Executive Officers
Christopher F. Baron
Chief Executive Officer
The Board has appointed Christopher F. Baron as President and Chief Executive Officer of the Company and the Bank. Mr. Baron brings over 25 years of experience as a senior commercial banking executive with deep experience leading large-scale banking organizations and building high-performing teams across major U.S. markets. Most recently, he served as President of Commercial and Community Banking at Banc of California, where he oversaw the branch network and commercial and middle market banking platforms across southern and central California and Colorado, representing a multi-billion-dollar deposit and loan franchise and a large team of banking professionals.
Prior to that, Mr. Baron joined Pacific Western Bank in 2017, where he launched the tax-exempt lending platform and materially expanded that bank’s affordable housing finance capabilities, and subsequently served as President of the Los Angeles Region. Earlier in his career, he led public finance and institutional banking businesses at MUFG Union Bank and U.S. Bank, managing complex client relationships and regulated balance sheets. He holds a B.A. in Economics from UCLA.
William J. Black, Jr.
Executive Vice Chairman
The Board has appointed William J. Black, Jr. as Executive Vice Chairman of the Company and the Bank. Mr. Black brings over 25 years of experience driving strategy, capital allocation, and transformational change across public and private financial institutions. Most recently, he served as Executive Vice President of Strategy and Corporate Development at PacWest Bancorp and Banc of California, where he advised the Board on M&A, capital markets, and strategic alternatives while reporting directly to the Chief Executive Officer. Mr. Black played a central role in stabilizing PacWest during the 2023 banking disruption — securing $1.4 billion in emergency liquidity in six days and directing the sale of $7 billion in assets. He also led multiple strategic acquisitions across his tenure, including scaling Civic Financial from $100 million to over $300 million in monthly originations, integrating a $4+ billion deposit platform, and serving as a principal in PacWest's sale to Banc of California. Prior to his operating career, Mr. Black was Founder and Managing Partner of Consector Capital, a long/short financial services investment firm that generated significant returns, materially outperforming the S&P 500 and S&P Financial Index over its life. He holds a B.A. in Economics from The Johns Hopkins University.
Kevin L. Thompson
Executive Vice President
Chief Financial Officer
The Board has appointed Kevin L. Thompson as Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of the Company and the Bank. Mr. Thompson has over 25 years of experience as a senior financial executive, having served as CFO across multiple public banking institutions and fintech companies. Most recently, he served as CFO and Treasurer of Heartland Financial USA until its acquisition by UMB Financial in 2025, and prior to that was recruited as CFO of PacWest Bancorp during the 2023 banking crisis, where he restructured the balance sheet, sold $7 billion in non-core loan portfolios, and designed and executed the reverse merger with Banc of California. He has also served as CFO at First Foundation Bank, Opus Bank, and American Express Centurion Bank. Mr. Thompson has a track record of modernizing financial infrastructure, leading technology-enabled transformation, and executing M&A, capital raising, and large-scale financial transformation initiatives. He has served on multiple bank boards, including as Chair of the Audit and Risk Committee. He holds an MBA in Finance and a B.S. in International Relations from Brigham Young University and is a Certified Public Accountant.
Izabella Zhu Mitchell
Executive Vice President
Chief Risk Officer
Izabella L. Zhu joined United Business Bank as Chief Risk Officer and a member of the executive management team in September 2013. Ms. Zhu is responsible for developing, coordinating, and maintaining forward looking enterprise risk management framework and programs as the bank pursues various growth strategies. Prior to joining the bank, Ms. Zhu was a Senior Financial Institutions Examiner and a founding and inaugural member of the Examiner Council at the California Department of Business Oversight. She has served as Examiner-in-Charge of various large banks, troubled financial institutions, and trust departments. Prior to that Ms. Zhu was a financial advisor at Morgan Stanley. Ms. Zhu earned a Master's degree in Public Administration in International Development from the Kennedy School at Harvard University and a Bachelor's degree in International Economics from Peking University. Ms. Zhu is also a Certified Fiduciary Investment Risk Specialist.
Terry Curley
Executive Vice President
Chief Credit Officer/Director of Labor Service Division
Terry Curley joined United Business Bank as EVP/Director of Labor Service Division when Bay Commercial Bank acquired United Business Bank, FSB in April 2017. Labor Service Division is a newly formed business unit devoted to serving the Labor Communities. At the prior bank, United Business Bank, FSB, Ms. Curley has served as EVP/Chief Credit Officer (2012-2017), SVP/Credit Administrator (2009-2012), Credit Card Administrator (2008-2009), SVP/Regional Sales Manager (2005-2009), VP/Branch Manager (2000-2005) and Business Development Officer (1995-2000). In 1992, Ms. Curley received a BA in Political, Legal and Economic Analysis from Mills College, Oakland, CA. In 2005, she earned a graduate certificate from the Pacific Coast Banking School at University of Washington, Seattle, WA.
Felix Miranda
Executive Vice President
Chief Lending Officer
Felix has 30 years of banking experience primarily in Commercial Banking and middle market lending. In his most recent role as EVP, Head of Commercial Banking at Bank of San Francisco, Felix was responsible for growing the Bank’s C&I business focused on middle market companies and non-profit community organizations throughout the 9 Bay Area counties. Providing clients with a full complement of credit, deposit and cash management solutions using technology to provide easy access to their banking needs. Prior to this role, Felix served in various leadership roles in commercial banking at Wells Fargo, First Republic Bank, Charles Schwab and IBM Global Finance. Felix earned his bachelor’s degree in business administration from California State University, Hayward and his M.B.A in International Business from St. Mary’s College. Felix is on the Board of Directors of One Treasure Island and supports various local community non-profit organizations such as the Grateful Gatherings and Habitat for Humanity.