What business lines and geography do you serve in the L.A. area?
We have every line of business here in Los Angeles. From small-business banking, commercial banking and investment banking to consumer, mortgage and wealth management. We serve all of those lines throughout Los Angeles County and parts of Ventura County.
How much time do you spend traveling for the job, including visiting branch offices and seeing clients?
I’m out of the office 70 percent of the time, predominantly visiting with the chief executives of my client companies or meeting with business and civic leaders.
What’s something about the L.A. business community you didn’t realize before taking this job?
The entrepreneurial nature of our business community is amazing and inspirational. There are so many fast-growing companies that are under the radar and are not known to most. These are companies that may have had $5 million in revenue three years ago and now have annual revenue of more than $100 million.
How do you differentiate your bank from both locally based and other national banks with a presence in this city?
We are a bank with expertise in L.A.’s most distinct industries from film, finance and apparel to the food industry – and we make decisions locally. Plus, our bankers are very engaged in the deal community and are very proactive bringing strategic ideas to our clients.
What’s the best part about working for a big bank rather than a smaller one?
We have the resources and expertise to help any of our clients, whether you are the chief executive needing financial advice for your family, a local company needing to hedge its currency exposure in China or a global company needing to raise capital to acquire a competitor in Europe.
And the worst part?
Taking those 2 a.m. calls from Hong Kong or London.
What’s an area of your business you’d like to grow?
We will be hiring additional bankers during 2015 and will continue to reinvest in our growth areas; namely entertainment, technology and consumer products.
It’s been more than six years since the financial crisis hit. How well do you think your industry has learned the pertinent lessons from that catastrophe? What are those lessons?
At Bank of America, we have significantly increased our capital levels, streamlined our operations, and made our organization a lot less complex and more transparent.
What’s the best advice you ever got?
Listening is always much more powerful and impactful than speaking.
What’s your favorite restaurant for business meetings?
BOA Steakhouse in West Hollywood. The SoHo House is also a favorite.
Lakers, Clippers or neither?
Dodgers and Clippers. I was involved in the latter’s sale to Steve Ballmer.
Raul A. Anaya, 47
Title: President, Greater Los Angeles
Bank: Bank of America
Rank, Local Deposit Market Share: 1, 19.5 percent
Residence: Pasadena
Family: Married, four children.
Activities: Basketball, football, baseball, golf – any outdoor activities; music
Years in L.A. Area: 10
