The 2013 Regional Business Outlook featured business success stories and key business insight presentations for the upcoming year on a variety of topics including banking, technology, healthcare, housing, jobs and investing. The luncheon event included presentations by: Kelly Brothers, Partner, Genovese Burford & Brothers; Steve Fleming, President and CEO, River City Bank; Tom Schauer, CEO, TrustCC; Barry Azarcon, Principal, Edgewood Partners Insurance Center; Andrew Silverman, Regional Director, Northern California, Waypoint Homes; and Michael E. Rossi, Senior Advisor for Jobs and Business for Governor Brown.

The presentations by these industry experts yielded a vast amount of valuable information for business owners and professionals including an overview of many Federal and State Income Taxes, ways to protect your business from cybercrime, the current state of the healthcare industry and how the Affordable Care Act will affect businesses in 2013. Here are some of the key highlights from the event. read more

As we head into tax season, many people are in for a rude awakening as they compare their 2013 tax burden to last year. Plenty of new tax laws have appeared on the books over the past 12 months and the cumulative effect will wreak havoc on people’s budgets and psyche. The federal income tax and capital gains rate went up to 39.6 percent and 20 percent for top earners, respectively. The state income tax has also risen to 13.3 percent for top earners, and the payroll tax holiday has ended returning to the tax to the full 6.2 percent. On top of all these increases, the Affordable Care Act tacks on another 3.8 percent for top earners. You add it all up and the combined effect is one huge tax increase. So, how did we get here? read more

The River City Bank, (the Bank), board of directors has approved, in connection with the Bank’s recently reported net income of $3.3 million and $11.6 million for the quarter and year ending December 31, 2012, respectively, a cash dividend of $0.125 per common share and $0.79 per preferred share to shareholders of record as of January 31, 2013, and payable on February 19, 2013. The cash dividend on the common stock represents a 25 percent increase from the prior level of $0.10 per share.

Additionally, the Bank reported net income of $3.3 million, $2.35 per diluted share, and $11.6 million, $8.09 per diluted share, for the three months and year ending December 31, 2012, respectively, which compares favorably to the $2.6 million and $10.6 million net income reported for the same periods in 2011. Excluding the previously reported $1.75 million one-time gain on the sale of the merchant processing portfolio during the first quarter of 2011, the Bank’s net income would have been approximately $9.5 million or $6.59 per diluted share for the year ending December 31, 2011.

Please click here to read the full Quarterly Cash Dividend press release.
Please click here to read the full 2012 Earnings press release. read more

Banks are challenged to find loans which have attractive risk-reward characteristics.

Loans, in general, have higher yields than marketable securities, so banks have an economic incentive to make loans.
 
Commercial Industrial loans and business loans all fell in 2009 and 2010, then rose in 2011. Commercial real estate loans, however, have fallen for 3 straight years.
 
Currently banks have a large amount of liquidity, but are having trouble identifying acceptable loans. This has resulted in a real flight to quality. This is also happening for equity capital. So, cap rates and borrowing rates on stabilized properties with good tenants on long term leases are being pushed down to pre-2008 levels. Conversely, there is little capital available for C quality properties. It is very Darwinian. read more

Wilkinson International, Inc. is a full line Case International dealership of new and used farm equipment, parts and service. The Wilkinson organization is built on top-quality customer service and the Wilkinson team takes great pride in their company and their community. The company has been in business for more than 40 years and owned by Terry Wilkinson.

Terry has lived in Woodland since 1974 and consistently lends his support to a range of organizations, such as Woodland Health Care, Rotary Club of Woodland and the Woodland Little League. In addition to participating on the Agricultural Advisory Council for Woodland High School, he is a past board member of Yuba Community College and is a member of the Heidrick Ag Museum board. read more