FARMERS & MERCHANTS BANK HONORS TEN SPECIAL MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY AT THE 2017 “CALIFORNIA’S STRONGEST PEOPLE YOU CAN BANK ON” AWARDS CEREMONY
November 03, 2017
Awards Given Based Upon Achievements That Demonstrate Values and Strength of Character That Help Make Southern California Communities Strong

From left to right: (Back row) F&M President W. Henry Walker, Lara Fisher, Christine Walker, Dr. Inderpal Randhawa, Adam Coughran, Sylvester “Duke” Givens and F&M Chairman of the Board and CEO Daniel K. Walker. (Front row) Cynthia Roe, Brenda Wells, Sasiton Punjienseang, Elia Perez- accepting on behalf of Dr. Standiford Helm II, Sister Reyna Colimote- accepting on behalf of Father Jose Magaña and Sister Marguerite McCarthy.
Long Beach, CA (November 3, 2017) Farmers & Merchants Bank (F&M) honored 10 members of the Southern California community at its seventh annual “California’s Strongest People You Can Bank On” awards. The awards presented yesterday were given to people that demonstrated the same values and strength of character as F&M’s Declaration of Beliefs: Honesty, Faith, Loyalty, Integrity, Dedication, Gratitude, Humility, Dependability, Compassion, and Service above Self.
Winners, all members of the communities F&M serves, were nominated by Bank employees and represent many communities throughout Southern California including Long Beach, South Bay, San Clemente and Lake Forest.
The 2017 “California’s Strongest People You Can Bank On” Award Honorees are:
Award | Recipient | Organization/Affiliation | Banking 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 | Sasiton Punjienseang | Lakewood |
One of my greatest joys is to get to honor these amazing members of our community every year,” stated F&M Bank President W. Henry Walker. “Each and every one of them represent the very best of our shared values, and they embody the ‘can do’ spirit and service-above-self bedrock that F&M has been based on for the last 110 years,” Walker continued.
F&M presented the awards to all ten winners at a luncheon at Parkers’ Lighthouse in Long Beach.
About Farmers & Merchants Bank
Founded in Long Beach in 1907 by C.J. Walker, Farmers & Merchants Bank has almost $7 Billion in assets, and 24 branches across Orange County, Long Beach and the South Bay. The Bank specializes in commercial and small business banking, business loan programs, home loans, and a robust offering of consumer retail banking products, including checking, savings and youth accounts. Farmers & Merchants Bank is a California state chartered bank with deposits insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (Member FDIC) and an Equal Housing Lender. For more information about F&M, please visit the website,www.fmb.com