Mechanics Bank in Walnut Creek, Calif., named Bill Katafias chief executive of its Irvine-based CRB Auto division.
Katafias most recently was executive vice president, national production manager for Wells Fargo Dealer Services, where he managed retail production, national and regional dealer partners and direct lending operations.
He succeeds CRB Auto Chief Executive Scott Raymer, who according to Mechanics Bank previously announced his resignation to pursue other opportunities. Raymer has more than 26 years of experience in automotive finance, according to a profile still on the web page of CRB Auto.
Raymer built the auto unit within California Republic Bancorp; it now has 375 full-time employees in some 15 states while servicing more than $3 billion in assets, according to Raymer’s LinkedIn profile.
Mechanics Bank last October completed its acquisition of then-Irvine-based California Republic Bancorp.
