Tamara Gurney Honored as Los Angeles Business Journal's Top 100 Banker - Small Business Advocate
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BURBANK, Calif., May 20, 2025 ~ At an exclusive reception hosted by the Los Angeles Business Journal on May 15, 2025, Tamara Gurney, Founder, CEO, and President of Mission Valley Bank, was recognized as one of the Top 100 Bankers in Los Angeles. Gurney was honored with the Specialty Award for Small Business Advocate, a testament to her legacy of leadership and dedication to entrepreneurs and local economies.

Out of over 65,000 banking professionals in the region, Gurney's recognition speaks volumes about her personal commitment to small businesses and Mission Valley Bank's role as a champion for community growth. When Gurney founded Mission Valley Bank in July 2001, her vision was clear: to create a community-focused bank that prioritized relationship banking. She wanted to provide small business clients with more than just transactions; she wanted to be their partner.

From its inception, Mission Valley Bank has been redefining the client experience by offering high-touch and personalized service led by bankers who understand the needs of entrepreneurs and business owners. And after more than two decades, that promise has not only endured but has also grown. Under Gurney's leadership, Mission Valley Bank obtained its Community Development Financial Institution status in 2007. This designation affirms the bank's mission to invest in local communities and drive economic opportunities.

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Today, Mission Valley Bank continues to uphold its founding philosophy: "Bank Local | Build Local." The bank believes that when local deposits stay within the community, they fuel small business growth, create jobs, and strengthen the economic foundation for everyone. With branches in Sun Valley, Santa Clarita, and a recently opened location in Burbank, Mission Valley Bank is expanding its footprint with intention and purpose. Plans are already underway to open another branch in Arcadia later this year.

The Los Angeles Business Journal also recognized Paula Bahamon as Senior Vice President of Community Development at Mission Valley Bank. This further solidifies the bank's position among the top financial institutions in the region, driving meaningful and measurable community impact.

In an industry where scale often overshadows service, Gurney has intentionally built something different. Her recognition is not just an individual honor but a reflection of a team of bankers who prioritize their clients and small business success. As Mission Valley Bank continues to grow, branch by branch and relationship by relationship, it remains rooted in its core values of service, trust, and entrepreneurial partnership. And at the heart of it all is a founder who has always prioritized doing what is right over what is expected.
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