identity today
  • Hybrid high-touch, high-tech lending model with local banker judgment over national scale
  • West Coast concentration with 166 branches across California, Oregon, Washington, and Hawaii

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Benefits

Hybrid Work Options

Company News

Goodwill Industries of Akron, Ohio, Inc.
Jun 10th, 2026
Goodwill Industries of Akron partners with Mechanics Bank and Catholic Charities to expand revolving auto loan program to Ashland and Richland Counties.

Goodwill Industries of Akron partners with Mechanics Bank and Catholic Charities to expand revolving auto loan program to Ashland and Richland Counties. Mansfield, Ohio - June 10, 2026 - The Goodwill Industries of Akron, Ohio, Inc. (GIA) is proud to announce a new partnership with Mechanics Bank and Catholic Charities Diocese of Toledo to expand GIA's revolving auto loan program to residents of Richland and Ashland counties. This expansion builds upon the program's initial success in Summit and Medina counties, increasing access to safe, reliable transportation for individuals facing barriers to employment. GIA serves Summit, Portage, Medina, Ashland and Richland counties. Transportation consistently emerges as a primary obstacle for individuals pursuing job opportunities, particularly for those who may struggle to qualify for traditional vehicle loans or who are vulnerable to predatory lending practices. Pictured left to right: Brian Foltz, Brian Hunt, Laura Walker, Lamonica Finklea, Jason Painley, Mark Masters The revolving auto loan program is made possible through an unrestricted gift from philanthropist MacKenzie Scott, designated by GIA's Board of Directors to strengthen transportation supports across its five-county service area. While GIA expanded bus pass and fuel card programs region-wide in 2021, the auto loan program has been implemented in phases due to its complexity. "Transportation is foundational to economic mobility and long-term job retention," said Laura Walker, Vice President of Mission Services of Goodwill Industries of Akron. "This partnership reflects the power of collaboration - combining responsible lending, financial education and mission-driven support to help individuals in Richland and Ashland counties achieve greater stability and independence." Under the expanded program, Mechanics Bank will serve as the loan servicer for eligible participants, while Catholic Charities Diocese of Toledo will provide the financial education component to support successful repayment, long-term financial well-being and self-sufficiency. Individuals must be referred to the program through a partnering community agency. "As a community bank, Mechanics Bank is committed to partnerships that create meaningful local impact," said Jason Painley, Executive Vice President & CFO of Mechanics Bank. "We are proud to support this program alongside Goodwill and Catholic Charities, helping individuals access reliable transportation while building stronger financial futures." Catholic Charities brings trusted, community-based financial education and coaching to the program, ensuring participants are equipped with the knowledge and skills needed for long-term success. "We see firsthand how transportation challenges can affect employment opportunities and family stability," said Brian Hunt, Community Emergency Services and Disaster Relief Program Coordinator of Catholic Charities. "By pairing financial education and support with access to reliable transportation, this program helps individuals build both confidence and financial resilience." GIA will continue to collaborate with community partners, employers, and preferred auto dealers to support participants throughout the process and will seek additional lending partners as the program continues to expand. About Goodwill Industries Serving Summit, Portage, Medina, Ashland & Richland Counties The Goodwill Industries of Akron, Ohio, Inc., is a not-for-profit organization that helps individuals prepare for, find, and retain employment. Established in 1927, GIA operates as an independent affiliate of Goodwill Industries International and serves a five-county region. Goodwill strengthens the workforce directly through employment programs and indirectly through the net proceeds from its retail stores and business services. About Mechanics Bank Mechanics Bank is a full-service community bank dedicated to helping individuals, families, and businesses, with a strong focus on relationship banking and community investment. Mechanics Bank delivers personalized financial solutions that support the economic vitality of the communities it serves. About Catholic Charities Diocese of Toledo Catholic Charities Diocese of Toledo provides compassionate services to assist individuals and families in need across its 19-county service area in Northwest and West Central Ohio. Through crisis navigation services, financial education and case management, Catholic Charities works to remove barriers, strengthen stability, self-support and promote human dignity.

Yahoo Finance
Apr 10th, 2026
Mechanics Bank Trust sells $16.8M in Mechanics Bancorp shares after 51% rally

Mechanics Bank Trust Department sold 1,121,270 shares of Mechanics Bancorp worth approximately $16.8 million, according to an SEC filing dated 9 April 2026. Despite the sale, the trust retains a significant position representing 4.7% of its reportable assets. Mechanics Bancorp shares were trading at $15.43 as of 9 April, up 51% over the past year and outperforming the S&P 500 by roughly 22 percentage points. The West Coast financial institution operates 166 branches across California, Oregon, Washington and Hawaii following its September 2025 merger with HomeStreet Bank, with over $22 billion in total assets. The sale represents roughly one-third of Mechanics Bank Trust's previous stake. The trust still holds nearly 2.3 million shares valued at approximately $34 million, making it the fund's third-largest holding.

