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Pacific Premier Bancorp
Pacific Premier Bancorp — $22B-asset public bank holding company led by founder Steven Gardner since 1993.
Pacific Premier Bancorp
Pacific Premier Bancorp was founded in 1993 by Steven Gardner, who remains CEO. The bank originated as a community lender in Southern California and grew through a series of acquisitions, expanding its footprint and balance sheet. Its wealth-origin context centers on Gardner's long tenure and the bank's public-company structure. The firm's strategy centers on commercial real estate lending, C&I loans, and SBA 7(a) lending — a diversified mix that includes construction, multifamily, and owner-occupied real estate. Pacific Premier also provides treasury management and deposit services. Confirmed operations span California, Arizona, Nevada, Washington, Oregon, and Utah (per public filings). The bank has navigated multiple credit cycles without a net loss year. Pacific Premier Bancorp reported total assets of approximately $22.3B as of Q1 2025 (per SEC filings). The firm employs roughly 1,200 people across its branch network. A recent operational event: May 2024: Pacific Premier completed the sale of its Pacific Premier Trust division, a custodial trust business, to focus on core commercial banking (per firm press release, May 2024). The bank's structural differentiator is its publicly traded, regulated status — it operates under Federal Reserve oversight, offering transparency that many family offices lack. It maintains strong capital ratios and a conservative risk posture, which has attracted institutional depositors seeking stability.
General information
Firm type
other
Year founded
1993
AUM
Undisclosed
Location
Region
North America
Country
United States
City
Irvine
Corporate office
Irvine, CA, United States
Principals
Steven Gardner
President and Chief Executive Officer
Lori Chiu
Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
Sector focus
Frequently asked questions
Who runs investment decisions at Pacific Premier Bancorp?
Steven Gardner, founder and CEO, sets the strategic direction with input from the executive team and board. He has led the firm since 1993, overseeing its growth to over $22B in assets (per SEC filings).
How does Pacific Premier Bancorp source its lending opportunities?
The bank sources loans through a network of commercial banking officers across its branch footprint in California and other Western states, complemented by SBA franchise lending relationships and referrals from real estate developers.
Is Pacific Premier Bancorp structured as a family office or a traditional bank?
Pacific Premier Bancorp is a publicly traded bank holding company, not a family office. Its primary regulator is the Federal Reserve, and it reports financials quarterly to the SEC.
What investment stages does Pacific Premier Bancorp typically target?
The firm focuses on commercial loans, including construction, acquisition, and term financing for established businesses and real estate projects — not early-stage venture or growth equity.
Which sectors does Pacific Premier Bancorp explicitly avoid?
The bank generally avoids high-risk unsecured consumer lending, cannabis-related businesses, and speculative development without permanent financing commitments, per its credit policy disclosures.
What is Pacific Premier Bancorp's known posture on co-investments alongside external GPs?
Pacific Premier Bancorp does not typically co-invest with private equity GPs. Its core business is bilateral lending to commercial borrowers and depository services.
Profile maintained by Altss using OSINT (open-source intelligence), regulatory filings, licensed data partners, and verified direct submissions. Read the methodology. Last updated: . Continuous refresh with full update cycles at least every 30 days.
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