Press Releases

CARMEL, Calif. - And now for something completely different... Monterey County Bank (MCB), a local independent financial institution, has just opened its fourth branch in downtown Carmel-By-The-Sea's former Village Theater. The historic building has been converted into a bank, but the atmosphere has stayed the same. In a town where many movies have been filmed and where many movie stars live, MCB CEO Charles Chrietzberg has elected, most appropriately, to run movies by local residents Doris Day and Clint Eastwood, throughout the banking day on a 42-inch flat screen complete with a row of authentic movie seats. The bank serves in addition, candy and fresh popcorn and is receiving quite a response!

"Several accounts have switched to us," stated Chrietzberg. "They say, 'This looks like a fun place to bank.' Banking is pretty serious but we try to make it fun." Chrietzberg prides his operation on customer service, knowing the borrowers, catering to local business and providing the basics.

Inside the new location hangs posters of "Pillow Talk," "Calamity Jane," "The Good, The Bad and The Ugly" and fittingly, "A Fistful of Dollars" positioned inside the vault. Chrietzberg is known locally for his unconventional and successful marketing campaigns. Artist Dan Koffman has created an on-going ad campaign for the banker in which his face is superimposed onto the likeness of a diversity of cultural icons including General Patton, Sherlock Holmes, Abraham Lincoln, the Lone Ranger and William Shakespeare, among others. The campaign, while unconventional, has attracted a great deal of business and has certainly paved the way for MCB's cinematic Carmel branch. In keeping with the character with its pet-friendly location, the bank welcomes dogs and stocks doggie treats to offer to its canine customers.

The founder of Sam Houston Mortgage Corporation in Houston, Texas, Chrietzberg retired from what was the third largest mortgage originator in Houston to become CEO of Monterey County Bank in 1985. At press time, neither Eastwood nor Day had yet to visit the branch, but the increased foot traffic seems to be... err... making Chrietzberg's day!