# Pacific Western Bank

Pacific Western Bank is a Bank / Wealth / Trust based in San Diego, United States.

## Overview

- **Organization type:** Bank / Wealth / Trust
- **Headquarters:** San Diego, United States
- **Region:** North America
- **Address:** San Diego, CA, United States
- **Founded:** 1999
- **Assets under management:** Undisclosed
- **Website:** pacwest.com
- **LinkedIn:** https://www.linkedin.com/company/banc-of-california3

## Regulatory record

- **Reports private funds:** No

## About

Pacific Western Bank is a full-service community bank focused on small and medium-sized businesses. It has made 13 investments, including a December 05, 2023, investment in Machinery Partner as part of its debt. The bank has 7 portfolio exits, with OneCause exiting on October 15, 2025.

## Sectors

- Enterprise Software
- FinTech
- Digital Health
- ClimateTech
- Industrial Tech

## People

- Paul W. Taylor — President and CEO

## Questions

### What happened to Pacific Western Bank's venture banking arm after the 2023 merger?

The venture banking division, which PacWest built through its 2017 acquisition of Square 1 Bank, transferred to the combined Banc of California entity upon the merger's November 2023 close. The combined venture book continues to operate, benefiting from a larger balance sheet and the $400M in equity support from Warburg Pincus and Centerbridge Partners.

### How does Pacific Western Bank's venture lending differ from the model Silicon Valley Bank used?

Both banks provided term loans, revolving credit lines, and fund-level finance to venture-backed companies and VC firms, often taking warrant positions alongside debt. PacWest operated from a smaller balance sheet and lower public profile, with a presence concentrated in hubs like Durham, Denver, and San Diego rather than a single dominant market.

### Does Pacific Western Bank make equity investments or only lend?

The venture arm functions primarily as a debt provider, structuring term loans, revolving facilities, and equipment financing for venture-backed companies. It commonly receives warrant coverage or small equity kickers alongside debt, but does not operate as a direct equity investor or lead priced equity rounds.

### What sectors does the venture banking practice focus on?

The practice covers enterprise software, fintech, digital health, climate technology, and industrial technology — a broad mandate across the innovation economy. It also provides warehouse lending lines to private credit funds and debt facilities to venture capital firms.

### Who backed the Pacific Western–Banc of California merger?

Private equity firms Warburg Pincus and Centerbridge Partners each committed $200M in equity to the combined Banc of California entity as part of the July 2023 merger agreement. The transaction was structured as an all-stock deal valuing PacWest at approximately $1B.

## Related profiles

- [Pacific Wealth Management](https://altss.com/profile/pacific-wealth-management)
- [Pacifica Partners Capital Management](https://altss.com/profile/pacifica-partners-capital-management)

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Last updated: 2026-06-03T20:00:00.000Z

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