Jon Christoffersen Named Vice Chairman at Security Pacific

Jon M. Christoffersen has been named to the new post of vice chairman and chief administrative officer of Security Pacific National Bank, a position created to give Christoffersen an opportunity to work with top bank executives on cost-containment measures.

Christoffersen, 45, has been president of Security Pacific’s Seattle-based operations--Rainier Bancorporation and Rainier National Bank--and will assume his new duties Aug. 1. He will head the administrative and financial units for the bank and will report to Robert H. Smith, Security Pacific’s president and chief executive.

“Jon is one of our executive leaders,” Smith said. “It’s essential to have him working here for a period of time so . . . he can get to know Security Pacific.”

Security Pacific launched a major cost-cutting effort April 27 when it announced that it will close 40 to 60 branches this year. Bank executives said the closings were part of an overall strategy to control expenses and become more efficient. Cost containment has become a trend among California banks.

Christoffersen’s career began in 1970 with Citibank in Tokyo. He joined Rainier in 1981 as senior vice president and was named president in 1986.

The top position at the Washington operations will be filled by John C. Getzelman, 45, an executive vice president at Security Pacific. Getzelman will become president and chief operating officer of Rainier Bancorporation and Rainier National Bank. He will also become chairman of Oregon Bank, another Security Pacific affiliate.

In other new assignments:

- Robert L. Matthews, 50, president and CEO of Arizona Bancwest Corp. and the Arizona Bank, becomes chairman and chief executive of both organizations. William S. (Tom) Thomas, 44, a Security Pacific executive vice president, becomes president, chief operating officer and a director at Arizona Bancwest and Arizona Bank. Chairman Don B. Tostenrud, 63, becomes chairman emeritus of Arizona Bancwest and remains chairman of the executive committee.

- At Rainier, the following executive vice presidents become vice chairmen: Gordon F. Given, 52; W. Thomas Porter Jr., 54; Stanley D. Savage, 43, and David I. Williams, 46.