Washington Mutual has named George Kaye to head its Irvine-based Southern California operations, replacing Michael Amato, who was promoted to manager, national branch network and will move to its Seattle headquarters.
Amato came to Orange County from Seattle in 1996 and handled the thrift’s consolidation here of American Savings in 1996, Great Western in 1997 and Home Savings of America in 1998.
“It has been a great experience. People know who we are now,” Amato said.
The promotion is a homecoming for Amato,who grew up, went to college and began his banking career in Washington,but he says that in the past five years, he and his family have grown to like living in Orange County.
“I am kind of mixed. I am excited because (Washington) is home, but we’ve learned to love California,” Amato said.
Amato hands over the Southern California operation,which includes 15 regional vice presidents and 350 offices spread from Santa Barbara and Kern counties south to the Mexican border,to Kaye who, until last week, was a regional manager for Washington Mutual’s San Diego operations.
“I am very honored. I was a regional manager and now the regionals will report to me,” Kaye said. He lives in San Diego, but is searching for a new home in Orange County. n
