Bank of the West Opens Commercial Office in Chicago

Illinois Banker John C. Thurston Joins Bank to Head New Office

SAN FRANCISCO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Bank of the West announced today that it has opened an office in Chicago as it continues to expand its commercial banking business. Long-time Illinois banking executive John C. Thurston heads the Chicago office.

“We see tremendous opportunity in Chicago and throughout the Midwest. In this slow-growth economy businesses can benefit from a true relationship with a commercial bank like Bank of the West that provides local expertise combined with international capabilities”

Bank of the West’s National Banking Office in Chicago offers lending services, capital markets, treasury management services, trade financing and other services to companies and their principals. The office is focused on serving middle-market companies with annual revenues of $25 million or more located in the Midwest.

“We see tremendous opportunity in Chicago and throughout the Midwest. In this slow-growth economy businesses can benefit from a true relationship with a commercial bank like Bank of the West that provides local expertise combined with international capabilities,” said Jean-Marc Torre, Senior Executive Vice President and Head of Bank of the West’s Commercial Banking Group.

The Chicago office brings to 19, the number of Bank of the West National Banking Offices across the United States.

Thurston has 18 years of experience in commercial banking, primarily serving middle-market companies in Illinois and the Midwest. He has a strong track record of success in building and managing commercial lending teams that focus on the principles of relationship banking.

“We are delighted that John Thurston has joined the bank to lead our expansion into Chicago," said Mark Glasky, Executive Vice President and National Banking Division Manager. "John is truly a relationship banker who understands the products and services that companies need."

Before joining Bank of the West, Thurston was a Managing Director of The Private Bank and Trust Company, based in Illinois. He led a team that served middle-market companies in Illinois and the Midwest. Thurston began his career and spent 14 years with Chicago-based LaSalle Bank, which was acquired by Bank of America in 2007. While at LaSalle, he built and led one of the bank's commercial lending divisions, and served as Chief of Staff for the national banking lines of business.

"Bank of the West's strong financial condition and ability to provide meaningful resources to meet a company’s needs are essential to management teams. Our relationship banking philosophy and breadth of product offerings, both domestic and international, will be very attractive to middle-market companies in the Chicago area and throughout the Midwest,” Thurston said. "I look forward to building deep relationships with companies in and around Chicago."

Bank of the West’s National Banking Office in Chicago is located at 155 North Wacker Drive, 44th Floor, Chicago, IL 60606.

About Bank of the West:

Founded in 1874, $61 billion-asset Bank of the West (www.bankofthewest.com), member FDIC, offers a full range of personal, commercial, wealth management and international banking services. The bank operates more than 700 retail and commercial banking locations in 19 Western and Midwestern states. Bank of the West is a subsidiary of BNP Paribas, one of the world's largest and best rated banks* with more than 200,000 employees in more than 80 countries.

*Rated AA- by Standard & Poor’s as of November 14, 2011

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