Tag archives: Montecito Bank & Trust

Yuletide Dividends
By Richard Mineards   |   December 10, 2024

It was a spectacular start to Yuletide when Montecito Bank & Trust held its 22nd annual Community Dividends lunch at the Hilton for 300 guests. More than 195 local charities received checks of varying amounts, with two organizations – Casa Pacifica Centers for Children and Families, and the Youth and Family Services YMCA’s Noah’s Anchorage, […]

The Woman Behind the Building
By Richard Mineards   |   October 8, 2024

Victoria Kastner, historian at William Randolph Hearst’s San Simeon for 38 years, gave a captivating lecture at the Santa Barbara Club to Montecito Bank & Trust’s MClub, focusing on the publishing magnate’s trailblazing architect Julia Morgan who designed more than 700 buildings in California. Morgan, who died in 1957 at age 85, was the first […]

Cruising Tunes
By Richard Mineards   |   June 25, 2024

Supporters of the Santa Barbara Symphony have been making a splash with a Cruise for a Cause on the River Danube from Vienna to Budapest. Montecito Bank & Trust, which has sponsored the trip, is donating a portion of the proceeds to the symphony. More than 64 MClub and symphony Crescendo members were onboard the […]

One Worth Remembering
By Richard Mineards   |   May 7, 2024

With its tantalizing title “The Most Famous Woman You’ve Never Heard Of” the historic Santa Barbara Club was packed when 64 eager guests of Montecito Bank & Trust’s MClub gathered to find out who local historian and Noozhawk scribe Erin Graffy de Garcia would be talking about in her one-hour lecture. The subject London-born Kathleen […]

Papal Paper
By Richard Mineards   |   April 30, 2024

What to get the man who pretty much has everything? That was the quandary faced by Montecito Bank & Trust president George Leis when, as chairman of the National YMCA, he had an audience with 87-year-old Pope Francis at the Vatican earlier this month. His Holiness was presented with a book created by Fr Joe […]

MBT’s Gives Grants
By Richard Mineards   |   March 26, 2024

Montecito Bank & Trust celebrated its 49th anniversary by gathering with 11 local nonprofit representatives at the bank’s annual anniversary grants reception. Michael Towbes, the bank’s late founder, first started the anniversary grant program in 1993 to give back to the community. He wanted bank employees to have a voice in the direction of the […]

Costa Rican Escapades
By Richard Mineards   |   February 20, 2024

Maria McCall, founder of Montecito Bank & Trust’s MClub, chose the perfect time to leave town and fly to Costa Rica to see the natural wonders. During the torrential downpours in our Eden by the Beach the tony troupe went whitewater rafting, zip lining and hiking through a private primary forest reserve in the canton […]

Getting into the Giving Spirit
By Richard Mineards   |   December 5, 2023

It was a splendid kickoff for Yuletide when Montecito Bank & Trust hosted its 21st annual Community Dividends lunch at the Hilton, which distributed $1.1 million among nearly 200 local nonprofits. More than 280 guests turned out for the seasonal meal in the oceanside hostelry’s tented rotunda for the joyous occasion – which since its […]

History al Dente
By Richard Mineards   |   October 17, 2023

Fittingly enough, a variety of spaghetti was on the menu when local historian and Noozhawk scribe Erin Graffy spoke to members of the Montecito Bank & Trust’s MClub about our Eden by the Beach’s rich Italian heritage, which started from the Piedmont region in the late 19th century. The influx continued from the Veneto region […]

At the YMCA, Leis is More
By Richard Mineards   |   August 15, 2023

George Leis, president of Montecito Bank & Trust, is having a new lease on life! George, who is also a board member of Santa Barbara Zoo, the Santa Barbara Historical Museum, the Santa Barbara Botanic Garden, and the Channel Islands YMCA, becomes chairman of the national YMCA in February, succeeding CiCi Rojas, the first Hispanic […]

