"New York is the financial center of the world and is a key element of our national expansion strategy," explains George Haligowski, president and chief executive officer. "We are no longer simply a West Coast company and we are now managing a national lending platform with 27 loan production offices." He adds that the company's loan portfolio has grown more than 70% during the past 18 months.

According to Frank Moser, deputy chief lending officer/Eastern area manager, the office here is currently staffed by himself and five associates in the lending, marketing, credit, appraisal and human resources departments. The purpose of the office is to provide leadership and administrative support for the company's existing and planned regional lending offices in the Eastern US, he adds.

ITLA Capital Corp. conducts its operations through Imperial Capital Bank and Imperial Capital Real Estate Investment Trust. Imperial Capital Bank has seven retail branch locations and 27 lending offices located in California, Nevada, Arizona, Texas, the Southeast, the Mid Atlantic states, the Metro New York area and New England.