Leon Blankstein

Chief Executive and President

American Business Bank

THE LATEST: Blankstein was one of the founders of American Business Bank. His commercial business bank has grown in recent years, adding an office in Corona in 2018 and an expanded loan production office in Woodland Hills last year. It also relocated to new offices on Hope Street downtown last year amid a brand update.

BACKGROUND: After Mellon Bank's 1997 purchase of 1st Business Bank, Blankstein and four other senior banking officers left to form American Business Bank, raising more than $14 million to capitalize their new venture. Blankstein began his banking career as a management trainee in the commercial loan department at Bank of America, where he was quickly promoted to loan officer. He stayed there for two years before accepting a position as a corporate banking officer at 1st Business Bank, where he was eventually promoted to vice president/group manager in the corporate downtown office.

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