BANKING : Institutions Capitalize on Hard Times to Expand, Relocate

Bankers may complain about the economy, regulatory red tape and the scarcity of good consumer and business loans, but that’s not stopping some from expanding.

“You’ve got to take advantage of adversity if you can,” said Philip S. Inglee, president of Liberty National Bank in Huntington Beach. In the past two months, Liberty and a number of other Orange County banks have added new branches or relocated offices to cheaper, and sometimes bigger, quarters.

In part, bankers are capitalizing on the times, but banking consultant Gerry Findley in Anaheim sees a trend.

Bankers, concerned with the appearance of stability, used to pay whatever amount landlords wanted for rent, Findley said. Today, bankers are becoming more hard-nosed about rent and more willing to move.