SANTA ANA, Calif. -- On Feb. 29, Cesar Rosas joined his first meeting of the loan committee for Small Business Development Corporation of Orange County during which the group approved state loan guarantees on a $3.125 million financing project for a gas station and a $360,000 project to purchase a business.

Rosas, who currently serves as executive vice president and chief banking officer with Neighborhood National Bank in El Cajon, joins a loan committee consisting of both seasoned banking professionals as well economic development community stakeholders. He was invited to the group by loan committee chair Jim Ely who is also the development corporation’s president.

According to Ely, “We needed Cesar to join us as he is one of those banking professionals who can quickly determine if our guaranteed requests are creditworthy while also fulfilling our mission objectives of providing financing to disadvantaged businesses unable to obtain credit elsewhere.”

Rosas holds more than 20 years’ experience in finance and banking including with community banks that focus on underserved clients and small and medium-sized businesses. In his current position he has been tasked with launching Neighborhood National’s ‘smart safe’ virtual vault program and led its market expansion in Orange County, Los Angeles, and the Inland Empire.

“Serving on the loan committee is an opportunity to contribute directly to the growth and success of local Southern California businesses,” said Rosas. “As a committee member, I bring insights from my extensive banking experience in small to mid-size business development.”

He noted his close work as a lender over the past five years with SBDC-OC’s Ely, senior vice presidents for commercial ending Richard Lee and Nestor Correa, and chief executive officer Michael Ocasio.

“Through these programs, we’ve supported entrepreneurs, facilitated funding, and fostered job creation across Orange, Riverside, and San Bernardino counties,” Rosas said. “My connection with SBDC-OC has allowed me to witness firsthand the resilience and innovation of local businesses, making me passionate about contributing to their continued success.”

Rosas holds a B.A. in business economics from Cal State San Bernardino and an MBA from the Graziadio School of Business and Management at Pepperdine University in Malibu. He also completed the Executive Development Program at Northwestern University’s Kellogg School of Management. He is currently pursuing a Master of Theological Studies in Franciscan theology at the University of San Diego. He has been an active tutor with the Big Brother Big Sister of Orange County organization for five years and serves on various boards.