California's Strongest People You Can Bank On
For 111 years, Farmers & Merchants Bank has held fast to the core values of honesty, faith, service above self, and integrity, among others. It is this commitment that has served as the backbone of our organization through good times and bad, all the while assuring our customers that their assets will always be safe and secure.
Our long-standing tenure as a community bank has provided the opportunity to serve a diverse group of individuals who share these values. They are visionary leaders who have shaped the very landscape of their communities and the lives of their neighbors. To honor their contributions, F&M established and is proud to present F&M’s “California’s Strongest People You Can Bank On” Awards.
These awards are designed to honor the virtues and characteristics F&M values in its customers. Each recipient embodies a personal virtue that exemplifies F&M’s own beliefs such as integrity, community, and goodwill toward others. They are people from different communities, industries, generations and backgrounds who are united by an unyielding commitment to caring, progress, and ‘doing Good.’
2018 California’s Strongest People You Can Bank On Honorees
| Recipient | Organization/Affiliation | Community |
| Cherie Schenck | Project Self-Sufficiency | Huntington Beach |
| Dr. Christina Miller | Mental Health America of Los Angeles | East Long Beach |
| Dora Jacildo | Comprehensive Child Development, Inc. |
Long Beach |
| Eric Forest Zahn | Tidal Influence |
Long Beach |
| Jan Montague | San Clemente Village | San Clemente |
| Dr. Jerry R. Schubel | Aquarium of the Pacific | Long Beach |
| Jim Hogan | Standing Stone Ministries, Inc. | Rolling Hills Estates |
| Joe Baldo | Higher Ground Youth and Family Services | Fullerton |
| Dr. Kimberly BeDell | California Children's Rehabilitation Foundation |
Memorial Hospital |
| Marty Burbank | OC Elder Law | Fullerton |
2017 California’s Strongest People You Can Bank On Honorees
| Award | Recipient | Organization/Affiliation | Community |
| The Honesty Award | Father Jose Magaña | St. Anthony Catholic Church | Long Beach |
| The Faith Award | Sister Marguerite McCarthy | Little Sisters of the Poor San Pedro | Rolling Hills Estates |
| The Loyalty Award | Cynthia Roe | National Center on Adoption and Permanency |
San Juan Capistrano |
| The Integrity Award | Adam Coughran | Safe Kids Incorporated |
Lake Forest |
| The Dedication Award | Dr. Inderpal Randhawa | Translational Pulmonary & Immunology Research Center |
Long Beach |
| The Gratitude Award | Sylvester "Duke" Givens | Duke Enterprises | Bixby Knolls |
| The Humility Award | Dr. Standiford Helm II | Helm Center for Clinical Trials | Laguna Hills |
| The Dependability Award |
Lara Fisher | South County Outreach | Lake Forest |
| The Compassion Award | Brenda Wells | I-5 Freedom Network |
San Clemente |
| The Service Above Self Award | Sasiston Punjienseang | Lakewood |
2016 California’s Strongest People You Can Bank On Honorees
| Award | Recipient | Organization/Affiliation | Community |
| The Honesty Award | Bill Nelson | Fresh Beginnings Ministries | Newport Beach |
| The Faith Award | Ken Korver | Emmanuel Reformed Church/The Compton Initiative | Downey |
| The Loyalty Award | Angeles Ceballos | CREER Comunidad y Familia |
San Juan Capistrano |
| The Integrity Award | Reggie Berry | Goals For Life Foundation |
Lakewood |
| The Dedication Award | Dr. Miriam Mackovic-Basic | Complete Women Care Inc. |
Bixby Knolls |
| The Gratitude Award | Patti Widdicombe | McDonald's | Garden Grove |
| The Humility Award | Mike Sheldrake | Polly's Gourmet Coffee | Belmont Shore |
| The Dependability Award |
Joe Lins | Century 21 Discovery | Fullerton |
| The Compassion Award | Dr. Patricia Drown | San Clemente Domestic Violence Task Force |
San Clemente |
| The Service Above Self Award | Kathy Tillotson | Build Futures | Downey |
Click here to learn more about our 2016 People You Can Bank On.
2015 California’s Strongest People You Can Bank On Honorees
| Award | Recipient | Community |
| The Charity Award | Dr. John L. Blake | Long Beach |
| The Compassion Award | Katherine Holman | San Juan Capistrano |
| The Dedication Award | Dr. Kenneth B. Deck | Laguna Hills |
| The Duty Award | Terry Geiling | Long Beach |
| The Goodness Award | Annette Kashiwabara | Lakewood |
| The Gratitude Award | Yetta Kane | Long Beach |
| The Helpfulness Award | Carol Wait | Long Beach |
| The Kindness Award |
Coronada King Haywood | Long Beach |
| The Selflessness Award | Debora Wondercheck | Newport Beach |
| The Service Above Self Award |
James and Carla Hogan | San Clemente |
Click here to learn more about our 2015 People You Can Bank On.
2014 California’s Strongest People You Can Bank On Honorees
| Award | Recipient | Community |
| The Kindness Award | Nate Jones | East Long Beach |
| The Goodness Award | Ellinor B. Ward | Laguna Hills |
| The Charity Award | Carmen & Miguel Escobedo | Rolling Hills Estates |
| The Devotion Award | Dr. Ralph Opacic | Fullerton |
| The Gratitude Award | Rick Rodriguez Sr. | Downey |
| The Helpfulness Award | Mark Gabay, Arman Gabay, & Norma Gabay | Main Office - Long Beach |
| The Dedication Award | Bill O’Connell | Huntington Beach |
| The Compassion Award |
Dr. Elisa A. Nicholas | Memorial Hospital |
| The Service Above Self Award | Mamie Yong Maywhort | San Juan Capistrano |
| The Selflessness Award |
Dominic Collaro | Rossmoor |
Click here to learn more about our honorees from past events of People You Can Bank On.