Pablo Sanchez

Senior Vice President/Western Region Manager

Chase Bank (now integrating its purchase of Washington Mutual), L.A. office

Appointed December 2008

Age: 44

Education: Bachelor’s degree, Nichols College

Previous Position: Executive vice president, Chase Home Lending, 2 years

Current Duties: Manage consumer banking for California, Oregon, Washington, Idaho, Nevada, Utah and Arizona

Goal: Make the combined heritage of Chase and WaMu branches in the West to be an integrated best-in-class organization for the benefit of our customers.

Challenges: We want to dispel negative perceptions and showcase Chase as the best place for customers and employees.

What’s Wrong With Banking Now: There is quite a bit of internal focus in the industry and the customer should be the primary focus.

What’s Right: The focus on quality has never been higher. Good fundamentals are key for the strength and stability that our industry needs.

I Decided to Be a Banker Because: I enjoy helping consumers with something as important as their financial needs.

What Surprised Me About Banking: This is much more than just providing checking accounts. More and more, the branch is a center of influence for our customers around their financial needs.

Best Career Decision: Joining Chase.

Worst Decision: Not taking advantage of a couple of opportunities to move into retail banking earlier in my career.

If I Were Not a Banker I Would Be: Involved with automobiles. I love racing.

My Colleagues Don’t Know: I have five pets in my home.

Best Advice: The definition of happiness: someone to love, something to do, something to look forward to.

What I Do for Fun: I like spending time with my family first and foremost, but also enjoy golf, water sports and riding my motorcycle.