Mr. Smith has been involved in the banking industry for 40 years, specializing in private banking for high-net-worth individuals. After starting as a banking analyst with Manufacturers Hanover in New York, Richard moved to Southern California, where he held senior positions at Imperial Bank and Comerica Bank. In 2005 he founded The Private Bank of California, a concierge bank catering to high-net-worth individuals and companies in the business management, entertainment, and real estate sectors in Los Angeles. In 2012, the highly successful Private Bank of California was sold to Banc of California, where he headed the Private Banking Division specializing in providing discerning Clients with a high-touch banking experience. Richard is passionate about charitable causes and serves on the Board of Directors of both the Zimmer Children’s Museum in Los Angeles and the Westside Food Bank. He is a recipient of their Discovery Award, presented to extraordinary leaders in their fields and communities.