Banking Dive
Oct 28th, 2025
FirstSun to acquire First Foundation in $785M deal

FirstSun to acquire First Foundation in $785M deal. The transaction, set to close in the second quarter, would roughly double FirstSun's assets and add 18 Southern California branches to its footprint. FirstSun Capital Bancorp has landed on its next West Coast target. The Denver-based financial services firm - and its Dallas-based subsidiary Sunflower Bank - will acquire First Foundation and its Irvine, California-headquartered bank in a roughly $785 million deal, the companies announced Monday. The transaction, set to close early in the second quarter of 2026, will create a bank with roughly $17 billion in assets, and add 18 California branches to FirstSun's nine-state footprint, the banks said. The deal also may help FirstSun put behind it last year's failed acquisition of Seattle-based HomeStreet Bank. FirstSun opted to switch to a Texas banking charter after "it became obvious that we would not gain near-term approval" from the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency, the company's CEO, Neal Arnold, said at the time. The banks terminated the planned tie-up shortly after disclosing they were "discussing the pursuit of an alternative regulatory structure." HomeStreet was acquired last month by Walnut Creek, California-based Mechanics Bank in a $300 million deal. Under Monday's proposal, First Foundation investors will receive 0.16083 shares of FirstSun common stock for each First Foundation share they own. First Foundation's warrant holders can also receive $17.5 million in additional cash considerations by exercising their warrants early, the banks said. The deal's $785 million value is based on FirstSun's closing stock price of $40.44 from Friday, the banks said. FirstSun investors will own 59.5% of the combined entity once the transaction closes, compared with 40.5% for First Foundation stockholders. Five First Foundation directors are expected to join FirstSun's board upon the deal's completion, the banks said. FirstSun's executive chair, CEO and CFO will remain in their roles in the combined company. First Foundation's CEO, Tom Shafer, will become vice chair once the deal closes. Shafer, who has been at First Foundation's helm for less than a year, called the transaction an "exciting new chapter." Shafer is a veteran of mergers and acquisitions who served as TCF's last CEO before it was acquired by Huntington in 2021. "Our employees continue to be the driving force behind our success, and their commitment to excellence makes this next chapter possible," Shafer said. "We are particularly excited to accelerate the business plan of First Foundation Advisors, our private wealth management platform, with respect to further growing lending and deposits within the existing customer base as well as providing more firepower to grow that business throughout the combined organization's expansive footprint." FirstSun, meanwhile, touted the deal's potential to "accelerate" the company's expansion strategy in Southern California - a region Executive Chair Mollie Hale Carter called "vibrant" and a "key focus." "This combination allows us to leverage FirstSun's proven deposit and [commercial and industrial]-focused growth strategy at a larger scale," Carter said. "We're enthusiastic about the opportunities this merger unlocks to enhance performance and deepen our specialty business capabilities." The tie-up also brings the banking M&A spotlight back to Southern California - arguably where this year's surge in deals began. Tacoma, Washington-based Columbia Banking System said it would buy Pacific Premier Bank for $2 billion in April, in the first major combination after regulators approved Capital One's acquisition of Discover. Like First Foundation, Pacific Premier was based in Irvine. The deal is set to roughly double FirstSun's size. The company counted roughly $8.5 billion in assets as of Sept. 30. The combination is also being couched as a "balance sheet re-positioning" that encompasses a "$3.4 billion planned down-size of non-core assets" meant to "unlock First Foundation's core franchise." FirstSun expects the transaction to be more than 30% accretive to 2027 earnings per share with a 3.3 year earnback period.

Atascadero News
Apr 11th, 2025
Mechanics Bank becomes major supporter of June event

ATASCADERO - Mechanics Bank has stepped up as a major supporter of the 15th annual Mayors/Kiwanis Winemaker Dinner by donating $2,500 to help underwrite the event.

Business Wire
Apr 1st, 2025
Mechanics Bank and HomeStreet, Inc. Announce Strategic Merger

Mechanics Bank and HomeStreet, Inc. (NASDAQ: HMST) (“HomeStreet”), the holding company of HomeStreet Bank, jointly announced today that they have entered int...