About Us

When we decided to open El Paseo Bank, we didn’t want it to be like every other bank. We wanted it to be a better bank.

Our intention was to offer a bank with good, old-fashioned customer service, where real people answer the phones when you call, and you can always speak with a friendly person empowered to make quick decisions and give expert advice.

El Paseo Bank has become one of Palm Desert’s premier locally owned and operated banks. What’s more, the impressive banking expertise provided by El Paseo’s board of directors has been instrumental in forming this outstanding community bank.

Exceptional Service. Quick Decisions.

Introducing the El Paseo Bank Board of Directors

Clifford Miller: Mr. Miller is the Chairman of Frontier/El Paseo Bank, Chairman of the Clifford Group, Incorporated, a business-consulting organization, and is senior consultant to Shamrock Holdings, Inc., a Roy Disney company. Mr. Miller was Executive Vice President and a Director of Great Western Financial Corp. and Chairman and Chief Executive of Braun and Company. In addition, Mr. Miller also served as an advisor to the White House and other cabinet-level officials. He has been on the Board of Frontier Bank since 1998.

James D. Hicken: Mr. Hicken has over 34 years of banking experience in all aspects of commercial and community banking. Prior to joining Frontier Bank F.S.B., Mr. Hicken served as a founding Director and the President and Chief Executive Officer of Bank of Santa Clarita for 8+ years. Prior to starting Bank of Santa Clarita, Mr. Hicken held the positions of Executive Vice President and Chief Lending Officer of Valencia Bank & Trust from 1996 until October 2002 when that bank was acquired by Union Bank, and served as Senior Vice President and Regional Manager for Union Bank from November 2002 until March 2004. From 1989 to 1996 Mr. Hicken served as Senior Vice President and Senior Loan and Credit Officer for Metrobank in Los Angeles, California. Mr. Hicken started his banking career at First Interstate Bank of Utah in 1978, later moving to Union Bank in Los Angeles in 1981. Mr. Hicken is a graduate of the University of Utah with a B.S. degree in Accounting.

Raymond J. Gustini: Mr. Gustini is a partner with the law firm Nixon Peabody, LLP, in Washington D.C., specializing in matters effecting banks and savings institutions. He has served on the Board of Frontier Bank since 1998.

David Karnes: Former-Senator Karnes is a partner with the law firm of Kutak Rock in Omaha, Nebraska, specializing in real estate, banking and housing issues. He served as a United States Senator from the State of Nebraska and currently sits on the board of the Federal Home Loan Bank of Topeka. He has served on the Board of Frontier Bank since 2002.

Paul Schosberg: Mr. Schosberg is recently retired after concluding a 25-year career of service to the savings institutions business. He previously served as Chief Executive Officer of America’s Community Bankers, the nation’s largest community bank trade association, and as Chief Executive Officer of New York League of Savings Institutions. He has served on the Board of Frontier Bank since 2000.

Alvin V. Shoemaker, Esq.: Mr. Shoemaker is a private investor. He previously served as Chairman of the Board of First Boston, Inc. He also served as Chief Executive Officer of Blyth Eastman Paine Webber and its predecessor, Blyth Eastman Dillon and Co. He joined the Board of Frontier Bank in 2003.

Sam Spinello: Sam Spinello is a real estate investor and owner of companies that specialize in providing services to the real estate industry. He serves on the Board of Governors for Eisenhower Hospital, the board of Trustees for the Living Desert, board of directors for the Childrens Discovery Museum Of The Desert, The Southwestern Growers board of directors and is a commissioner on the Riverside County Sheriffs Executive Council. He has served on the board of Frontier Bank since in 2006.