Viva La MBT!
By Richard Mineards   |   August 8, 2023

Fiesta fever was palpable when Montecito Bank & Trust hosted its annual Viva La Fiesta bash in the picturesque courtyard of the Santa Barbara Historical Museum. More than 250 colorfully costumed guests noshed on tacos, burritos, and all food Spanish as the Spirit of Fiesta Jack Harwood, son of museum director Dacia Harwood, and Junior […]

Lis Wiehl Gives the Inside Story
By Richard Mineards   |   July 25, 2023

To the historic Santa Barbara Club for an enthralling talk by prolific Hope Ranch-based author Lis Wiehl organized by Montecito Bank and Trust’s MClub. One of America’s most prominent trial lawyers, the Harvard Law School graduate served as a federal prosecutor in the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Seattle and was a regular contributor on NBC, […]

MBT’s Anniversary Grants Give Back
By Richard Mineards   |   March 28, 2023

Montecito Bank & Trust’s 31st annual Anniversary Grants reception, originally scheduled for the courtyard of the Santa Barbara Historical Museum, had to be changed at the last minute to the bank’s imposing State Street headquarters because of the heavy rains. More than 100 guests turned out for the popular fête celebrating the bank’s 48th anniversary, […]

MClub Off to Tokyo
By Richard Mineards   |   March 21, 2023

The cultural treasures of Japan also beckon for members of Montecito Bank & Trust’s MClub, a concierge travel club for premier customers. Thirty members gathered at the University Club for a talk with Hiroko Benko, bubbly owner of the Condor Express whale-watching vessel, whose relative is the country’s 13th Grand Tea Master, and club director […]

Twice the Yuletide Spirit
By Richard Mineards   |   December 6, 2022

It was a spectacular start to Yuletide when Montecito Bank & Trust held its 20th annual Community Dividends awards lunch, which normally divides $1 million among myriad local charities. But this year the Hilton event for 300 guests was one with a decided difference as the bank, founded by the late Michael Towbes, awarded a […]

Montecito Bank & Trust
By Lynda Millner   |   August 16, 2022

The Santa Barbara Historical Museum was the venue for another Fiesta party. This time a kickoff for the Montecito Bank & Trust and their loyal customers. They had outgrown their own bank as a party place. I always liked going up to the teller window and withdrawing a margarita instead of dollars. Their motto is […]

Lotusland Tour
By Lynda Millner   |   August 9, 2022

“Time and circumstance permitting, I hopefully dreamt that I might fulfill my work to develop Lotusland to its maximum capacity into the most outstanding center of horticultural significance and educational use.” – Ganna Walska, August 7, 1979  Montecito Bank & Trust’s MClub traveled for a Lunch and Learn day at Lotusland with MClub director Maria […]

Person of the Year Nominations 
By Kelly Mahan Herrick   |   July 12, 2022

Considered one of the highest honors of the year in Santa Barbara County, this year’s Person of the Year Award nominations are in progress, with a deadline scheduled for next Friday, July 15 at 5 pm.  The Santa Barbara Foundation, along with co-sponsors Montecito Bank & Trust, Noozhawk, The Scholarship Foundation of Santa Barbara, Cox […]

Cinema in Flux
By Lynda Millner   |   July 12, 2022

MClub (Montecito Bank & Trust) met at the Santa Barbara Club for a Lunch and Learn, featuring the executive director of the Santa Barbara International Film Festival (SBIFF) Roger Durling. MClub director Maria McCall introduced Roger, who also teaches film at SBCC. For over 30 years the SBIFF has grown to be one of the […]

Hippocrates and Modern Medicine
By Lynda Millner   |   April 26, 2022

The Rape of Hippocrates is a book written by Dr. Roger Dunham, a local retired physician. Montecito Bank & Trust sponsored his appearance at their Lunch and Learn event in April, at the Santa Barbara Club. Maria McCall is the director of that active group of goers and doers. As we sat outside in the […]