Local Matters to the Vast Majority of Southern Californians

PASADENA, Calif., Oct. 9, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Over 80 percent of Southern Californians believe it's important for banks to have a strong regional presence, according to OneWest Bank's new survey conducted by The Harris Poll¹, which examines consumer preferences across Southern California.   Many respondents also link a bank's local focus to their community commitment and customer service.

"A strong regional presence enables banks to be more in-tune with customer needs, according to 40 percent of Southern Californians who believe local banks offer better customer service," said Heather Ellison, head of Retail Banking for OneWest Bank. "To that end, location and customer service are two reasons consumers choose to stay with a financial institution."

OneWest Bank's survey also found that approximately 6 in 10 of Southern Californians will engage with a financial institution that gives back to local non-profits. 

"These results reinforce the importance of having a strong connection with both customers and the local community," continued Ellison. "OneWest is committed to supporting the region through a number of charitable partnerships and to enabling customers to meet their financial goals through a personalized banking experience, both of which are bolstered by our local focus."

OneWest's survey additionally asked consumers why they visit a physical branch. While online and mobile banking remains important to Southern Californians, 64 percent value the human contact of a physical branch and another 42 percent think branches offer greater security. The top reason to visit a branch is to open a new account (41 percent). Another 22 percent visit a branch to apply for a loan.

More information about OneWest's survey can be found here.

About OneWest Bank
OneWest Bank helps Southern California consumers and small businesses meet their financial goals by offering personal banking, small business and lending solutions. We are passionate about serving the Southern California community and are proud to invest in the neighborhoods where we live and work. OneWest Bank is a division of CIT Bank, N.A. (Member FDIC, Equal Housing Lender), a subsidiary of CIT Group Inc. (NYSE: CIT). Founded in 1908, CIT Group Inc. has approximately $50 billion in assets. For more information, visit onewestbank.com and follow us on Facebook.

¹ The survey was conducted online within the United States by The Harris Poll on behalf of CIT between February 6 to 23, 2018 among 1,100 U.S. consumers ages 18 and older as well as an oversample of 520 respondents from Southern California. The results discussed above are based on the oversample results.

MEDIA RELATIONS:               
Olivia Weiss
212-771-9657
olivia.weiss@cit.com

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SOURCE OneWest Bank